By Alesha Capone
Stewy the Snake Catcher has warned residents across the west that with spring approaching, snake season is about to start.
The Wyndham-based snake expert, whose name is Stewart Gatt, is the official snake catcher contracted to Hobsons Bay and Brimbank councils.
Mr Gatt said he usually attended 20 to 30 call-outs during the last fortnight of August.
“We’ve already had two dozen calls in the last two weeks, so they (snakes) are out and about,” he said.
“As the weather heats up, they wake up and go looking for food, for water and for a mate.”
Snake season officially begins on September 1, the first day of spring.
Mr Gatt said in the past two weeks he has attended call-outs in suburbs including Wyndham Vale, Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Point Cook, Albion and Deer Park.
Mr Gatt said the calls have mostly been related to tiger snakes, plus a couple brown snakes and whip snakes.
He said that as more houses are built on the fringes of Melbourne, in municipalities such as Wyndham and Melton, snakes are driven further out into paddocks or back towards suburbia.
“We are getting lots of calls at the moment from people who are walking their dogs or because their dog started barking in the backyard,” he said.
“I do recommend snake-aversion training for dogs, I don’t do it personally but it does seem to help.
“If you hear your dog barking in the backyard, go out and check on it, don’t just yell at it.”
Mr Gatt said he was keen to remind people that snakes were protected by law across Australia.
He said it was important for people who see a snake on their property to contact a licensed snake catcher and not try to deal with the reptile themselves.
“Ring a snake catcher, even if it is just to get advice, they’re happy to help,” he said.
“Around 95 per cent of people who are bitten are usually trying to catch or kill a snake.”
Mr Gatt said people should brush up on first aid related to snake bites “as it may save your life”.
