Geraldton residents warned to keep lawns clean to avoid snakes, be mindful of reptiles when mowing

With snake season in full swing, Geraldton residents are being urged to prepare to protect themselves and the reptiles around their home. The reptile season began this month and generally runs until April, due to the warmer weather when they tend to breed and look for food. Michelle Jones, a conservationist with Geraldton Greenough Wildlife Rescue, said she had been out most days catching various reptiles. She said it was important to keep outside areas clean to avoid unwanted visitors. “Piled up junk like having bricks and rocks in a corner of a backyard get warm, which snakes lay on to bring themselves up to their preferred body temperature every day,” she said. “It’s encouraging for the snake to want to live there rather than a deterrent. “Long grass also means a snake could move nice and sneaky through grass without being seen or taken by a predator from the sky.” Ms Jones said snakes lived in all climates, so it was important to implement strategies to prevent snakes from coming on to a person’s property. Maintaining a clean property, as well as keeping a shallow water bowl on the outskirts of a property, can dissuade animals from entering, particularly those with pets. Ms Jones urged people trimming their lawn during snake season to be wary of animals while operating mowers and trimmers. She said she recently handled a bobtail which had been sliced. “If you’re mowing your lawn first thing in the morning, these reptiles do not have the energy to move on, which means there is going to be conflict with a whipper snipper,” she said. “Don’t let them run off into the bush with these wounds, because they’ll just get infected and slowly die. “It will cost you nothing at all to drop them at one of your local vets so they can get a licensed carer and we can get them some help immediately.” Ms Jones encouraged residents to save the number of their local snake catcher to their phone.