24/7 Fast snake removal call 0403 875 409
About Melbourne's Snakes
Eastern Tiger Snake
Eastern tiger snake
Eastern Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus) is the most common snake found in Melbourne. It is ranked the 5th most venomous land snake in the world.
Its venom is extremely dangerous & contains POWERFUL
Neurotoxins, Blood coagulants, Haemolysins & Myotoxins .
Symptoms of a tiger snake bite include: Foot and neck localised pain, Tingling, Numbness, Sweating, Rapid onset of breathing difficulties, This leads to paralysis & Death.
Description
Tiger snakes can have variations of colour and banding from brown, black, grey, yellow with alternating shades of dark and light bands across the snake. Bandings however are not always visible.
Tiger snakes can have shorter and broader heads compared to brown snakes and are typically found at 1 – 1.5 metres long in Melbourne however I have caught tiger snakes easily over 2 metres long.
Juvenile snakes are very common in suburbia.
Behaviour
They are very active during the day however can be found hunting and night time. When threatened, the tiger snake will flatten its neck and raise its head similar to a cobra. This is a defensive posture but the tiger snake will bite if harmed, touched or you feel threatened.
When looking for a tiger snake, don’t always look at the ground. Tiger snakes habitually raid bird nests and can be found climbing tree branches at incredible heights. It is not uncommon for me to find a tiger snake on a house roof or hanging from a fence.
distribution & Food
Eastern Tiger snakes can eat frogs, lizards, mice, rats, small mammals and more.
They are found all over Melbourne and are regularly encountered in people's homes and back yards.
Tiger snakes can be found all times of the year as they're very adaptable to the cold and wet environments.
Because of their stripe patterns, they hide very well in shrubs and long grass.
Eastern Brown Snake
Eastern brown snake
The eastern brown snake or 'common brown' is the 2nd most venomous land snake in the world. Together with other brown snakes, they are responsible for more deaths every year in Australia than any other group of snakes.
This species of snake has extremely toxic venom that contains POWERFUL neurotoxins and blood anti coagulants. A bite can cause a person to suffer diarrhea, dizziness, renal failure, convulsions, paralysis and cardiac arrest. The bite mark however might not appear until around up to 30 minutes after striking.
Description
The fangs of an eastern brown are extremely short. Bites through clothes are not common however it can easily penetrate human skin and the bites sometimes cannot be felt.
These long, slender snakes are a tan brown colour with a lighter underside. Juveniles often have striping.
Eastern brown snakes typically grow up to 2 metres long and can be quite formidable to deal with.
Behaviour
These are very fast moving snakes will flee if disturbed. However if the East Brown is provoked, it will raise the front part of the body off the ground winding into an “S” shape. Its mouth will gape open and be ready to strike forward. If you see a snake in this position, back away quickly but safely and remove all persons from the area.
Do NOT in any circumstances try to handle one of these snakes. Only licensed snake catchers and snake handlers can properly deal with these snakes.
distribution & Food
Eastern Brown Snakes thrive in populated areas including farms, suburban towns with high human population or any areas with mice. Eastern brown snakes are mostly active during the day however young brown snakes can be found at night time.
Eastern brown snakes readily slither into people's homes as they can flatten out their body to slide under doors or windows.
Lowland Copperhead Snake
LOWLAND COPPERHEAD
Lowland Copperheads are among the lesser known of Melbourne's venomous snakes. There are different variations of Australian Copperhead snakes which are not related to American Copperheads. Their venom contains post synaptic neurotoxins which is potentially deadly for humans. At least one recorded human fatality from copperheads has occurred.
Description
Lowland Copperheads are highly variable in colour ranging from light grey, reddish, brown and black. Adults which are black coloured often have a prominent orange/red streak running along the side of the body which causes many to mistake them for red bellied black snakes. The copperhead is usually 1-1.5 metres long. Females tend to be up to 1 metre long and males generally grow up to 1.5 metres long.
Behaviour
Lowland Copperheads are typically docile and very shy with humans. Generally these snakes will retire and retreat if disturbed, however if threatened can assume menacing positions puffing up their body to appear bigger. When scared they often repeatedly change position with great speed ready to strike out. These are very fast snakes when they bite. However, they are not usually aggressive and bites are uncommon.
distribution & Food
These snakes are found near damp habitats such as streams or swampy areas. The lowland copperhead is found all over southern Victoria and has a preference for places near water including around ponds, dams, canals, drainage ditches and along the sides of roads. Copperheads have adapted to living in cold temperature climates. These snakes can be active in weather considered to be too cold for other snakes.
Red Bellied Black Snake
Red bellied
black snake
Red Bellied Black Snakes are a dangerous and venomous species. Their bites contain strong hemotoxic and cytotoxic venom which have anticoagulant and myotoxic effects.
Symptoms of a bite include:
-
Nausea
-
Vomiting
-
Headache
-
Abdominal Pain
-
Diarrhoea
-
Sweating
-
Local/general muscle pain and weakness
-
Red/brown urine.
