A SOUTHEAST snake catcher is warning people not to kill snakes on their property, saying it is cruel and illegal.
“It’s that old mentality that the only good snake is a dead snake and it’s not really acceptable these days,” Barry Goldsmith said.
“It’s animal cruelty.”
Mr Goldsmith said while he was called to Botanic Ridge and fringe areas in Casey, and industrial areas of Greater Dandenong, almost every day during spring and summer, snakes were actually less prolific now than in decades past.
He said while the number of snakes in the area had not changed much in the past few years, there was less land for them to go on due to ongoing development.
“There are a lot more people and a lot less land for snakes,” he said.
“That’s why people are coming into contact with them more often.
“If I was to go out looking for snakes I would be hard pressed to find one these days, but 10 years ago I would have been able to find one every five minutes.”
Copperheads were the most common variety of snakes in Greater Dandenong, but people often thought they were brown snakes, he said.
“But copperheads have never killed anybody and they kill tiger snakes, so it’s actually good to have them around,” he said.
“Generally if you leave them alone they will just move along by themselves.”
Mr Goldsmith said people should try to make their homes less attractive to snakes by cleaning up spilt pet food that could attract rats.
Department of Environment spokesman Nick Talbot said people who saw a snake should phone 136 186 or a licensed snake catcher.
“Taking or destroying a snake from the wild can result in a $7773 fine and/or six months imprisonment,” he said.
“DELWP has not received any recent reports of or issued any fines for attacks on snakes (in 2015-16).”
SNAKE SAFETY
n If you come into contact with a snake, don’t freeze, step back — the snake is unlikely to come after you
n Get your dog and kids to safety, keep an eye on the snake, and if you want it removed, call a snake catcher
n Do not attempt to kill the snake, it is dangerous and illegal
