Did you know that Brisbane is home to over 27 species of land-based snakes? While some are harmless and more unpleasant than deadly, many are venomous. The most common venomous snake found in and around Brisbane is the Eastern Brown Snake, however there are a number of other snakes which can pose a risk to you and your family.

At Progressive Pest Management, we offer pest control, Ipswich, which includes Snake Catcher/Relocating services. So, take the time to read up on how to keep yourself, your family and your pets safe from snakes this summer:

Why do snakes come into my home and garden?

Snakes are often attracted to gardens and homes when there is a food source available to them. Here are some common food sources you may not realise around your home:

• Brown Snakes and Taipans are often found in sheds and gardens hunting rats and mice. Which is just another reason to have a professional keep on top of your rodent problem using our pest control, North Brisbane services.
• Pythons typically prey on the occupants of chicken pens and aviaries. They are also commonly found in roof cavities hunting rats and possums.
• Brown Tree Snakes invade aviaries, or spend their nights hunting geckos around your home.
• Common Tree Snakes will hunt frogs throughout your garden during the day.

Your home might also offer a suitable shelter for snakes. Being cold-blooded, snakes seek out places of warmth including ceilings, under timber piles, sheets of corrugated iron and garden waste piles.

How to keep snakes away from your home:

While there’s no foolproof method to ensuring your home and garden stays snake free, but the following steps will help to keep your home, family and pets safe:

• Keep your grass short.
• Keep on top of weeds.
• Don’t pile compost, cuttings, weeds or palm fronds in your yard.
• Eliminate any undercover areas where a snake might hide.
• Ensure you’re on top of your pest control, North Brisbane to eliminate sources of food.

What to do if you see a snake:

• Don’t panic.
• Keep people and pets away from the snake. At Progressive Pest Management, we know that 95% of snake bites occur when people try to catch or kill snakes.
• Call a professional snake catcher/relocater to safely remove the snake for you.
• If the snake is inside your home/workplace, keen a constant watch until your snake catcher arrives. If you can barricade the snake in a room, place a damp towel under the closed door to keep the snake enclosed.

What to do if you’re bitten by a snake.

According to St John’s Ambulance, the following steps are recommended if you are bitten by a snake:

• Follow DRSABCD (Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Compression, Defibrillation)
• Reassure the patient and ask them not to move.
• Apply a broad crepe bandage over the bite site as soon as possible.
• Apply a pressure bandage (heavy crepe or elasticised roller bandage) starting just above the fingers or toes of the bitten limb, and move upwards on the limb as far as can be reached (include the snake bite). Apply firmly without stopping blood supply to the limb.
• Immobilise the bandaged limb with splints.
• Ensure the patient does not move.
• Write down the time of the bite and when the bandage was applied. Stay with the patient.
• Regularly check circulation in fingers or toes.
• Manage for shock.
• Ensure an ambulance has been called.

What not to do:

• Don’t try to wash venom off the skin.
• Do not cut the bitten area.
• Don’t try to suck the venom out of the wound.
• Do not use a tourniquet.
• And definitely don’t try to catch the snake!

It’s a good idea to keep the number of your snake catcher/relocater somewhere handy, so you can quickly call for help in an emergency. Spending time searching for a phone number when you have a snake in your home can be stressful and dangerous.

If you have concerns about rodents attracting snakes, need immediate snake catcher assistance or pest control, North Brisbane, connect with Progressive Pest Management today.