Injured snake

By Bridget Brady
The Mornington Peninsula-based snake catcher has had many calls from Greater Dandenong residents during the last few weeks. But a complicating factor has been that the callers have tried to deal with the snake before calling him. And, as the saying goes, the injured snakes are aggressive and angry.
Mr Goldsmith said he wanted to encourage residents not to hit snakes adding that he was often called to the scene after people tried to kill them.
“People are ringing up after they’ve tried to kill a snake with a shovel, but it hasn’t worked,” he said.
“People forget that this is when snakes are most dangerous. If you half-kill a snake they are super dangerous animals and will bite anything that comes near it.”
Mr Goldsmith said he wanted people to call him when they found a snake in their yard, and not try to kill them.
He said he did not recommend trying to kill a snake, except on the rare occasion when someone’s life was at risk.
“People like to think they are heroes and kill things like snakes but they are actually endangering themselves more.
“Just walking out of the back door and finding a snake does not warrant killing it.”
No one had been injured during the last few weeks, but Mr Goldsmith wanted to warn residents it was only a matter of time.
“I don’t want anyone to get bitten. All you need to do (when you see a snake) is take a couple of steps back, keep an eye on it, and call a snake catcher…someone should be in the area within 30 minutes.”
Mr Goldsmith said he recommended that people on larger properties left water out for snakes in an area away from their houses.
“Cranbourne and surrounding areas are very dry at the moment so snakes are out looking for water. If people know they have snakes on their rural properties they can leave a dish of water far out…all wild fire will take advantage of that water.”
If anyone finds a snake in their yard they can call Barry on 0408 067 062.