Common Snakes of the Top

This guide can be used to assist in the identification of Snake facts snakes in the Top End region of the Northern Territory. • Snake venom is designed to kill prey items, not people. Snakes are incredibly variable in colour, even within Snakes are scared of people and only bite them out species. Any handling of snakes or confirmation of of fear. Most bites occur when people try to corner, identification should be left to the experts. capture or kill snakes. Pick up the phone, not the snake. Common Snakes • Snakes play an essential role in the environment. They For snake enquires or removals please contact: help keep rat and mice populations at bay. Having them of the Top End 1800 453 210 around your property may deter pests from your home. • In the NT, permits are required to keep snakes. Snakes of the Northern Territory What to do if you see a snake must not be acquired from the wild. • Stay calm. • Keep children and pets away from the area. Snake removals in the Darwin region • Maintain a safe distance from the snake. • Watch the snake. King rown Snake orthern rown Snake • If you can confidently identify the snake as harmless, anded ree Snake lack Whip Snake leave it be. lackheaded Python • If you are unsure of the identification of the snake, take a photograph from a safe distance and call 1800 453 210.

Snake bite first aid Water Python Childrens Python • Stay calm • Minimise mobility • Call 000 • Apply pressure to the wound. A pressure bandage should be applied firmly to the entire limb or wound area, but not Slaty rey Snake olden ree Snake so tight that it stops blood flow. • Splint limb

Keelback Snake How to keep snakes away

• Keep your yard clutter free. Clutter provides warm, dark live Python areas where snakes like to hide. Carpet Python • Avoid tall growing grass and dense shrubs; unkempt grass 0 and dense vegetation provides hiding places for snakes. • Undertake regular pest control, as pests, such as rats, provide a food source for snakes. Higly Venomous Mildly Venomous • Remove ground level water sources that snakes may be Non-Venomous drawn to drink or swim in. Water also provides a habitat for frogs, an important food source for some species of snake. Key to snake identification www.nt.gov.au • Patch up any holes; by blocking all access points into your Non- Eats Climbing home, snakes will be unable to enter. Carefully inspect venomous Mammals your property and if you notice any holes, no matter how Mildly Eats Most active small, patch them up. venomous Reptiles in the day • Use snake and rodent mesh. Household pets like chickens, Highly Eats Ground birds, rabbits and guinea-pigs are all food items for venomous Frogs dwelling snakes. Keep your pets safe by lining their cages with Eats Most active snake and rodent mesh. Birds in the night Photo: Ray Chatto Photo: Brendan Schembri Photo: Brendan Schembri Photo: Chris Peberdy Max. Length: 1m Length: Max. Max. Length: 2.5m Length: Max. Max. Length: 1.5m Length: Max. Max. Length: 1.5m Length: Max. , slender, quick moving, dull quick moving, papuensis, slender, Demansia Whipsnake Black Great the tail. of to the edge tinge has a red tail, typically whip-like colour, look to scales, can have nuchalis , defined Pseudonaja Snake Brown Northern can (colour brown lighter on underbelly, spots colour yellow or orange, has a marking behind the head. typically vary), scales, and defined , large australis Pseudechis (King Brown) Snake Mulga greatly. vary can bodied, colour heavy , white with brown-red with brown-red white , irregularis Boiga Tiger) (Night Snake Tree Banded bodied. slender bands, bulging eyes,

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