Reptiles

Snake catcher Michael Gibson is hopeful Australians have been shifting away from fearing and killing snakes to valuing their role in the ecosystem.

When Luke Simpson clocked in to work at Torrumbarry Weir for his early morning inspections one of the last things he probably thought he'd be doing would be winching an enormous goanna out of the water.

Wildlife officers believe the unwanted visitor had been snacking on the family's geese and posed a risk to children and pets as it was brought within metres of their home by rising waters.

Usually snakes are unwelcome visitors on farms, but research suggests the benefits of their presence on agricultural land far outweighs the potential costs to farmers and graziers.

Saltwater crocodile numbers continue to rise across Western Australia's far north, with authorities warning locals and visitors to be careful around swimming and fishing hotspots.

Paul Newcombe has a collection of snakes at his home including a Woma python called Ned.

Major flooding in the Far North last month may mean that crocodiles are on the move and residents are being urged to exercise caution in areas not usually inhabited by the reptiles.

Just after service began on a busy night for the Far South Coast venue, staff noticed the snake's tail poking out from under the bar.

When she went to turn off the radio in her outdoor entertainment area, Adelaide Hills resident Gail Auricht thought the hissing sound she could hear was an air compressor — then she spotted a red-bellied black snake caught in her fridge.

Spouting water, hissing and blowing bubbles might not work for humans on the dating scene, but according to Sunshine Coast researchers, for saltwater crocodiles it's a different story.

There is no shortage of snakes this summer, or ideas on how to avoid them — especially from so-called experts on social media — but those in the field say one simple action might be the most effective of all.

A WA wildlife carer says she nearly "wet her pants" with excitement, after an endangered western swamp tortoise was found on a dirt track near her home town of Northcliffe.

Rangers on Queensland's Capricorn Coast investigate a "dangerous" crocodile that has given a fisherman a fright, after spending weeks lurking the area and putting locals on high alert.

The Queensland government is investigating after a Mackay fisher said a crocodile that had been "watching" him launched into his boat on Sunday night.

Conservationists say it was "incredible" to find that a Manning River turtle had laid a dozen precious eggs as part of a breeding program aimed at saving the critically endangered species.

A snake catcher in north-west Victoria says he was so busy he did not realise a highly venomous reptile had bitten him on the finger. Then he started to lose consciousness.

Antivenom runs dry in the town of Hamilton during a challenging weekend for a local veterinarian unable to save five dogs.

The yellow-bellied sea snake, which usually lives off the continental shelf, intrigues locals but comes with a warning from wildlife rescuers.

Researchers in a new study have found that metal pollution around the reef could be interfering with their hormones and upsetting the gender balance amongst the species.

Snake catcher Rex Neindorf says recent bushfires have pushed higher numbers of deadly snakes into Alice Springs as they look for food in people's backyards and kitchens.

Reptile removalists are being kept extra busy in Western Australia, after a good winter period creating "brilliant conditions" for snake numbers to climb.

Kerrod James Frahm had a "duty of care to protect his son" before the 11-year-old died of a brown snake bite in 2021, magistrate says. 

When Europeans colonised Tasmania they developed a hysterical fear of snakes but unwittingly provided them with the perfect food source, rabbits, which led to one venomous species growing into near 2-metre giants.

Kate Miller, 62, was bitten by a brown snake on a beach in northern New South Wales, 136 kilometres away from a hospital. A compression bandage from by a passer-by may have saved her life.

Snake catchers say it is becoming harder to find new homes for the reptiles as urban areas expand and the weather warms up.