With warm weather sweeping across the East Coast and hotter days on the way, the Australian Reptile Park is issuing an urgent warning: snake season has officially begun. As temperatures rise, snakes are emerging from brumation earlier than usual, moving across gardens and suburban areas in search of food, sun, and mates.
Park Manager and snake expert Billy Collett is urging the public to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to reduce the risk of snake encounters.
“Don’t become a statistic. The majority of snake bites that happen in Australia are from people who don’t know what they’re doing, trying to catch them,” Mr Collett said.
“If you see a snake whether you think it’s venomous or not, treat it as venomous and never approach it. Call a licensed snake catcher instead. Snakes don’t go out of their way to hurt people, but if they feel threatened, they will defend themselves.”
How to Prepare Your Home and Garden
With snakes venturing closer to suburban areas during the warmer months, the Park recommends taking these precautions:
- Keep grass short and lawns well maintained.
- Remove debris, tin, or wood piles, which can act as “snake hotels” when heated by the sun.
- Avoid clutter in backyards that creates safe hiding spots for snakes.
Know Snake Bite First Aid
Understanding snake bite first aid could save a life. The Park advises the following steps in case of a bite:
Keep the victim calm and as still as possible.
Remove any jewellery from the limb.
Apply a pressure-immobilisation bandage over the bite site three times, then bandage the entire limb.
Call an ambulance immediately or get the victim to the hospital as quickly as possible.
“By applying a pressure-immobilisation bandage, the venom cannot easily spread through the body, buying the victim more time to reach lifesaving medical care,” Mr Collett explained.
Why Snake Safety Awareness Matters
The Australian Reptile Park’s antivenom program plays a critical role in public safety. The Park remains the only facility in the world that milks terrestrial Australian snakes for venom, which is supplied to CSL Seqirus to produce lifesaving antivenom used in hospitals nationwide. On average, the program helps save an estimated 300 lives each year.
“Education is just as important as antivenom in saving lives,” Mr Collett added. “If Australians take basic precautions and know what to do in an emergency, we can dramatically reduce the number of serious snake bite cases this season.”
As snakes become more active during spring, the Park emphasizes caution, awareness, and respect for these fascinating but potentially dangerous creatures. Taking simple preventive measures in gardens and knowing first aid can make the difference between a safe encounter and a life-threatening situation.