Snakes are beginning to come out but the last thing people should do is harm the reptiles snake catcher Ian Ross says don’t want to attack you.
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The Manyana snake catcher has been relocating snakes in the Shoalhaven for five years and has found respect for the animals.
Calls from people with snakes in their home or yard were becoming more frequent as the weather warmed up, Mr Ross said.
“I get calls regularly during summer,” he said.
“Every snake I get, I release. I will only keep them if they are injured. I have done the training on how to bandage them up and heal their wounds.
“I do this voluntarily. I would rather go out and spend my time trying to save the snakes, then have someone hit them over the head with a shovel.
“They are protected native animals. It is like killing a koala bear.
“I don’t believe in having snakes cooped up. I would rather let them go in the bush where they are supposed to be instead of having them in tanks. It isn’t natural.”
Mr Ross encouraged people who find a snake on their property to steer clear, call someone to catch it and don’t antagonise it.
He said the most common snakes found in the region were red belly blacks, pythons, eastern small-eyed snake, mustard belly snakes and death adders.
“Most of the snakes here aren’t too bad. Pythons are beautiful creatures and do a wonderful job keeping the mice and rat population down,” he said.
“People shouldn’t really be concerned about blacks. They don’t want to be around people, they want to get away.
“The only time I have seen a red belly black snake turn and pose to attack was when it had been harassed by a dog and felt threatened.”
The strangest thing he has seen? A snake with its head caught in a drink can.
“I had to get someone to hold it while I cut the can off its head,” Mr Ross said.
“It had some marks around it head from where it was stuck, but it lived.”
Mr Ross has also captured a snake from the foyer of the Mollymook Golf Club and the Bunnings Trade Centre.
If you find an unwanted snake in your yard, phone Ian on 0438 608 556.