Snakes alive! It's the start of that season again

With the nights getting warmer and the days sunnier, it's time to take care when out walking through scrub or long grass on the NSW North Coast.
The start of Spring will see snakes begin to move about more often and some may cross our paths or that of our pets.

A snake's body temperature - and so its level of activity - is controlled by the temperature of the air and the ground. It will try to maximise body heat, by basking in the sun or lying on or near warm surfaces such as night-time roads or even, on occasion, household water heaters.
In the more temperate climate along the coast they shelter in rock crevices and logs during cold weather and come out on warm days to soak up the heat of the sun.

All native snakes in NSW are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.

Photograph of Eastern (Common) Brown Snake found at Sydney University website.