November 26, 2007
SNAKE bites to pets have dramatically increased in Perth this year say doctors at Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital.
Housing and freeway developments built on snake turf are dislodging the reptiles, producing a backyard peril particularly dangerous to cats and dogs.
An increase in land cleared for development coupled with this winters ample rainfall has seen mice populations and therefore snake populations surge, says snake catcher Gane Doyle, who owns the WA Reptile Park.
““I’ve had 30 to 40 calls in the past two weeks,” says snakebuster and TV personality Bruce George. “It comes down to the poor buggers have nowhere to go.”
In the past month, 11 dogs and cats have been treated for snake bites at Murdoch University say veterinary staff.
Mr Doyle says that, alongside tiger snakes, the deadly 2m dugite is the most common backyard predator, often taking shelter from the heat in urban patios.
He said the warmer weather was drawing snakes out of hibernation in search of food and “the males are also looking for females so they are the ones that you will probably see the most”.
Although a lot of snakes will end in urban backyards, “displacement from their natural environment will also cause a lot of the reptiles to die,” Mr Doyle said.
However as long as there were mice about there would also be snakes.
As the weather continued to warm, sightings were expected to increase and the veterinary emergency hospital expected more animal victims.
Previous studies have shown some 6000 domestic animals are bitten by snakes every year in Australia.
Experts warn however not to be too hasty in killing the reptiles because dugite’s are protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and to kill or injure one attracts a fine of up to $4000.
If you see a snake stand still. “They won’t chase you. They won't turn around and go 'Right I’m gonna get him'. They prefer to run rather than chase,” Mr George said.
Snakes are most active when the temperature hits about 25 – 32 degrees Celsius.
Snake hot spots
The top five places to watch out for them in Perth are:
• Gosnells: Snakebuster Bruce George says that 85% of all snake removal calls he receives come from this area. The reason is that Gosnells was once a very rural area. “Recent development has simply left the snakes nowhere to go,” he said.
• Maddington: Much the same as Gosnells, lots of bush area and cleared land.
• Roleystone: Roleystone is in a forest area of the hills to the east of the coastal plain near Perth. Sporting plenty of wildlife, Roleystone is a great spot for snakes.
• Thornlie: Again lots of bush area and semi-rural land make Thornlie more prone for snakes.
• Leeming: With the expansion of the row high, a large golf course and an abundance of natural areas, Leeming is a Perth hot spot for snakes.
Snake bite signs
How animals react to a snake bites depends on the species they have been bitten by.
If the bite is from a dugite, paralysis will begin slowly from the back of the body until eventually the animal is unable to move.
If an animal has been bitten by a tiger snake they display signs of agitation followed by hyper-activity before collapsing into an unconscious state.
First aid for pets
If your dog or cat has been bitten:
• Apply a pressure bandage to the bitten limb – this can sometimes be difficult to spot in hairy animals.
• If the animal has been bitten around the head or neck and bandages will interfere with breathing, apply pressure with the hand.
• Do not hesitate to take the animal to a veterinary surgeon.
• If the snake is found killed with the animal, bring it to the vet for identification.
First aid for people
Most snakes inject a modified form of saliva, which contains muscle destroying toxins, into their prey.
If snake bite casualities are not treated quickly victims can lose limbs or in the case of two people a year in Australia, die.
PerthNow spoke with TV snakeBuster Bruce George on the do’s and don’ts for treating a snake bite.
DO
1. Dial 000
2. Minimise all movement and immobilise the limb.
3. Remain calm and sit or lie down.
4. Bandage directly over the bite site and continue all the way along the limb. Tie the bandage as firmly as you can without cutting off circulation. Leave the tips of the fingers or toes exposed.
