As the weather begins to warm people are being reminded to take steps to ensure their homes are not attractive destinations for snakes.
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The reminders come after a group of snakes were spotted catching the sun and sheltering from the wind in scrub on the East Coast this week.
Reptile rescuer and enthusiast Jane Guy said even though the weather had not yet warmed up completely, people could start expecting to see Tasmanian snakes appearing from their winter brumation.
“Our snakes are very cold tolerant,” she said.
“They will very soon start emerging to look for food.”
“There have been a few copperhead sightings out and about already.”
Mrs Guy suggested people tidy their yards and keep their pet’s water bowls away from the house to discourage snakes from coming close to living spaces.
Snake safety and awareness is also at the forefront of Bruce Press’ mind at Reptile Rescue Tasmania.
Through the organisation, Mr Press runs displays in public and in schools, along with awareness and management courses.
They also run canine snake avoidance sessions, and have been for five years now.
“My passion is training dogs to avoid snakes,” he said.
Mr Press posted a video to the Reptile Rescue Tasmania Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon showing a group of snakes bundled together in windswept East Coast scrub.
The tiger snakes, said Mr Press, had come out of a nearby rabbit hole they had been brumating in for sun when they found strong winds as well.
Brumation is the hibernation-like state snakes enter during the colder months of the year.
“It was very windy here on the East Coast so they just hid from the wind,” he said.
According to Mr Press, the snakes would have grouped together to shield their eyes – which don’t have lids – from the drying effect of the wind, along with the dust, sand, and grit it can carry.
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