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SNAKE BITE FIRST-AID

SEEK URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION - CALL 000

Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage and keep the person calm and as still as possible until medical help arrives. Antivenom is available for all our native venomous snake bites.

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Never attempt to catch, kill or approach the snake. Do NOT suck, cut or wash/scrub the bite area.

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It’s important to be aware and keep in mind that bites from snakes can cause a mild-severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) in some people and all snake bites should be treated seriously and seek medical advice immediately.

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SNAKE ENCOUNTER RESPONSE

STAY CALM!

Be smart and stay aware of your surroundings.

We have an abundance of snakes here on the Sunshine Coast and knowing these simple things will help, See below for the best response in a snake encounter:

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-If you come across a snake in your yard or while outside, stay calm, stand still and allow it to move on or if your at a safe distance(varies but a good metre or two is usually suffice) slowly back away from the snake; Bring children/pets inside/to your side until it moves on.

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-If it happens to be inside the home, isolate the room by closing the door and place a towel at the bottom of the door, if the room cannot be isolated exit the area closing doors behind you and contact a licensed professional.

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No snake will attack you or put itself into a potentially dangerous situation unless you make it a dangerous situation or the snake feels threatened. Please never attempt to catch, contain or kill a snake, it’s a fact trying to kill a snake is the best way to get yourself bitten, so if you're scared of a snake or want to protect your family then why would you take the one course of action that will render it most likely to bite. It's cruel, it's dangerous, it's illegal, it's unacceptable and it's a sign of an unwarranted fear due to lack of education and understanding.

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TIPS FOR A LESS "SNAKE FRIENDLY" YARD

SNAKE REPELLENTS DO NOT WORK!

Here’s some tips on keeping your home/property “less snake friendly”

  • Keep your grass short.

  • Don’t leave timber, tin or building materials lying around.

  • Keep stump piles away from home.

  • Build chook sheds/pens away from the home.

  • Pet food, bird seeds, chook sheds, etc attract rats and mice which will then attract snakes.

  • Try not to leave pet food out; feed just what they need or consume.

 

There’s plenty of other things you can do but generally a nice clean yard free of rodents is the best start.​

STRANDED SEA SNAKE RESPONSE

I can’t stress this enough, NEVER TOUCH OR PICK UP A SEA SNAKE!

They’re a highly venomous snake that is quite capable of inflicting a lethal bite. Do the right thing and contact us or your local snake catcher/rescue group.

Sea Snake Stranding Response

True Sea Snakes have no need to come ashore, so when one becomes stranded, there is most likely an underlying illness or injury.
For members of the public:
1. Please do not touch the snake or try to push it back into the water. Beached Sea Snakes will likely just wash ashore again.
2. Sea snakes are venomous. Stay at a safe distance from the animal and do not touch it. Sea snakes have long fixed front fangs and are capable of envenoming people, as they are an elapid.
3. Watch closely for movement or signs of life.
4. Call your local wildlife rescue, a local snake catcher, or 1300ANIMAL. State your location and send a photo to the carer or catcher if possible.
5. Report your sighting to the Australian Sea Snakes Facebook group if possible, with a time, date, location and any details about behaviour or the outcome for the snake: https://www.facebook.com/groups/australianseasnakes/

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ENCOUNTERED INJURED WILDLIFE?

DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN ANY UNNECESSARY DANGER!
SEE BELOW FOR BEST RESPONSE

- STOP where safe to do so and check the status of the animal; is it alive? This is important to check as people often keep driving leaving the animal heavily injured on the side of the road.
- Be sure to activate hazard lights 
- Phone for help (Us, your local rescue group, snake catcher, Wilvos, etc.) 
- Stay with the animal. (Please stay a safe distance, from the animal and the road) -this helps us locate the animal swiftly when we arrive. 
- DO NOT interact with the animal, it will be in extreme pain as well as extremely stressed. Incorrect handling may cause more damage to the animal and even damage to yourself. 
- IF, and ONLY IF it is safe to do so, warn oncoming traffic of hazard. 
- Any photos may help us identify the correct course of action needed for the animal and are welcomed prior to arrival.

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