Professional catcher urges calm amid early start to snake season

A LOCAL snake catcher is urging residents to take a deep breath when sighting snakes during what is expected to be hotter and drier summer than usual.

Leopold-based snake catcher Jack Gatto said residents across Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast, the Bellarine, and Golden Plains should expect more snake sightings in the coming months, with snake catchers receiving more callouts earlier than in previous years.

“We haven’t had as cold as a winter as we thought, so I’m actually seeing juvenile snakes out and about as well which is unusual, but people are also becoming a lot more snake-aware.

“The warmer start to spring has definitely played a role in the higher amount of sighting this early in the year.”

Mr Gatto, who owns the business Bellarine and Surfcoast Snake Catching, said he has received more than 20 callouts in the past two weeks alone, an average of 10 each week, but added that number would only increase towards the end of the year.

The most common snakes found in Greater Geelong and the Bellarine are the lowland copperhead snake and the tiger snake – both are highly venomous.

The Surf Coast hosts a larger variety of snakes, including eastern brown snakes and red-bellied black snakes, but tiger snakes and lowland copperheads are commonly known to appear first during snake season.

The Bureau of Meteorology announced an El Niño event earlier this month, meaning a hotter and drier summer period is to be expected with reduced amounts of rainfall.

Mr Gatto said El Niño could play a role in snake behaviour due to the hotter, drier conditions.

“Snake sightings do increase during weather events like this as a result mainly due to lack of water sources.

“Where is the perfect place for water you might ask, someone’s backyard where there might be a dog bowl, and that is where we get our dog/snake interactions.

“If this happens, always see a vet, whether you see a strike or not – it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

A catcher of more than 14 years professionally, Gatto said anyone who saw a snake should take a deep breath, move to a distance of at least three metres from the snake and phone a professional snake catcher.

Snakes are vital to the environment and are a protected species in Victoria. Fines of up to $10,000 and two years in prison can be enforced if snakes are harmed.