More than 100 venomous snakes found in Sydney yard

Reptile handlers in Australia have reported an astonishing rescue of 102 venomous snakes from a mulch pile in a Sydney backyard recently, far exceeding their initial expectations and leaving them surprised by the sheer number.

Cory Kerewaro stated that his company initially received a call for assistance, reporting a dog being bitten by a snake on the property, requiring the rescue of a "group" of reptiles. Subsequently, his colleagues headed to the scene to handle the situation.

Upon arrival, his colleagues discovered 40 red-bellied black snakes. Four of these snakes gave birth to even more baby snakes after being placed in the removal bags. This meant that the number of snakes to be handled increased further, complicating the rescue operation.

Red-bellied black snakes are among the most common venomous snakes in Australia, yet there are no recorded human fatalities attributed to them. Currently, the five adult snakes and 97 juveniles are being held in isolation and will be released into a national park once the weather cools.

Mr. Kerewaro indicated that this was the largest number of snakes ever captured in a single instance by the snake handlers, who typically catch between five and fifteen reptiles per day. He also recalled his colleague Dylan Cooper calling him within 15 minutes, saying, "Mate, I'm going to be here for a while. This pile is huge... I've already caught more than 15 snakes!" He added, "I thought he was joking."

He added that the incident occurred on Boxing Day, and the dog was "doing fine" after the event. According to Mr. Kerewaro, female red-bellied black snakes often gather in small groups when preparing to give birth, possibly for defense against predators. The Australian Museum states on its website that they are the only species in their genus to give birth to live young. The species is considered shy, and while bites are uncommon, they can cause swelling, nausea, and diarrhea.

Legislation dictates that snake catchers must release animals near the location where they were found. However, given the scale of this discovery, the snake catchers have been granted permission to release the snakes into a national park far from human activity. This special permit is designed to ensure the safety of both the snakes and the public.