SUNBURY LEADER (Australia) 03 December 13 Snake season starts in Sunbury and the Macedon (Damien Ractliffe)
Snakes have woken from their three-month winter slumber and are on the prowl in Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges.
But it doesn't take a lot to prevent a slithery serpent from making your backyard its home this summer.
Bacchus Marsh snake handler Jarrod Bingham said mating season had started for snakes and people needed to know what to do in a tricky situation.
"In Macedon Ranges, because it's cold, you're likely to see copperheads and in the (Bacchus) Marsh area, the red belly black snakes," he said. "In Sunbury, brown and tiger snakes are common."
On the Sunbury Region Community Page on Facebook, many residents, including some living in suburban areas of the town, have already reported snake sightings.
One poster claims to have found a 2m brown snake in his backyard.
Mr Bingham, who works for AUSWES, a 24-7 wildlife and pest management service, said snakes were at their most dangerous this time of the year and baby snakes could be even more deadly than their parents.
"They've just come out of hibernation for three months, it's mating season and they're on the prowl," he said. "They're pumping with testosterone. You can expect to see their babies in February and March."
Mr Bingham said there were plenty of myths about snakes, in particular that they only enjoyed heat.
The 23-year-old handler said food, water and the comfort of an air conditioner could attract a snake inside.
"When the temperature is in the high 20s, snakes tend to stay out of the sun. If they're in it for more than 10 minutes, they cook."
Mr Bingham said maintaining lawns helped make your backyard less appealing to snakes.
"When I'm called to catch a snake, more times than not the house or the house next door hasn't maintained their lawn," he said.
For more information on snakes and protecting your home visit auswes.com.au or call 0423 474 604.
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