An elderly man in Sydney’s southwest had a lucky escape after mistaking a venomous red-bellied black snake for a harmless eel and placing it in an olive jar. Monday’s incident occurred at an aged care facility, and luckily, staff quickly identified the problem and called WIRES for help.
But wildlife rescuer Inga Tiere said she was not surprised by the event because she often attends to callouts where Aussies have contained dangerous wildlife.
She spoke to Yahoo News on Wednesday, moments after another incident at a nearby suburb, also involving a red-belly.
Coincidentally, this time, the homeowner had placed the snake inside a large olive bucket.
The incidents highlight how much some Aussies love olives, and also that more education is needed about the risk posed by snakes.
“You need to understand the behaviour of the snakes,” she told Yahoo News.
“They act defensively because we are a predator, and the snake thinks we’re going to kill them.”
Three snakes dangerously contained in Bunnings bucket
Most snake victims in Australia are men, and bites occur when the snake is either picked up or attacked.
Bites from juvenile snakes can be just as deadly as those from large, mature snakes.
Tiere urged anyone with a snake in their yard to contact a trained snake handler for advice.
If there is a danger to either the snake, pets or humans, then assistance can be arranged to move it to another place.
Worryingly, residents often try to contain the snake themselves and then request help, putting both themselves and the snake at risk.
In 2024, Tiere was called to a home where residents had placed a red-belly and two eastern brown snakes inside a Bunnings bucket.
“I asked if I could take the bucket to release them, and they outright refused,” she said.
“I had to tip the snakes into a bag and take them away.”
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