THE sighting of snakes out of their natural habitat in Wangaratta's CBD is a common occurrence and people often don't know how to react to ensure their safety as well as the snake's.
Mark Flack at Tarrawingee Snake and Reptile Relocation has been around snakes for most of his life and is a fully licensed snake handler and he has shared some advice about what to do when a snake has been found out of it's environment.
With Australia possessing some of the most venomous snakes in the world, people can find themselves in potentially deadly situations, however, Mark advised that if people behave in the right way they can remain safe.
"Bystanders and people trying to get a look at snakes can sometimes be our biggest hazard and snakes react to rapid movement," Mark said.
"When there are people ducking and darting and having a look around, the snakes are reacting to that and it makes our job harder.
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"We always advise to keep everyone away and only have a maximum of two people within 5-10 metres of the snake to keep an eye out for it so when the snake catcher arrives it makes the job safer and quicker."
Mark works full-time but he takes calls when required and can attend a job day or night to assist in the snake's removal.
He has attended a few ripper jobs, including one where two male Easter brown snakes were fighting over a female in a contest to mate with her.
"We arrived at the property and the smaller of the two males was about six foot long and two inches in diameter," Mark described.
Another one this week involved a cat sleeping on top of a box and the owners were especially worried as their cat was sleeping right next to it.
Athleticism comes into the job as well and Mark recalled a job at the Aboriginal Learning Centre in Wangaratta.
"There was a red-bellied black near the front door and it decided it didn't want to be there anymore so it jumped off the landing and I had to sprint down and dive under a car to capture it," he said.
It's common for snakes to move from river embankments they live in to nearby streets in Wangaratta's CBD to sun themselves and collect food such as skinks and frogs.
Snakes are often unknowingly brought in from out of town under cars and several have been seen in supermarket carparks over the years.
But Mark said the whole mindset of 'a good snake's a dead snake' still remains a problem and this needs to change.
Mark tries to teach people about the benefits snakes provide for the ecosystem with pest control, for example they consume thousands of mice which helps reduce the prevalence of mice plagues.
"Snakes are just trying to live their lives and as populations grow, humans are displacing them by building houses right on top of their homes.
"Snakes are only deadly if we involve ourselves with them and if they're left alone they're in no danger of anyone.
"If a snake is within a metre of you, stay completely still no matter how scared you might be.
"It will probably lift it's head and flick its tongue but if you stay still with no fast movements, the snake will not see you as a threat and will lower its head and go on its way."
"If fear does take over, and if you have a means to very slowly and methodically walk backwards, then do so."
If you require a snake or other reptile to be removed safely call Mark Flack on 0422 805 174.
