Latest news with #ReptileRelocation
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sad detail in incredible snake photo shows 'illegal' act Aussies are warned against
An eye-opening photo showing a red-bellied black snake entangled in netting has highlighted why laying traps for native animals can be "incredibly cruel" and even illegal, experts say. The picture, taken overnight in Narellan in Sydney, shows the reptile with netting piercing its mouth and head, which left it with severe cuts and swelling. "This poor red bellied black snake was caught in some horrible netting material left down on the ground to catch [it], safe to say it's done what the people wanted, but look at the damage this stuff causes," Reptile Relocation Sydney wrote online. The wildlife group said many snakes are already "stressing and fighting" at this time of year, trying to navigate seasonal changes and habitat loss, conditions that have been exacerbated by the unpredictable recent weather. Snake handler Cory, from Reptile Relocation, told Yahoo News this particular incident was caused by an unlicensed individual who unlawfully "sets netting placements down for people" and he warned against "trying to trap animals" in this way. "The snake is still alive and will be going to get checked over by a vet. It'll most likely need some antibiotics and some time in care to deal with the damage to its scales — but it may need to be euthanised," he lamented. Cory said the trap deployed was an "old type of bird netting" commonly used to protect fruit trees from birds, but it "also entangles many more animals". "There's much better stuff available now so the animals don't get trapped," he said. Instead he encouraged Aussies, if they're worried about snakes, to give an experienced handler a call. "They will be able to give you advice or put you onto the best person for the job," he said. As the warmer weather wraps up and temperatures drop, snakes begin preparing for brumation (a hibernation-like state). Experts warn they may be more active in search of food to build up energy reserves or looking for suitable shelter, increasing their chances of encountering humans or pets. Sudden warm days followed by cold snaps can confuse snakes, like what Sydneysiders have recently experienced, disrupting their normal behaviour and movement patterns. Warning for homeowners after deadly 2kg find in backyard Aussies cautioned after snake 'strangled' in backyard Snake catcher unearths 'bizarre' find hiding in couple's backyard As prey animals like frogs, lizards and rodents become less active in cooler weather, snakes may find it harder to hunt, leading to increased movement and potential encounters. Netting, especially loose or fine-mesh garden netting, is especially cruel for snakes because it often leads to slow and painful deaths. Snakes, when moving through or over netting, easily get their heads, bodies, and scales caught. As they struggle to free themselves, the netting tightens, cutting off circulation and causing stress, injury, or suffocation. The fine strands of netting can dig into a snake's soft body as it attempts to escape. This can result in deep wounds, severed tails, or even the loss of entire body sections. Many snakes die from infections or blood loss even if they manage to escape. Trapped in netting, snakes may be left for hours or even days before being found. During this time, they experience dehydration, exhaustion and exposure to predators, which can attack and even eat them while they are still alive. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
100 slithery, venomous snakes found in homeowner's backyard: ‘I'd be moving out!'
Boo, hiss. A homeowner was terrified to discover nearly 100 venomous snakes in a writhing black knot in his backyard — in a case experts have described as a 'rare occurrence.' The trouble began last week when David Stein initially spotted a handful of the slithering creatures clustered together in his garden — leading the Australia man to immediately call in a specialized removal crew. While waiting for assistance, he began researching on the internet and learned that the snakes in question — red-belly blacks — are known to climb on top of one another before giving birth to a litter. Sure enough, when snake catcher Dylan Cooper arrived at Stein's house in suburban Sydney a few hours later to help Stein remove the creatures from his yard, the pair discovered a whopping total of 102 of the poisonous beasts — from pregnant all the way down to newborns — hidden in the mulch. 'Just seeing that amount in one group, it gives you a bit of the shudders,' Stein told the Associated Press. The men rolled up their sleeves and bagged the reptiles to take them away. Several of the snakes are believed to have given birth in the bag. 'You can get a decent number like that when the babies are hatching,' Reptile Relocation owner Cory Kerewaro said. 'But to have this many venomous snakes, no one's come across it.' In the end, the professionals counted five adult snakes and 97 offspring. A video of the captured snakes squirming in a huge pile posted on Reptile Relocation's Facebook horrified viewers. 'I'd be moving out!' one person wrote online. 'I wouldn't even pack my stuff,' another agreed. 'I'd just leave. The house, the mulch pile. It's all theirs now!' However, Scott Eipper, an Australian snake expert, insisted 'this is an isolated incident.' 'It's certainly a very rare occurrence,' he told the AP. The largest snake removal job Kerewaro has ever heard of was 30 non-venomous carpet Pythons. Stein was told more snakes could slither back to his property to give birth next year — so he'll be making his lot much less hospitable for the creatures. 'Within the next couple of days, this big pile of mulch will be gone,' Stein confirmed. Kerewaro has kept the snakes while determining the best way to release them back into the wild. 'Because there was such a large number, obviously people were a bit concerned where 100 snakes were going to go,' Kerewaro said. He has been granted permission by government officials to release them into a national park but has yet to do so. To ease worriers' minds, he insisted 'they'll be far enough away to avoid any human interaction: 100 snakes are going into the middle of the bush in the middle of nowhere.' While Stein quickly cleared his home in hopes of discouraging the snakes from returning, one man in Florida transformed his house into a haven for hundreds of exotic reptiles — and even lets his young kids cuddle with the slithery serpents in bed. 'It's normal for our family,' said Socratis Christoforu of Fort Lauderdale. His collection includes rare green tree pythons, Amazon basin boas, Boeleni pythons and two venomous species, including a rear-fanged Bioga.
