Snakes ssslither out
HOT weather is driving snakes out of hiding across the region, with snake catcher Matt Galati being called to remove 22 of the reptiles in the past two weeks.
Mr Galati said the eggs the snakes had laid at the beginning of the warm weather were starting to hatch, and adults were looking for food to replenish their energy after laying eggs.
"I've been called out all over, from over north to Branyan," he said. "They're mostly browns and green tree snakes."
Vetcross practice principal Tim Hill said several dogs had been brought in with snake bite at the beginning of the warm weather, but he had seen only two this month, compared with four last November.
Dr Hill said there was not much property owners could do to protect their pets from snakes.
"If they get bitten bring them in as soon as you can," he said.
Dr Hill said the problem with animals was it usually took them some time to show the symptoms of snake bite.
He said the identity of the offending snake was usually established by a swab of the bite or analysing a urine sample.
"The problem is animals will usually lick the site before we can see it,' and usually urinate before we see them," he said.