5. If you don’t have a bandage use any clothing available because the compression will limit the spread of the venom.
6. Splint the area.
7. Mark the bite site on the bandage.
8. Get to a hospital as quickly as you can.
DON’T
1. Don’t wash the bit site as the hospital will need to take a swab -*test*-('") to indentify the snake.
2. Do not cut the bite site or suck the blood out, the tongue and mouth are quickest to absorb moisture.
3. Do not bleed the site of the bite.
4. Do not use a tourniquet or apply a bandage so tightly it cuts off blood flow.
For snake removal contact your local snakebuster on http://members.iinet.net.au/~bush/WASABUST.htm
Myths and facts about snakes
TRUE: Australia houses the world's 10 most venomous snakes. The inland taipan is the world's most venomous, with toxin 50 times more potent than the Indian cobra. Alongside the king brown, eastern brown snake and death adder, the tiger snake found in WA is one of the ten most deadly snakes in the world
TRUE: Brown snakes are not just brown. The brown snake can be cream, brown or black in colour.
TRUE: Some snakes are known to be able to go without food for periods of nearly two years.
The animals' reduce their resting metabolic rate by 72 per cent - lower than their standard resting rate. An adaptation researchers believed may have evolved to keep the snakes alive during the days of Tyrannosaurus rex.
TRUE: The keelback or freshwater snake is the only Australian species of snake which is not harmed by eating cane toads. There is some debate as to whether it really is immune or if the snakes are only eating the non-toxic juvenile toads.
TRUE: A species of snake uses the venom from poisonous toads to catch its prey. The Japanese natricine snake eats poisonous toads and then transports the venom into its own glands.
TRUE: A million people have seen the two headed snake. The snake, called ‘We’, was housed at an aquarium in St. Louise. Bought for $US15,000, We passed away this year in June.
TRUE: A python can’t generate its own body heat. A 4m Burmese python had a queen-size electric blanket for its last meal after eating the blanket put in the animals cage to keep it warm.
UNANSWERED: Snakes are more poisonous earlier in the year. Studies have shown that venom from a brown snake showed seasonal variation but larger studies need to be performed to verify this one.
FALSE: A saucer of milk attracts snakes. Even though liquid may attract snakes during dry periods, they do not normally drink milk.
FALSE: Broken eggshells around the inside of your house will keep snakes out. Keeping the windows and doors shut are much more likely to keep snakes out of the house.
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SNAKE bites to pets have dramatically increased in Perth this year say doctors at Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital.
Housing and freeway developments built on snake turf are dislodging the reptiles, producing a backyard peril particularly dangerous to cats and dogs.
An increase in land cleared for development coupled with this winters ample rainfall has seen mice populations and therefore snake populations surge, says snake catcher Gane Doyle, who owns the WA Reptile Park.
““I’ve had 30 to 40 calls in the past two weeks,” says snakebuster and TV personality Bruce George. “It comes down to the poor buggers have nowhere to go.”
In the past month, 11 dogs and cats have been treated for snake bites at Murdoch University say veterinary staff.
Mr Doyle says that, alongside tiger snakes, the deadly 2m dugite is the most common backyard predator, often taking shelter from the heat in urban patios.
He said the warmer weather was drawing snakes out of hibernation in search of food and “the males are also looking for females so they are the ones that you will probably see the most”.
Although a lot of snakes will end in urban backyards, “displacement from their natural environment will also cause a lot of the reptiles to die,” Mr Doyle said.
However as long as there were mice about there would also be snakes.
As the weather continued to warm, sightings were expected to increase and the veterinary emergency hospital expected more animal victims.
Previous studies have shown some 6000 domestic animals are bitten by snakes every year in Australia.
Experts warn however not to be too hasty in killing the reptiles because dugite’s are protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and to kill or injure one attracts a fine of up to $4000.
If you see a snake stand still. “They won’t chase you. They won't turn around and go 'Right I’m gonna get him'. They prefer to run rather than chase,” Mr George said.
Snakes are most active when the temperature hits about 25 – 32 degrees Celsius.
Snake hot spots
The top five places to watch out for them in Perth are:
• Gosnells: Snakebuster Bruce George says that 85% of all snake removal calls he receives come from this area. The reason is that Gosnells was once a very rural area. “Recent development has simply left the snakes nowhere to go,” he said.
• Maddington: Much the same as Gosnells, lots of bush area and cleared land.
