More than 40 people have used Melton council’s free snake removal service in less than three months.
Of the 45 call-outs from September 1 to November 17, snakes were removed on 15 occasions and lizards identified six times, a report presented to last week’s council meeting found.
One Brookfield resident had four snakes removed from their property during one call-out.
And as the weather warms up, council officers expect take-up of the service to climb.
Watts ward councillor Lara Carli, who called for free snake removal in the municipality earlier this year, said the trial program was a success.
“I believe it has benefited our residents, and the feedback I get is a very positive one,” she said. “I’m very happy to see it still continue and I’m also very happy to see it advertised … the Facebook post [about the snake removal program] attracted more than 70,000 people in 24 hours – so you can just see the need for it.”
Earlier this year, councillors voted in favour of a five-month trial of the free service, then extended it to 12 months because of its success.
Previously, residents were forced to pay between $150 to $250 for a private service to remove snakes.
Cr Carli said she hopes the program will be continued.
However, the council report stated that relocating snakes caught by the snake catcher will not significantly reduce the risks to other residents.
“Residents need to understand the types of vegetation and landscaping that provide a suitable habitat for snakes … reducing loose ground cover material, in the form of rubbish, logs, rocks and sheets of tin … will be effective in reducing the risk.”
Snake catcher Stewart Gatt said he has removed about 25 snakes from Melton and Moorabool properties recently, one a red-bellied black snake on the back seat of a car.
Melton Veterinary Clinic senior nurse Kim Norton said the clinic had treated three pets for snake bites compared with 15 for the same time last year.
