Beware of snakes this summer
Now that it's warming up, snakes are starting to reappear.
Council and Snakes
Council staff do not catch snakes.
When a snake is reported on Council land we will contact a qualified and experience snake removal company. If you notice a snake on Council land or in a Council building, please call our friendly Customer Service Team on 8558 0200.
If you find a snake
If you do come across a snake, keep children and pets well clear and do not try to touch it. Almost all snake bites occur when people try to handle, kill or harm a snake.
Contact a licensed snake removal service, they will be able to catch the snake and remove it. If possible, watch where the snake goes so the snake catcher can find it.
Some Contacts
- Snake Catchers Adelaide (24 hours) | 0413 511 440 (Southern Adelaide, Hills and Fleurieu)
- Adelaide snake catchers - 0413 635 373
- Snake-Away Services - 0413 511 440.
- Chris Phillips - Pt Elliot 0403 089 521
- Julian Craig – 0408 838 034
Snake Bites in Australia
Basic overview
- There are five genus of snakes that will harm us - Browns, Blacks, Adders, Tigers and Taipans.
- All snake venom is made up of huge proteins (like egg white). When bitten, a snake injects some venom into the meat of your limb (NOT into your blood).
- This venom can not be absorbed into the blood stream from the bite site.
- It travels in a fluid transport system in your body called the lymphatic system (not the blood stream).
- When bitten, the venom has been injected into this lymph fluid (which makes up the bulk of the water in your tissues).
- The only way that the venom can get into your blood stream is to be moved from the bite site in the lymphatic vessels. The only way to do this is to physically move the limbs that were bitten.
About your Lymphatic system
- Your heart pumps blood around, so even when you are lying dead still, your blood still circulates around the body. Lymph fluid is different. It moves around with physical muscle movement like bending your arm, bending knees, wriggling fingers and toes, walking/exercise etc.
- Lymph fluid becomes blood after these lymph vessels converge to form one of two large vessels (lymphatic trunks) which are connected to veins at the base of the neck.
What to do - treating a snake bite victim
- Keep the victim still - the venom cannot move if the victim does not move
- Apply a bandage over the bite site, to an area about 10cm above and below the bite.
- Using another elastic roller bandage, apply a firm wrap from Fingers/toes all the way to the armpit/groin. The bandage needs to be firm, but not so tight that it causes fingers or toes to turn purple or white.
- Splint the limb so the patient can’t walk or bend the limb.
What not to do
- Do not cut, incise or suck the venom.
- Do not use a tourniquet.
- Don’t remove the shirt or pants - just bandage over the top of clothing.
- Remember movement (like wriggling out of a shirt or pants) causes venom movement.
- DO NOT try to catch, kill or identify the snake!!! In hospital we NO LONGER NEED to know the type of snake; it doesn’t change treatment. New Antivenom neutralises the venoms of all the 5 listed snake genus, so it doesn’t matter what snake bit the patient.
As with any medical emergency remember to call 000 for assistance and advice.