• Roleystone: Roleystone is in a forest area of the hills to the east of the coastal plain near Perth. Sporting plenty of wildlife, Roleystone is a great spot for snakes.
• Thornlie: Again lots of bush area and semi-rural land make Thornlie more prone for snakes.
• Leeming: With the expansion of the row high, a large golf course and an abundance of natural areas, Leeming is a Perth hot spot for snakes.
Snake bite signs
How animals react to a snake bites depends on the species they have been bitten by.
If the bite is from a dugite, paralysis will begin slowly from the back of the body until eventually the animal is unable to move.
If an animal has been bitten by a tiger snake they display signs of agitation followed by hyper-activity before collapsing into an unconscious state.
First aid for pets
If your dog or cat has been bitten:
• Apply a pressure bandage to the bitten limb – this can sometimes be difficult to spot in hairy animals.
• If the animal has been bitten around the head or neck and bandages will interfere with breathing, apply pressure with the hand.
• Do not hesitate to take the animal to a veterinary surgeon.
• If the snake is found killed with the animal, bring it to the vet for identification.
First aid for people
Most snakes inject a modified form of saliva, which contains muscle destroying toxins, into their prey.
If snake bite casualities are not treated quickly victims can lose limbs or in the case of two people a year in Australia, die.
PerthNow spoke with TV snakeBuster Bruce George on the do’s and don’ts for treating a snake bite.
DO
1. Dial 000
2. Minimise all movement and immobilise the limb.
3. Remain calm and sit or lie down.
4. Bandage directly over the bite site and continue all the way along the limb. Tie the bandage as firmly as you can without cutting off circulation. Leave the tips of the fingers or toes exposed.
5. If you don’t have a bandage use any clothing available because the compression will limit the spread of the venom.
6. Splint the area.
7. Mark the bite site on the bandage.
8. Get to a hospital as quickly as you can.
DON’T
1. Don’t wash the bit site as the hospital will need to take a swab -*test*-('") to indentify the snake.
2. Do not cut the bite site or suck the blood out, the tongue and mouth are quickest to absorb moisture.
3. Do not bleed the site of the bite.
4. Do not use a tourniquet or apply a bandage so tightly it cuts off blood flow.
For snake removal contact your local snakebuster on http://members.iinet.net.au/~bush/WASABUST.htm
Myths and facts about snakes
TRUE: Australia houses the world's 10 most venomous snakes. The inland taipan is the world's most venomous, with toxin 50 times more potent than the Indian cobra. Alongside the king brown, eastern brown snake and death adder, the tiger snake found in WA is one of the ten most deadly snakes in the world
TRUE: Brown snakes are not just brown. The brown snake can be cream, brown or black in colour.
TRUE: Some snakes are known to be able to go without food for periods of nearly two years.
The animals' reduce their resting metabolic rate by 72 per cent - lower than their standard resting rate. An adaptation researchers believed may have evolved to keep the snakes alive during the days of Tyrannosaurus rex.
TRUE: The keelback or freshwater snake is the only Australian species of snake which is not harmed by eating cane toads. There is some debate as to whether it really is immune or if the snakes are only eating the non-toxic juvenile toads.
TRUE: A species of snake uses the venom from poisonous toads to catch its prey. The Japanese natricine snake eats poisonous toads and then transports the venom into its own glands.
TRUE: A million people have seen the two headed snake. The snake, called ‘We’, was housed at an aquarium in St. Louise. Bought for $US15,000, We passed away this year in June.
TRUE: A python can’t generate its own body heat. A 4m Burmese python had a queen-size electric blanket for its last meal after eating the blanket put in the animals cage to keep it warm.
UNANSWERED: Snakes are more poisonous earlier in the year. Studies have shown that venom from a brown snake showed seasonal variation but larger studies need to be performed to verify this one.
FALSE: A saucer of milk attracts snakes. Even though liquid may attract snakes during dry periods, they do not normally drink milk.
FALSE: Broken eggshells around the inside of your house will keep snakes out. Keeping the windows and doors shut are much more likely to keep snakes out of the house.
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