About the Catchment Area : Animals

Snakes
Snakes, like sharks, are one of the few animals in Australia capable of causing humans harm. This capability has given many of us a pathological fear of snakes, leading to countless snake killings and an appalling public profile for our slithery co-habitants. Considering how few people are actually bitten by snakes in Australia each year, the fear is somewhat unwarranted. Could it be that we simply just need to learn more about our indigenous reptiles?

The importance of snakes in our local ecology
Snakes are predators and therefore use other organisms as a source of protein. Without predators in a food chain the survival of prey species may actually be compromised. Consider this scenario from Western Australia.

“Among the top of the food-chain predators in south-west wetlands of Western Australia is the tiger snake (Notechis scutatus). The individual frogs, birds, turtles and lizards taken, apart from those with physical flaws, are generally those with a reduced instinctive response to threat, be it in their selection of shelter sites, foraging behaviour, activity periods, etc.

The tiger snake, by removing these genetically flawed individuals, contributes to the natural selection process. That is, it fine tunes the genetic fingerprint for success in the other organisms at that particular point in time and in that particular environment”.

In more recent years since European settlement of Australia and the introduction of the house mouse, snakes have learnt to utilise this prominent food source and survive despite the decline of their native foods; bird chicks, marsupials and native rodents. Studies have demonstrated a significant economic value of snakes to the grain industry due to control of mice in grain fields.

Humans and snakes
Snakes are particularly shy, however spring and summer brings inevitable sightings around buildings and areas frequented by humans. The good news is that they cannot eat you therefore they do not WANT to bite you. Snakes only bite when threatened, trodden on or accidentally picked up in gardening material such as prunings and firewood. Furthermore, snake venom is not a cocktail of poison designed to harm humans but rather a combination of proteins produced specifically for the purpose of immobilising prey and accelerating the digestion of that prey.

Each year in Australia approximately 2000 people are bitten by snakes. Of these, only 200 require anti-venom treatment, as poisonous snakes do not always inject venom when they bite. Venom is 'expensive' for a snake to produce, therefore they are reluctant to use venom for defence. Most bites occur when attempting to kill or handle a snake. One or two snake bites prove fatal in Australia each year, giving the average Australian about a one in ten million chance of dying from a snake bite each year.

Living with snakes
So we now understand their importance, but the prospect of a poisonous snake taking up residence in our back yard, particularly if we have mammalian pets, is still not very appealing. Like so many animals perceived as problematic, snakes will only live where suitable habitat and food is available.

The most likely backyards for snakes are those with old junk stored directly on the ground providing ideal shelter. To avoid snakes, junk should be stored off the ground. Care should be taken to manage grain for bird aviaries and chickens as it attracts mice, which in turn attract snakes. Backyards where dogs are kept should be free of long grass and rubbish. A low continuous corrugated iron or cement wall around the perimeter of the yard will generally exclude snakes. Dry dog food should be stored where it is inaccessible to mice.

Snakes are not the enemy but just another native animal trying to survive in an altered landscape. Like all of our indigenous animals, they play an important role in local ecology. Whilst we don't need to accommodate them in our backyards, removing the habitat will generally force the snake to move on. Professional snake catchers are also available and will generally relocate the animal rather than killing it. Contact your local Council for information. Attempting to kill a snake WILL put you in harm’s way.

Source: Brian Bush of Snakes Harmful and Harmless. Learn more about snakes on the amazing website: http://members.iinet.net.au/~bush/