Conditions ripe for snakes and spiders as local veterinary nurse gives tips to stay safe this summer

Snakes and spiders are out and about, and experts are warning we can expect to see plenty more with conditions ripe for an influx.

Warm weather, plenty of rain and an abundance of food available, mainly due to the mouse plague earlier this year, have created 'the perfect storm'.

So local snake handler and veterinary nurse Kevin Pallett, has some tips to keep us all 'sssafe'.

Mr Pallett said the majority of snake bites are the result of people trying to kill or remove the reptiles, and he urged people to call the Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES), or the fire service, both of whom are properly trained to remove snakes.

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"I wouldn't recommend trying to shoo them away," he said.

Since September, the Tamworth Fire Service has been called to 27 snake removal jobs, with numbers expected to increase as the weather warms up.

The brown snake is the one you're most likely to see in Tamworth, said Mr Pallett, and he warned when threatened, they won't hold back.

If you're a keen bushwalker, Mr Pallett said his top tip was to wear long, loose jeans with enclosed boots, and keep your distance if you happen to come across a slithery inhabitant.

For those who are more at home, at home, Mr Pallett said it was important to keep your grass short and free from piles of rubbish which can harbor an unwanted guest.

And the veterinary nurse said it was also crucial to keep your furry friends out of harm's way.

Keep an eye on dogs, especially the more vulnerable breeds, like Jack Russells and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, because if a bite does occur, owners could be faced with a very tough decision.

"You've basically got the choice to euthanise your dog or treat it, which can cost thousands," he said.

If you see a snake phone WIRES on 1300 094 737 or the fire service on 000, if a bite occurs call an ambulance as soon as possible.

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