MELBOURNE, Australia — A resident of Sydney recently experienced quite a shock when over 100 venomous red-bellied black snakes were extracted from a mound of mulch in his backyard. David Stein noticed a few snakes disappearing into the pile and, after conducting some online research, discovered that pregnant red-belly blacks often gather together in large groups before giving birth.
He took the initiative to call in Reptile Relocation Sydney for help. Snake catcher Dylan Cooper arrived that same afternoon, and with Stein’s assistance, began to uncover the snakes hidden beneath the mulch. To their astonishment, they gathered 102 snakes, including both pregnant and newborn specimens. “Seeing that many snakes clustered together is certainly unsettling,” Stein expressed about the experience.
Cory Kerewaro, the owner of Reptile Relocation Sydney, confirmed that while they were removing snakes, two of the adult females unexpectedly gave birth, adding another 29 snakes to the total count. Ultimately, they collected five adults and 97 hatchlings from the site.
Experts remain puzzled as to why such a large number of snakes chose this specific area for birthing at Stein’s 1.4-hectare (3.5-acre) property in Horsley Park, located on the outskirts of Sydney. Kerewaro remarked that the largest group he had previously encountered during a removal operation consisted of just 30 non-venomous carpet pythons, but these pythons lay eggs, unlike the live-bearing red-belly blacks.
Scott Eipper, an author specializing in Australian snakes and wildlife, explained that it’s not uncommon for gravid female snakes to cluster for protection or when they have limited suitable locations to give birth. He also noted that the extreme heat experienced in Sydney could have triggered this birthing event. “This is a unique and very rare situation,” Eipper indicated.
Red-bellied black snakes typically have litters ranging from 4 to 35 young, and Eipper suggested that some of the snakes caught may have been offspring of adults that left the nesting area. Notably, Australia is home to many of the world’s most venomous snakes.
A week after the startling removal, Kerewaro still had custody of the snakes, which are classified as a protected species. He received the green light from government authorities to release them into a national park. “Given the sheer number, there were concerns about where to relocate 100 snakes,” Kerewaro explained. “They’ll be placed deep in the bush, far from any human contact.”
Adding to the intrigue, Stein recalled an earlier incident in December when his Jack Russell terrier, Belle, was bitten by a juvenile red-bellied black snake. After battling through four days of recovery at an animal hospital with the help of antivenom, Belle fully healed.
Looking ahead, Stein has been warned that the snakes might return to the same mulch pile for birthing next year. “This large mound of mulch won’t be here much longer,” he mentioned, alluding to plans for its removal in the coming days.
