An Australian man received a shock recently when what he thought was a small group of snakes in his backyard turned out to be a massive nest of over 100 venomous red-bellied black snakes. The discovery, made during the snakes’ birthing season, highlighted the unique reproductive behavior of these reptiles and underscored the importance of professional wildlife relocation services.
The homeowner, David Stein, from western Sydney, initially contacted Reptile Relocation Sydney after spotting what appeared to be six red-bellied black snakes slithering into a mulch pile on his property. Little did he know that this was just the tip of the iceberg. Upon arrival, snake catcher Dylan Cooper, along with Stein and his son, quickly realized the situation was far more complex than anticipated.
The team’s unexpected snake discovery seen in full
Red-bellied black snakes (Pseudechis porphyriacus) are ovoviviparous, meaning they give birth to live young that hatch from eggs inside the mother’s body. The timing of Stein’s discovery coincided with the snakes’ birthing season, explaining the unexpectedly large number. Initially, the team extracted 40 snakes from the mulch pile. However, during the relocation process, four of the adult snakes began giving birth. Ultimately, a total of 102 snakes were recovered – five adults and an astonishing 97 babies.
These snakes are native to Australia and are frequently encountered, particularly along the eastern coast. However, finding such a large number in a single location is extremely rare. Stein, in an interview with The Guardian, admitted to occasionally seeing a snake or two in his backyard, but nothing remotely close to this scale.
Red-bellied black snake
While red-bellied black snakes are venomous, they are generally not aggressive towards humans and tend to avoid confrontation. Their bites, though painful and potentially causing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and headaches, are rarely fatal. In fact, there are no recorded human deaths attributed to their venom. Stein’s dog, unfortunately, experienced a bite from a juvenile snake in December, highlighting the potential risks even with these relatively less dangerous snakes.
Following local regulations, the entire colony of snakes was safely relocated to a suitable habitat not far from Stein’s property. Cory Kerewaro, the owner of Reptile Relocation Sydney, has contacted snake researchers interested in studying this unusual discovery. This incident represents a record for his company and potentially a significant scientific observation as well. Kerewaro has also pledged to release additional high-quality images and videos of the snakes. He emphasized the educational value of such discoveries, stating that it contributes to a better understanding of these animals.
In conclusion, the discovery of over 100 red-bellied black snakes in a suburban backyard provides a fascinating glimpse into the reproductive behavior of these reptiles. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of professional wildlife removal services in mitigating potential conflicts between humans and wildlife. While alarming, this incident had a positive outcome thanks to the expertise of Reptile Relocation Sydney and the responsible actions of the homeowner. It also highlights the importance of respecting and understanding native wildlife, even those that might initially appear frightening.
