I am pretty clueless when it comes to reptiles so wanted to get some input from the people who really know what they are talking about. West Oz Wildlife is a family owned and run business teaching awareness and conservation though fun and interactive displays.
You might find them, along with their koalas, dingoes and of course reptiles at a library, shopping centre or nursing home near you. Or you could book them to join your birthday party.
I would also like to thank Ross McGibbon Reptile Photography for allowing me to use two of his incredible snake photos. I urge you to click through to his gallery to see our Aussie reptiles in a new light. Below is my one and only snake photo! This is my only photographic addition to this blog, every other photo has been generously contributed and for that I extend my sincerest gratitude.
For the first few weeks I kept my shoes up on a chair for fear poisonous spiders would take up residence at night, and if my walk happened to pass though a park, I would walk right down the centre of the path just in case a snake jumped out to envenom and devour me. Thankfully those naive fears dissipated, and I quickly realised I had little to fear. Pom joke: How can you tell when a plane full of Poms lands at Perth Airport? When the engines stop the whining continues.
Over the past almost-seven years I have snorkelled with sharks on Ningaloo Reef, made friends with a red back spider that lived in my garage until it had a hundred babies — then poor Reddy had to go , and seen more snakes than I could count. Unfortunately, these creatures have developed a bit of a sinister reputation both in Australia and over seas, and their populations have suffered as a consequence. Today snakes are protected in every state and territory in Australia. It is an offence to kill a snake unless life is threatened and offenders can face severe penalties.
Not only could you take a financial hit if you kill a snake but according to a study , one fifth of snake bite deaths between and were attributed to bites that occurred when someone was attempting to kill or handle the snake.
A paper in the Medical Journal of Australia states that around snake bites are reported each year, though this number is unverified. An average of 2. Hopefully this will reassure you that venturing out into the West Australian wilderness does not necessarily increase your risk of a snake bite. Nevertheless, please read on to learn about our most common venomous snakes, where you might encounter them, and some precautions you can take to keep yourself and your family safe whilst hiking and camping.
I am proud to say that I now admire the snakes and when I encounter one I tend to feel more awe than fear. Of all the snakes in Western Australia, it is the tiger snake and the dugite that you are most likely to encounter.
The tiger snake is named for its characteristic black and yellow stripes. Although typically black or brown on top, with orange-yellow belly and stripes, the appearance of the tiger snake varies widely across Australia.
Some individuals, or even entire populations appear without stripes, while others vary from olive-brown to black, with off-white or pale bands. Western Australian tiger snakes generally grow to around 1. They have a thick body with wide head. Although most common in coastal and wetland environments, tiger snakes are wide-ranging and can be found in dense vegetation and long grasses.
Known for being one of the more aggressive species, this snake will stand its ground if cornered or accidentally stood on. When threatened they can flatten their body and raise their head off the ground in a cobra-like stance.
Mostly active during the day, though they are known to also hunt at night. They are also more tolerant of cool weather so can be some of the first to emerge in spring, and still be seen throughout the night. Their large size, aggressive nature and highly toxic venom mean the tiger snake poses a high threat to humans.
Fun Fact: Tiger Snakes give birth to live young, unlike most snakes which are egg laying. A tiger snake litter can be up to 30 young, though the record is Dugites are commonly brown, olive-brown or greyish-brown with a long slender body and small head. The average length of a dugite is 1. Another species with a wide variety of habitats, the dugite can be found in coastal areas, dunes, woodlands as well as more open settings such as fields and parks.
These snakes appear quite comfortable in urban settings, making use of industrial and building materials for shelter.
Dugites are one of the more timid snakes. When encountered, they mostly choose flight over fight. The king brown is commonly brown to reddish-brown with a pale belly. Individual scales often grade from brown at the back to orange- or reddish-brown at the front. Large king brown snakes can reach over 2m and have thick body and wide head.
Again, the colour and pattern of this snake varies across Australia. King brown snakes have a wide range of habitats from true deserts to woodland areas, and mulga bush hence the name. Behaviour appears to vary across Australia with southern populations known to be shy and evasive, whereas their northern cousins are more aggressive.
When threatened the king brown snake will flatten its body and raise its head off the grown in a sweeping arc parallel to the ground. When provoked the king brown will bite ferociously, sometimes holding on or chewing as it injects its venom. The Black Snake venom is highly toxic and often injected in large quantities. If bitten, Black Snake anti-venom is needed rather than Brown snake anti-venom.
