La Niña’s grip on the weather cycle has led to the increased visibility of snakes seeking warmer climate and prey, according to Raymond Hoser.
Mr Hoser, aka ‘The Snake Man’, says he has been a snake handler all his life, having fallen in love with the reptile at a young age.
While the end of the calendar year is often the busiest period for him and his staff, the third year of the unseasonable rain has created unique circumstances to snakes’ environment.
“With so much rain for the last three years, there’s frogs everywhere,” Mr Hoser said.
“Where frogs breed, snakes follow. Numbers have been going up year on year for three years.
“Long grass is not the issue – it’s the waterlogged areas.
“Snakes naturally are underground. Most of these hiding places are so wet and snakes like to be dry, so they have to move around to find places to dry.
“I’ve never seen so much water around in the area.”
The most common breeds in the Casey-Cardinia area are copperheads, while in sandy areas such as Cranbourne South around the Botanic Gardens, or the hills of the Harkaway and Beaconsfield, you’re more likely to come across tiger snakes, all of which are dangerously venomous, Mr Hoser said.
Wilson Botanic Gardens in Berwick are a snake hotspot, as is the parkland and lake around Lynbrook station, and the construction area around the end of the Pakenham train line.
“If you see a snake out and about, just leave the snake there and move on,” Mr Hoser said.
“Snakes are not interested in biting, in general. People get bitten because they’re trying to kill them.
“If you stand close to a snake, stand still – like a tree – and it won’t bite you.”
The problem arises when snakes enter a property that puts people or pets at risk.
It’s at that point where Mr Hoser suggests to call a catcher like himself to rescue the slippery visitor, otherwise they can be left to their own devices if there is no threat to safety.
And there’s a trend when it comes to the reasoning for his callouts to private property.
“I can look ahead and say with high degree of confidence that when council mowing takes place that’s when they turn up in gardens and houses nearby,” Mr Hoser said.
“Especially now that weather is warming up, it creates a perverse situation.”
Dogs can be trained to avoid snakes, a service Mr Hoser provides, as many pets will not survive a snake bite.
By law, snake catchers are not allowed to keep them as pets, nor can they be killed, which means they are simply “moved around” and kept within the environment.
Early next year will also be problematic, as the copperheads enter mating season.
If you see a snake on council property within Casey, you can report it to the council, however, you must be prepared to stay and monitor the snake until a catcher arrives.
Cardinia does not offer a snake catching service and recommends contacting a licensed catcher if you see one and are concerned about its presence.
To contact The Snake Man or to learn more about his services, head to his website at snakebusters.com.au
