20th November 2007
A LARGE tiger snake gave an 89-year-old Altona Meadows woman the fright of her life after she discovered the deadly creature coiled up inside her Sommers Drive home.
The surprise visitor slithered away after Edna Brassington stumbled across it on her tiled rumpus room floor last Tuesday afternoon.
Ms Brassington’s daughter, Debbie Harris, said her mother was living in fear of a return visit after snake catchers failed to find the unwanted guest.
“She went to go out the back door and there it was, just lying on the tiles,” Ms Harris said.
She said her mother, who suffers high blood pressure, immediately began to panic.
“She just came tearing out the front door and began hyperventilating, she was extremely distressed,” Ms Harris said.
“The worst part of it is that the snake catchers were not able to find it so we’re really worried that it might show up again.”
The snake’s visit follows Hobsons Bay park ranger Michelle Gooding’s prediction of a busy season for snake catchers in the municipality.
Ms Gooding said tiger snakes and brown snakes were the most common varieties in Hobsons Bay and warned residents to clean their yards to ensure they didn’t become reptile havens.
Ms Gooding said that, while tiger snakes could be deadly, bites were uncommon as long as people didn’t approach them.
“If you’ve been bitten you have to immobilise yourself, immobilise the limb and get to hospital as quickly as possible to have the anti-venom and then you’ll have a very good chance of survival,” Ms Gooding said.
Anyone seeing a snake should call the council on 9932 1000 or DSE on 136 186.
A LARGE tiger snake gave an 89-year-old Altona Meadows woman the fright of her life after she discovered the deadly creature coiled up inside her Sommers Drive home.
The surprise visitor slithered away after Edna Brassington stumbled across it on her tiled rumpus room floor last Tuesday afternoon.
Ms Brassington’s daughter, Debbie Harris, said her mother was living in fear of a return visit after snake catchers failed to find the unwanted guest.
“She went to go out the back door and there it was, just lying on the tiles,” Ms Harris said.
She said her mother, who suffers high blood pressure, immediately began to panic.
“She just came tearing out the front door and began hyperventilating, she was extremely distressed,” Ms Harris said.
“The worst part of it is that the snake catchers were not able to find it so we’re really worried that it might show up again.”
The snake’s visit follows Hobsons Bay park ranger Michelle Gooding’s prediction of a busy season for snake catchers in the municipality.
Ms Gooding said tiger snakes and brown snakes were the most common varieties in Hobsons Bay and warned residents to clean their yards to ensure they didn’t become reptile havens.
Ms Gooding said that, while tiger snakes could be deadly, bites were uncommon as long as people didn’t approach them.
“If you’ve been bitten you have to immobilise yourself, immobilise the limb and get to hospital as quickly as possible to have the anti-venom and then you’ll have a very good chance of survival,” Ms Gooding said.
Anyone seeing a snake should call the council on 9932 1000 or DSE on 136 186.