MELBOURNE, Australia – A Sydney homeowner got the shock of a lifetime when over 100 venomous red-bellied black snakes were found nesting in a pile of mulch in his backyard.
David Stein, who lives in Horsley Park, a suburb on Sydney’s western outskirts, called Reptile Relocation Sydney last week after spotting at least six snakes slithering into the mulch. A quick online search revealed that pregnant (gravid) red-bellied black snakes often pile together before giving birth, prompting him to call in the professionals.
A Record-Breaking Snake Catch
Snake catcher Dylan Cooper arrived the same afternoon and, with Stein’s help, raked through the mulch to uncover a shocking total of 102 snakes—five adults and 97 offspring.
“Just seeing that amount in one group, it gives you a bit of the shudders,” Stein said.
As Cooper continued catching them, two of the adult females gave birth inside the bag, adding 29 more newborns to the tally.
Cory Kerewaro, owner of Reptile Relocation Sydney, described the discovery as unprecedented.
“You can get a decent number when babies are hatching, but to have this many venomous snakes? No one’s come across it,” Kerewaro said.
Why So Many Snakes? Experts Weigh In
Experts remain puzzled as to why so many gathered and gave birth at the same time.
Australian snake expert Scott Eipper suggested a few possible reasons:
- Safety in numbers – Gravid red-bellied black snakes may congregate for protection.
- Lack of suitable birthing locations – A shortage of natural habitat may have forced the snakes to share space.
- Extreme heat – Unusually hot weather in Sydney may have triggered mass birthing.
“This is an isolated incident. It’s certainly a very rare occurrence,” Eipper said.
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Where Do the Snakes Go Now?
As red-bellied black snakes are a protected species, Kerewaro needed government permission to relocate them.
“There was concern about where 100 snakes were going to go,” he admitted.
Authorities have now approved their release into a remote national park, far away from human habitation.
“They’ll be dropped deep into the bush, where they won’t have any interaction with people,” Kerewaro confirmed.
Not the First Encounter with Red-Bellies
Stein’s 2-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Belle, had a close call with a juvenile red-bellied black snake in December. She was bitten but survived after spending four days in an animal hospital and receiving multiple doses of antivenom.
Preventing Future Snake Invasions
Stein has already made up his mind about avoiding another snake invasion.
“Within the next couple of days, this big pile of mulch will be gone,” he said.
With Australia home to some of the world’s most venomous snakes, experts warn that this may not be the last time snakes seek shelter in suburban backyards.
