Snakeproofing

Snakeproofing your property is critical if you have you have young children, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs or birds, or any pets or livestock, or for any other reason are concerned about the risks of snakes entering your property. Listed below are some basic maintenance measures you should take to protect your family and pets:

• Reduce takeaway meals for snakes- Keep rodent levels down by regular baiting.

• Keep grass and shrubs well trimmed.

• Snakeproofing also involves the removal of dead wood from around the property on a regular basis and keeping firewood stacks away from the house - snakes love dark hidey-holes to nest in, so that means no wood or rock piles!

• Tidy up the property regularly no fibro or corrugated iron sheets left lying around the property. Place these materials etc on shelving in a lockable shed that has been made snake proof.

• Ensure all entry points to your house are sealed well; this includes gas/water pipes & electrical wiring.

• Run a rubber strip across the bottom of all external doors to prevent snakes entering by this method

• Regular inspections & repairs of roofs for loose tiles and/or holes will also help to eliminate entry points for unwanted guests. You may not realize it but an attic is a great place for a snake to live it is dry, warm and often offers easy meals such as rats, so why go somewhere else!

• Air vents in your home that are located close to the ground, should be covered with small gauge wire mesh.

• When snakeproofing bird aviaries & chicken yards etc. use a small gauge mesh. If possible use a mesh floor just below ground level. The mesh should be small enough so that a small to medium size snake cannot squeeze through. This is especially relevant for the small ground birds such as quails that are kept in aviaries and bird nesting or laying areas. Many Snakes species love to eat eggs and small birds.

• Pay particular attention to keeping rubbish and long grass away from childrens play areas.

These basic snakeproofing precautions will help to deter snakes and should make your home a much safer place for children and pets.

In general most snake species will often only display defensive behaviour if they feel threatened or are provoked. So if you come across a snake stay well clear and do not attempt to capture or handle it yourself. If possible, contain the snake by closing a door, or similar, but only do this if there is no risk of injury to yourself. If you cannot contain the animal observe it from a safe distance, to stay aware of it's location, and contact a snake rescue service as they have the skills, equipment & experience to capture & handle both venomous & non-venomous snakes safely.

There are a number of wildlife carers & snake rescue services that will come & collect a snake safely if it is found on your property or in your home. They can also give advice on snakeproofing measures that you can take. If a trap needs to be set then many of these carers are registered to trap & translocate a snake if there is any concern for the wellbeing of the animal or safety to public.

So please do not try to catch, kill or injure the snake yourself, as it is more than likely you are going to get bitten!

SNAKES ARE A PROTECTED SPECIES.