QVMAG shares snake awareness tips

Natural sciences collections officer and herpetologist at QVMAG Simon Fearn has said there’s no need to be terrified of our reptilian friends as they come out of torpor [hibernation] from winter.

“People have this idea that a snake will come out of nowhere and chase you down and bite you, they seem to think that they’re really aggressive when in actual fact they’re very shy,” Mr Fearn said.

“There's no need to be terrified of them if you just give them room to move away they generally always will.”

As winter ends, snakes are coming out of torpor to refuel after sleeping for three months. 

Mr Fearn said this may result in snakes moving into populated areas such as backyards.

The most common variety of snakes people will encounter in Launceston are copperheads, Mr Fearn said they have never been documented to claim a human life.

Copperheads mostly eat frogs and other small wetland dwellers.

Other varieties include the smaller white lipped snake as well as the tiger snake, which feeds mostly on woodland rabbits and birds.

Mr Fearn said most recorded snake bites in Australia involve men under 30 who are affected by alcohol, as well as people who own snakes as pets.

If you come across a snake Mr Fearn said giving the creature space and moving slowly away are the best ways to avoid being attacked.

“They’ll fill themselves up with air and they’ll hiss and they’ll lunge and lot’s of noise look really scary but it’s all bluff,” he said.

“If you stand your ground they’ll always turn and go away so if you’re walking along and you see a snake just calmly walk the other way or give it a wide berth.”

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