-
Death (in some cases)
Description
As the name suggests, red bellied black snakes have a glossy black back and a reddish/pinkish/white underbelly. They can grow up to 2 meters long. One particular snake was found to be 10 kgs however this is extremely uncommon.
There is not much variation in colour for red bellied black snakes. Their head also is glossy. When red bellied black snakes bite, they tend to be clumsy and chew on the victim.
Behaviour
This species is active by day. They are typically a very shy snake and will often freeze to avoid detection. When approached, the red bellied black snake will almost always try to flee at first instead towards the nearest hiding spot. When unable to escape, these snakes usually spread their neck, hiss, make mock strikes with a closed mouth “head butting” the target.
If severely provoked, injured or made to fear for its life, red bellied black snakes can deliver a very fast bite.
distribution & Food
These snakes are found near damp habitats such as streams or swampy areas. The lowland copperhead is found all over southern Victoria and has a preference for places near water including around ponds, dams, canals, drainage ditches and along the sides of roads. Copperheads have adapted to living in cold temperature climates. These snakes can be active in weather considered to be too cold for other snakes.
Little Whip Snake
LITTLE whip snake
As the name suggests, little whip snakes are very small and whip around when startled. They sometimes emit a foul odour to deter predators.
These snakes are considered venomous and at least one recorded fatality has occurred however this is likely due to a pre-existing medical condition.
Though venomous, these cute and shy snakes tend to hide and are rarely seen.
Description
With black markings on the top of the head, these little whip snakes have a orange or brown/reddish body with a lighter or underbelly. They tend to grow to about 20 - 30 cm maximum but are often much smaller in size.
One unique feature about the little whip snake is that its tongue is quite long for the size of the snake as can be seen in the photos above.
Behaviour
Little whip snakes are a shy reclusive species. They tend to be nocturnal snakes or found hiding under cover during the day.
Due to their small size, they're not often found by the general public unless they have crawled into your home.
distribution & Food
Typically found in rocky localities to the north and west of Melbourne, Little Whip Snakes are usually found under rocks or leaf litter. They can be found in grassland, near logs or loose rocks and in well drained hill sides.
The little whip snake feeds on lizards and frogs.
Small Eyed Snake
Small eyed snake
As the name suggests, little whip snakes are very small and whip around when startled. They sometimes emit a foul odour to deter predators.
These snakes are considered venomous and at least one recorded fatality has occurred however this is likely due to a pre-existing medical condition.
Though venomous, these cute and shy snakes tend to hide and are rarely seen.
Description
A small to moderately-sized species. The head is barely distinct from the solid body. The back, sides and top of the head and body are steely blue-black. The underbelly is sometimes white, blue or pink. As the name suggests, the eyes are small and darkly coloured. The Small-eyed Snake may grow to over a metre; however the average size is around 50cm.
Behaviour
Small Eyed Snakes are predominantly nocturnal species. They are not very well known because they are rarely found by the general public. These snakes tend to be very shy and reclusive and are not usually found during the day. The only small eyed snakes I've found have been indoors at night time.
distribution & Food
The small eyed snake is found in eastern Australia between northern Cape York Peninsula in Queensland and eastern Victoria.
Small-eyed Snakes are found in high moisture level habitats including rainforest as well as woodlands, heaths and rock outcrops. They shelter beneath stones, rock, bark, fallen wood and rock crevices.
They like to eat lizard eggs, dragons, skinks, and similar size reptiles.
White Lipped Snake
white lipped snake
The white-lipped snake is a small species of snake endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is Australia's most cold-tolerant snake, inhabiting areas above the snow line.
While considered to be venomous, white lipped snakes have small fangs and small venom glands. If bitten, medical assistance is essential however it is unlikely to cause serious injury to adult humans.
Description
White lipped snakes typically grow to only about 40 cm in length but are often much smaller than this.
As the name sugegsts, this species gets its common name from a thin, white line bordered above by a narrow black line that runs along the upper lip of the snake.
They typically have a grey/brown coloured scales on their back.
Behaviour
These small snakes are active hunters, but are a shy species, tending to hide at the approach of people.
Domestic and feral cats kill white lipped snakes.
distribution & Food
White Lipped snakes feeds almost exclusively on skinks. They are sun loving snakes found in heaths, grasslands, and open woodlands.
White-lipped snakes shelter beneath ground debris, rocks and logs. They can forage in winter on fine days since their small size allows them to heat up quickly.
External Websites & Links
THE
Mark Pelley The SNAKE HUNTER is a venomous based snake catcher in Melbourne. The main site of The SNAKE HUNTER Can be found by clicking the link below.
ABOUT
The official Website of Mark Pelley The Snake Hunter. Mark was born in Melbourne and has been handling snakes since 2012. He is a father of 5 beautiful girls and loves to work with the community to improve safety from snakes. Click on Mark Pelley's website below:
Mark Pelley teaches dogs to avoid snakes through his Canine Snake Avoidance Program. One snake bite in a dog can cost you thousands and also, you risk losing your best friend. Don't put your dog at risk. Click on the link below to learn more: