It's a busy season for licensed snake catcher Ray McGibbon who has responded to 98 calls in areas of Goulburn and Southern Highlands since mid-August.
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Mr McGibbon has been a snake catcher for the past 20 years and had rescued snakes from residential and market areas of Goulburn and Southern Highlands.
"In October, I was called to catch a Tiger snake that had come out of a wheel arch of someone's car who had come into the town for shopping in Goulburn. The snake then headed into one of the shops storage units and had to be rescued from there," he said.
Mr McGibbon has even responded to calls to remove snakes from residential properties at 1am at night. So far, he has removed Red-bellied snakes, highlands copperhead, tiger and eastern brown snakes to name a few this season.
The season for snake sightings started early in 2020 because of heavy rainfall and warm weather. The season usually starts in September but the sightings began in August.
In the wake of increased sightings, Mr McGibbon advises everyone to tidy up and keep their yards and lawns clean as having a congested garden provides a safe passageway for snakes.
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"Make sure the grass is cut, woodpiles are stacked and garbage is cleaned up. Eliminate anything in which snakes can get in. While doing all this won't stop snakes from coming into your property, it will stop them from living in your property," he said.
"If you do see a snake, don't try to catch or kill the snake, but keep a watch and make a note of its movement. Maintain your distance and contact a licensed snake handler."
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