Occasionally, an accurate identification can only be assured after a close examination — not something we should be doing on a hike! There are three species of western brown snake, all long and thin with a small, chisel-shaped head. The head is generally indistinct from the body. The body colour can vary through a range of browns, yellows or greys, sometimes with a dark nape and head. Scales tend to be small and sometimes shiny. Some populations show colour banding meaning they are often confused with the tiger snake.
Western brown snakes are found in arid and semi-arid environments, grasslands, and pastoral areas to name a few. They have been known to find cover in manmade materials such as corrugated iron sheeting. The best thing we can do to protect our family and ourselves is to educate. By understanding snakes and their behaviour, we are better able to share their environment.
The reality is that we can take all the precautions detailed here, but we can never reduce the risk of a snake encounter to zero.
When we visit the bush we acknowledge that we are entering an ecosystem, one that the snake is very much part of. It is important to know how to avoid a snakebite, but also to protect the environment. A key philosophy in the hiking community is Leave No Trace, even when this involves creatures that pose a threat to us. Read more Family Adventures from around Western Australia:. Stop right where you are.
Try to remain calm and back up slowly. Do not approach the snake or try to move it. Note: A higher licence Category can keep all lower Category species e. With this licence you can keep several species of skink, gecko, and frog. Category 2 pet herpetofauna is fauna that meets all of these criteria:. Category 3 pet herpetofauna is fauna that meets all of these criteria:. Is not dangerous Is not rare or endangered in the wild Requires only easily prepared and readily available food and simple housing Is resilient to handling Is suitable to be kept by a person over 18 years of age with no prior experience in keeping pet herpetofauna Species in this Category.
With this licence you can keep black-headed and woma pythons, flat-shelled turtles, western spotted frogs, and several dragon and monitor species. Category 4 pet herpetofauna is fauna that the Minister considers is not dangerous and meets any of these criteria:. With this licence you can keep olive Pythons, two monitors, and some dangerously venomous elapids.
Category 5 pet herpetofauna is fauna that meets any of these criteria:. Click on any of our reptile or amphibian categories for information on keeping reptiles and amphibians as pets. Skip to content. About Our Small Animals. Conditions of Purchase. Do I need a licence? Must I be over 18 years old to keep a pet reptile in WA? What species can I keep? Do I need to keep records? Caring for Your Pet. The taking or capturing any species of herpetofauna from the wild by private keepers, farmers and dealers is strictly prohibited and offenders are prosecuted under WA Laws.
Pet City only carry reptiles and amphibians in categories 2, 3 and 4. Generally, we do not carry reptiles from Category 5 and never carry venomous reptiles. How old do I have to be to apply for a licence?
Private wildlife licences to keep venomous snakes must provide documentary evidence of competency in the handling of venomous snakes with their application. Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate keeping and trading in snakes a policy against which licence applications for activities. Apply for a Licence to import or export protected native animals. Reptile Licenses. What animals can be kept on an basic wildlife licence in Victoria? Common or Green Tree Snake.
Dendrelaphis punctulata. How to apply for a Dangerous Wild Animal licence. Some reptiles and snakes might only need a vivarium while primates and big cats may need enclosures built for them. You may apply the release of information or documents collected by the department relevant to your driver licence, industry authority, marine licence indicator or Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate keeping and trading in snakes a policy against which licence applications for activities.
Apply Apply for a licence, registration, certificate, permit, exemption etc. You can transfer an interstate licence providing it is current and has not expired.
Application kits Application process. Information on hepetofauna keepers licences needed to keep reptiles in WA. Licensing of Plants and Animals Environment Planning. Licences and how to apply, licensing policies, forms to download and answers to questions frequently asked by current and prospective licensees.. Snake Handling Training Courses animalark. Registrations, keeping snakes, retiles, frogs and related information.. This condition relates to the possession and trade of broad headed snakes, Hoplocephalus bungaroides: a the application for the licence; or Application forms relating to plants and animals.
For full information on Keeping Reptiles or Amphibians To keep native mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians as pets, you'll need a native animal keeper licence. This licence covers over types of native animals. Licence alert opens in a new window Vehicle rego check opens in a new window Starting in we will no longer be processing paper applications for Venomous Snake Permits. Apply for a Snake Catcher's Permit; Related links.
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