By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
SNAKE Catchers Victoria’s Barry Goldsmith has hit out at claims there is a “snake plague” in Cranbourne after three dogs were killed by snake bites and an elderly woman was bitten by a tiger snake.
The incidents all occurred in Dalray Court, Cranbourne, and Mr Goldsmith said it’s humans who are encroaching on what was once snake territory.
“There’s a lot of bushland around Cranbourne and there’s not many places for the snakes to go,” he said.
“They’re out of space and every time we put up housing or industrial estates or a freeway they have even fewer places to live and are forced to enter people’s properties.”
Mr Goldsmith catches snakes throughout the south-east and said this season has been “no different” to any other snake season.
“There are fewer snakes now than there ever was but they have fewer places to live.
“Over this season I’ve removed 70 snakes from people’s properties in the south-east, which is not unusual,” he said.
“It’s all about teaching people how to live with snakes and teaching them to respect the wildlife around us.
“They won’t bite unless they are startled or touched.
“The only time the dogs get bitten is when they attack the snakes.
“Venom is used by snakes on prey not for self-defence – it’s illegal to kill snakes and a lot of people get bitten when they try to kill them,” he added.
Senior investigator at Animal Cruelty Hotline Australia and Casey resident Barrie Tapp agreed there was no plague in Cranbourne.
“I don’t think it’s a plague, just more bites are being reported,” Mr Tapp said.
“City people are coming out into rural country areas and there are snakes there and they have got to realise that you have to learn to live with them, just like possums.”
Mr Goldsmith said even though his phone has been running hot with calls for help, “I know for a fact it’s not a snake plague, it’s just more people coming into contact with snakes.
“Every time grass gets high more rodents come out and they go to houses to find food and the snakes follow them,” he said.
Mr Goldsmith advises people to wear long pants if entering areas where there may be snakes to prevent a bad bite and slowly stepping away from a snake if one is nearby.
