MELBOURNE, Australia — An alarming scene unfolded in a Sydney backyard when a man discovered over 100 venomous red-bellied black snakes nesting within a pile of mulch. David Stein initially spotted about six snakes entering the mulch and, upon conducting online research, found out that pregnant red-bellied blacks tend to congregate before giving birth.
Stein decided to seek help and contacted Reptile Relocation Sydney last week. Snake catcher Dylan Cooper quickly responded to the call. With Stein assisting, they began to clear away the mulch as Cooper carefully gathered a total of 102 snakes, comprising both pregnant adults and newborns. “Just witnessing such a large number in one spot makes you feel a bit uneasy,” Stein reported, reflecting on the startling experience.
According to Cory Kerewaro, the owner of Reptile Relocation Sydney, two of the adult snakes actually gave birth to 29 young while Cooper was busy collecting the others. By the end of the operation, they managed to capture five adult snakes along with 97 offspring. Experts are baffled by the substantial number of births occurring in such a short period within Stein’s suburban property, which spans approximately 1.4 hectares (or 3.5 acres) in Horsley Park.
Kerewaro noted that the largest number of snakes he had encountered in a similar removal case was 30 non-venomous carpet pythons where she lays eggs, contrasting with the live births of red-bellied blacks. “It’s not uncommon to find a decent number of hatchlings, but seeing such a large concentration of venomous snakes is quite unusual,” Kerewaro explained. Scott Eipper, an expert on Australian snakes and wildlife, speculated that the snakes might cluster for safety or due to a lack of appropriate birthing locations. He also mentioned that the recent extreme heat in Sydney could have triggered the birthing process.
Eipper described the gathering of snakes as a rare and isolated event. Red-bellied blacks typically have litters of between four to 35 young, and some of the collected snakes may have already left their nests prior to being captured. Australia is home to many of the world’s most dangerous snakes, which adds to the overall concern regarding this incident.
A week later, Kerewaro retained custody of the snakes, which are classified as a protected species. He received permission from government authorities to release them into a national park. “Given the sheer number, there was a public concern about where 100 snakes would be relocated,” Kerewaro noted. He assured that they would be released into a remote area, far from human populations.
In an earlier incident, Stein’s Jack Russell terrier, Belle, was bitten by a juvenile red-bellied black snake, which she subsequently killed. After spending four days in an animal hospital and undergoing multiple doses of antivenom, she recovered. Stein mentioned that he has been advised that snakes could potentially return to the same mulch pile next year to give birth. “This large mulch pile will soon be removed,” he stated, indicating that he is taking measures to prevent the snakes from returning.
