Spring is here, and with it comes one of the biggest killers of dogs across Sydney: snakes. But here’s what most dog owners get wrong from the start.

Snakes don’t attack dogs. Dogs attack snakes. And when a dog chases a snake, that snake has one option: retaliate.

This distinction matters because it changes everything about how you should prepare if you live in a high-snake area. It’s not about protecting your dog from a predator. It’s about managing your dog’s own instincts.

It was back in July that we marked the 74th anniversary of Kevin Budden’s death. A 20 year old snake collector from Randwick, bitten by a coastal taipan while trying to bag it for research.

The Australian Snakebite Project (ASP-15) examined 106 professional snake handlers who were bitten on the job. The median age was 40, overwhelmingly male (98 percent), and almost all bites occurred on the upper limbs (97 percent).

A study released this year in PLOS Medicine has put a number on something that's been difficult to measure until now: the true scale of snakebite as a global public health crisis. Between 2.1 and 7 million people are envenomed by snakes each year. Between 274,000 and 513,000 die.

Accidentally introduced after the Second World War, Brown Tree Snakes transformed Guam’s ecosystem by devastating native wildlife and triggering far-reaching ecological changes.

The sound of a Laughing Kookaburra is such a familiar part of life along Australia’s east coast that it is easy to take these remarkable birds for granted. From suburban backyards to national parks, kookaburras have lived alongside snakes, lizards, frogs, insects and small mammals for thousands of years.

Most Australians picture one of our own venomous snakes when they think of snakebite: a Brown Snake in a paddock, a Tiger Snake by a wetland. We know to call 000, and thanks to good first aid and world class hospitals, most of us survive. That's not the case for much of the world. Snakebite kills an estimated 138,000 people a year and permanently disables hundreds of thousands more, mostly in the poorest rural communities on earth, using antivenom technology that has barely changed since the 1800s. Here's why the World Health Organization calls it a neglected disease, and what that means.

Why Workplace Snake Encounters Are So Dangerous

A recent fatal snakebite at a Queensland childcare centre has highlighted a serious but often overlooked workplace risk: untrained people attempting to deal with snakes found on business premises.

The incident involved a man who was bitten multiple times while trying to remove a juvenile Eastern Brown Snake from a childcare facility. Despite first aid and medical treatment, he later died after suffering cardiac arrest.

This tragedy reinforces a critical message for businesses across New South Wales: snake encounters in workplaces must always be handled by licensed professionals, not staff or bystanders.

Red Bellied Black Snake: FAQ After An Encounter.

Introduction

Bluetongue Lizards are harmless to humans and pets. It is illegal to harm or kill them and the NSW Government may prosecute anyone found to harm native wildlife.

The Eastern Blue-tongue Skink (Tiliqua scincoides) is a common sight in urban areas, particularly in Australian suburbia. This guide provides an overview of their physical characteristics, dietary habits, and ecological significance, focusing on their adaptation to urban environments.

Diamond pythons, commonly found in Sydney, especially in the northern suburbs, account for nearly half of the Northern suburbs snake catcher call-outs. Their significant size makes them more noticeable than smaller snake species. Typically, when residents report a Diamond python, it's often post-feeding, usually having consumed a ringtail possum, a frequent part of their diet. Post-meal, these snakes become less mobile and tend to stay nearby, curled up as they digest, which can take up to a couple of weeks. These snakes are harmless to humans and are usually relocated to nearby bushland, keeping them within their natural range. Nonetheless, if found near busy roads, relocating them further away is wise to prevent potential future accidents or injuries.

Common Tree Snakes are found throughout the Sydney area but often go unnoticed due to their excellent eyesight and speed, both on and off the ground. As their name suggests, they are typically found in trees and shrubs. However, they are most likely to be encountered by the unsuspecting public when they find themselves in unfamiliar territory, such as a home or garage.

Discovering the Golden Crown Snake (Cacophis squamulosus) in the Sydney Region

The Golden Crown Snake, scientifically known as Cacophis squamulosus, is a species that thrives in the suburbs of the Sydney region. This small, nocturnal reptile is known for its mild venom and slow movement, making it a rare sighting for humans. Here's a comprehensive overview of the species:

Encountering a brown snake in your home or yard can be a stressful experience. Common Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis), are known to be dangerously venomous, and their bites can have severe consequences if left untreated. However, it's essential to understand that such encounters are usually transient events, as brown snakes are primarily on the hunt for their favourite prey: mice. In almost all cases the snake was simply passing through and hadn’t set up a home or made a “nest” at your place.

Dogs are naturally curious and can be at serious risk from venomous snakes in Sydney. Learn how to reduce the chances of snakebite, recognise warning signs, and protect your pets around homes, gardens, and bushland areas.

Snakebites are a serious medical concern, particularly in regions with a high prevalence of venomous species. Every year, thousands of people fall victim to snakebites, with many cases leading to fatalities due to delayed treatment or lack of access to antivenom. In this article, we’ll explore the 10 most venomous snakes in the world, the 10 deadliest snakes in Australia, and provide a breakdown of snakebite deaths worldwide, based on available data from 2020.

Venom is a powerful evolutionary weapon that helps snakes hunt and survive. Snakes usually have venom that works best on the type of animals they eat the most. For example, venom that might not affect a rodent much can be deadly to a lizard or bird, which are often a snake’s natural prey.

Recent research found that Blue-Tongues have developed resistance to the venom of Red-Bellied Black Snakes. Normally, this venom causes the victim’s blood to clot rapidly by activating a protein in the blood called prothrombin. This effect, called procoagulant, helps many Australian snakes catch their prey quickly.

Snake Traps - Safe - Humane - Effective

Catching reptiles when we arrive on-site can often be quite challenging, especially if the animal has found a secluded hiding spot.

Snakes and lizards are masters of camouflage and can easily disappear into tight spaces like retaining walls, under sheds, or in burrows. This often makes immediate capture difficult, even with the best tools and techniques. 

Sydney is home to a surprising diversity of snake species, ranging from harmless garden dwellers through to some of Australia’s most venomous reptiles. Learn how to identify the most commonly encountered snakes in Sydney, understand their behaviour, and discover what to do if you encounter one around your home, backyard, or workplace.