Are there snakes in perth

Mostly active during the day, though they are known to also hunt at night. They are also more tolerant of cool weather so can be some of the first to emerge in spring, and still be seen throughout the night. Their large size, aggressive nature and highly toxic venom mean the tiger snake poses a high threat to humans. Fun Fact: Tiger Snakes give birth to live young, unlike most snakes which are egg laying.

A tiger snake litter can be up to 30 young, though the record is Dugites are commonly brown, olive-brown or greyish-brown with a long slender body and small head. The average length of a dugite is 1. Another species with a wide variety of habitats, the dugite can be found in coastal areas, dunes, woodlands as well as more open settings such as fields and parks.

These snakes appear quite comfortable in urban settings, making use of industrial and building materials for shelter. Dugites are one of the more timid snakes. When encountered, they mostly choose flight over fight.

The king brown is commonly brown to reddish-brown with a pale belly. Individual scales often grade from brown at the back to orange- or reddish-brown at the front. Large king brown snakes can reach over 2m and have thick body and wide head. Again, the colour and pattern of this snake varies across Australia.

King brown snakes have a wide range of habitats from true deserts to woodland areas, and mulga bush hence the name. Behaviour appears to vary across Australia with southern populations known to be shy and evasive, whereas their northern cousins are more aggressive. When threatened the king brown snake will flatten its body and raise its head off the grown in a sweeping arc parallel to the ground.

When provoked the king brown will bite ferociously, sometimes holding on or chewing as it injects its venom. The Black Snake venom is highly toxic and often injected in large quantities. If bitten, Black Snake anti-venom is needed rather than Brown snake anti-venom.

Occasionally, an accurate identification can only be assured after a close examination — not something we should be doing on a hike!

There are three species of western brown snake, all long and thin with a small, chisel-shaped head. The head is generally indistinct from the body. The body colour can vary through a range of browns, yellows or greys, sometimes with a dark nape and head. Scales tend to be small and sometimes shiny. Some populations show colour banding meaning they are often confused with the tiger snake. Western brown snakes are found in arid and semi-arid environments, grasslands, and pastoral areas to name a few.

They have been known to find cover in manmade materials such as corrugated iron sheeting. The best thing we can do to protect our family and ourselves is to educate. By understanding snakes and their behaviour, we are better able to share their environment.

The reality is that we can take all the precautions detailed here, but we can never reduce the risk of a snake encounter to zero. When we visit the bush we acknowledge that we are entering an ecosystem, one that the snake is very much part of. It is important to know how to avoid a snakebite, but also to protect the environment.

A key philosophy in the hiking community is Leave No Trace, even when this involves creatures that pose a threat to us. Read more Family Adventures from around Western Australia:. Stop right where you are. Try to remain calm and back up slowly. Do not approach the snake or try to move it.

Remember, a fifth of snake bite deaths are due to people trying to move or kill a snake. It is therefore inevitable that we may encounter a slithery friend while camping. Here are a few tips to help you keep your outdoor abode free from snakes:.

A key difference between a tiger snake and a dugite is that tiger snakes are territorial. If you see a dugite, that individual may be a long way away by the next day.

Tiger snakes, however, tend to stay in their territory, only venturing out if the food source has dried up. For this reason, if you see a snake in a particular spot one day, it is probably likely the snake will frequent that area.

There is a good chance it might be larger than the whole campsite anyway. A walk in the bush can be both relaxing and exhilarating, and maybe a bit surprising if you happen to stumble upon a snake sunning itself on the path. Generally, if a snake hears or feels you approaching, it will move out of sight, however, if you are moving quickly, or on soft ground, it may not know you are there until you are both in the same space.

Here are some tips to keep to keep you and your family safe while hiking. Two weeks before writing this post our daughter had her first asthma attack in the middle of the night while we were camping. Luckily we were only 25mins from Denmark and had mobile service. The Health Department said there had been snake bites recorded in WA to the end of October this year, while last year there were a total of bites recorded, up from in Wildcare received snake-related calls from residents — most reporting a snake sighted on their property or in their home — in the last 10 days of last month.

It has prompted a warning from the Parks and Wildlife Service for people to mow grass, tidy up their backyard, get rid of junk or scrap metal laying around, clean up aviaries and chicken coops, and use traps to reduce rat and mice populations, discouraging snakes from taking up residence.

Snake catcher Steve Smartt, a veteran of 24 years in the job, said most of his calls were in Spearwood, Henderson, Cockburn and South Fremantle. Chevron Down Icon Submit a story tip. Camera Icon Send us your pictures. Chevron Down Icon Back to top. North Wanneroo Joondalup Stirling. Central Western Suburbs Central Southern.

South Fremantle Melville Canning Cockburn. Mandurah Mandurah Coastal Times. They have long fancied sheds and many a farmer has welcomed them knowing that they will help keep down the mice and rats. Click here to know more about Carpet Pythons. Dugites are mainly found in tree stumps, firewood, rubbish heaps and sheds.