Australian Man Discovers Over 100 Venomous Red-Bellied Black Snakes in His Backyard

A recent discovery in western Sydney has left an Australian man shaken, but fortunately, the reptiles were safely removed and relocated without incident. Local animal wranglers reported retrieving over 100 venomous red-bellied black snakes from the man’s premises.

Cory Kerewaro, owner of Reptile Relocation Sydney, detailed the scaly scary tale on his company’s Facebook page earlier this week. According to the post, David Stein called for the company’s help after he spotted what seemed to be six of these snakes slithering into a large mulch pile on his property. However, it proved to be a vast underestimate.

The Unexpected Discovery

Red-bellied black snakes (Pseudechis porphyriacus) are native to Australia, with their range typically extending along the eastern coast of the country. While they are commonly encountered by people, this particular sighting was still plenty unusual. Stein, the homeowner, had no idea that his backyard was a haven for these venomous snakes.

The Sighting and the Aftermath

Stein initially spotted six snakes slithering into a mulch pile on his property. However, when the reptile relocators arrived, they found that the snakes had multiplied rapidly. The team recovered five adults and a whopping 97 babies, making for a total of 102 snakes. Kerewaro posted a video on Facebook showing all the snakes gathered together.

The Maternity Den

The snakes on Stein’s property were getting ready to give birth just as he called the reptile relocators. These snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they give live birth to young that are kept in eggs within their body. So, by the time Kerewaro’s snake catcher, Dylan Cooper, was sent to the property, the snakes’ numbers had begun to explode.

The Relocation

Cooper, Stein, and Stein’s son initially wrangled 40 snakes from the mulch pile, only to have four of the adults start having their own kids on their way to being relocated. The team recovered five adults and a whooping 97 babies, making for 102 snakes in total. The maternity den of snakes was safely relocated to a remote area not too far from Stein’s home.

A Record-Breaking Discovery

Finding 102 of these snakes at once is certainly a company record, and it may very well be a record scientifically, too. Kerewaro has also promised to release more high-quality images and videos of the snakes.

A Rewarding Experience

Kerewaro has stated that the experience is "pretty rewarding." "We’re contributing to helping people understand these animals—it’s pretty rewarding," he told the Guardian.

A Cautionary Tale

While the discovery was frightening at first, it could have been worse. Just last December, a woman in Texas was unlucky enough to have reportedly found and been bitten by an actual toilet snake in her bathroom.

Conclusion

The discovery of over 100 venomous red-bellied black snakes in a single backyard is a remarkable find. While it may have been a frightening experience for Stein, the reptiles were safely removed and relocated without incident. The discovery is a testament to the importance of understanding and appreciating these fascinating creatures.