Tamworth's first snakes of the season spotted as weather warms, mice numbers provide food

The ongoing mouse plague has likely contributed to a small increase in snake sightings, Northern Tablelands Wildlife Carers reptile handler Jae Price said.

"They're coming out to sun themselves to warm up so they can digest the mice that they've been eating," she said.

"With all the mice we had last year we poisoned a lot of mice and unfortunately we poisoned a lot of the native species that will actually eat the snakes as well."

With the weather starting to warm up, we are going to see more snakes, and the wildlife carer reminded the community that Tamworth is a prolific brown snake area.

"But that's not to say that every brown snake you see is going to be an eastern brown snake, a lot of them are whip snakes and they tend to get killed because they're brown," she added.

The local snake expert encouraged people to start tidying up their yards now, in preparation for a slithery spring.

"Wear boots, trousers, gloves and long sleeves when cleaning up and be aware with young kids and pets," she added.

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"Snakes are normally just passing through, they're not actually there to kill your dog or kill your cat.

"Brown snakes and black snakes don't chase cats or dogs, cats or dogs chase snakes so that's when they get bitten.

"But they are an aggressive snake and they will stand and rear up to tell you to leave them alone."

If you are calling a reptile handler for help, it's a good idea to keep track of the snake's movements until the help arrives, she said.

"We do ask members of the public to keep an eye on the snake until we get there, which is not all that long and then I can go in and relocate the snake without having to go looking for it."

Snake sightings will become more frequent in summer as temperatures rise and the reptiles search for shade and water.

To request a reptile handler to remove a snake from your property, contact Northern Tablelands Wildlife Carers on 0408 555 719

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