Snakelets stirring

By Jonathon Howard

SNAKELETS ARE stirring across the Tweed Shire, according to resident snake catchers Max Walker and Sarah Mailey, who are keeping extra busy with callouts this week.

Mr Walker said August and September each year marks the start of the snake breeding season with January and February prime birthing season.

“Around September, residents will often see males wrapped around each other fighting for the right to mate with a female,” Mr Walker said.

“The upshot is that from late January onwards, baby snakes (or snakelets) are being born.

Mr Walker said some snakes such as the red-bellied black and the smaller eastern smalleyed snakes give birth to live young.

“Most species in the Tweed — including the coastal carpet python, green and brown tree snakes and the eastern brown — lay eggs,” he said.

“Once the mother has laid her eggs she departs.

“The one exception is the coastal carpet python mother, who stays wrapped around the eggs for the seven-week incubation period to control the temperature of the eggs.

“During this time, she will not eat and once the eggs begin to hatch, she will depart.

“Much the same as baby turtles, the newborn snakes are on their own from day one.

“There are no watchful parents keeping an eye on proceedings.”

Mr Walker said snakelets born into an urban environment treat houses, dogs, cats, people and cars as just part of their jungle.

“Snakelets end up inside a house not because they are hunting the occupants, but because they don’t know any better,” he said.

“Most newborn snakes will not survive. They will fall prey to birds, other snakes, cats, dogs, cars etc.

“To help become one of the survivors, they instinctively rear up if they are threatened to make their attacker pause. Older snakes are generally much calmer.”

Ms Mailey said identifying newborn snakes can be difficult.

“For this reason, treat all snakes with respect and don’t handle them,” she said.

“Each year there will be somebody posting a photo of themselves on social media holding a young eastern brown asking the general population for identification.

“The best course of action is to leave the snake alone.

“Take a photo and send to a professional snake catcher, or post on one of the snake identification pages. Snakes are not out to get you.

“They are trying to live their lives as best they can and will avoid you if possible.

“If the snake is inside the house, drop a towel on top of it and call a snake catcher.”

The two local Tweed snake catchers are Sarah Mailey 0474 280 344 (Tweed Heads) and Max Walker 0424 413 701 (Murwillumbah).