In a startling turn of events, wildlife catchers in Sydney were called to a property after a dog was bitten by a snake, prompting a comprehensive rescue operation. Upon arrival, Cory Kerewaro from Reptile Relocation Sydney discovered an unprecedented number of venomous snakes nesting in a mulch pile—a total of 102, including five adults and 97 babies.
This extraordinary call started when the dog incident sparked concern, but Kerewaro was astounded when his colleague reported back with, "Mate, I'm going to be here a while. It's a pretty big pile... I'm already over 15 snakes!" The situation escalated as it soon became evident that four of the adult red-bellied black snakes had given birth in situ.
The red-bellied black snake is common in Australia, yet it has an excellent track record regarding human safety, as there have been no recorded fatalities. Kerewaro noted that this haul marked a record for the team, which typically captures anywhere from five to 15 snakes a day. Following the incident, the baby and adult snakes have been placed under quarantine for health checks and will be released into a national park as soon as temperatures drop.
The unique reproductive behavior of female red-bellied black snakes often entails gathering in small groups for birthing purposes, likely as a predator defense strategy. The Australian Museum indicates this species is notable for giving live birth, unlike many snake species that lay eggs. Although bites from these snakes are rare, they can result in symptoms such as swelling and nausea.
Given the significant number of snakes rescued, authorities have granted the catchers special permission to relocate them further away from residential areas, minimizing potential human-animal conflict in the future. The dog involved in the initial bite incident is reported to be "alive and well," ensuring a happy ending for at least one party in this wild tale.
This extraordinary call started when the dog incident sparked concern, but Kerewaro was astounded when his colleague reported back with, "Mate, I'm going to be here a while. It's a pretty big pile... I'm already over 15 snakes!" The situation escalated as it soon became evident that four of the adult red-bellied black snakes had given birth in situ.
The red-bellied black snake is common in Australia, yet it has an excellent track record regarding human safety, as there have been no recorded fatalities. Kerewaro noted that this haul marked a record for the team, which typically captures anywhere from five to 15 snakes a day. Following the incident, the baby and adult snakes have been placed under quarantine for health checks and will be released into a national park as soon as temperatures drop.
The unique reproductive behavior of female red-bellied black snakes often entails gathering in small groups for birthing purposes, likely as a predator defense strategy. The Australian Museum indicates this species is notable for giving live birth, unlike many snake species that lay eggs. Although bites from these snakes are rare, they can result in symptoms such as swelling and nausea.
Given the significant number of snakes rescued, authorities have granted the catchers special permission to relocate them further away from residential areas, minimizing potential human-animal conflict in the future. The dog involved in the initial bite incident is reported to be "alive and well," ensuring a happy ending for at least one party in this wild tale.
