Record Rescue: Over 100 Venomous Snakes Discovered in Sydney Yard

In a remarkable incident, Sydney reptile rescuers recovered over 100 venomous red-bellied black snakes from a single backyard after a dog was bitten, marking a record haul for snake handlers in the area.

In what can only be described as an unprecedented rescue, more than 100 venomous snakes have been found hiding in a backyard mulch pile in Sydney. The discovery was made by Cory Kerewaro of Reptile Relocation Sydney, who was initially called to deal with a snake that had bitten a dog at the property. What started as a simple rescue quickly escalated as Kerewaro's colleague uncovered an astonishing total of 102 snakes, including five adult red-bellied black snakes and 97 babies.

Red-bellied black snakes are among the most common venomous species in Australia; however, they are known for causing no fatalities attributed to their bites. Once the adult snakes were collected, Kerewaro noted that four of them gave birth while being handled, further contributing to the shocking number.

The snake catchers typically encounter between five to 15 reptiles a day, making this discovery truly exceptional. Kerewaro recalled a conversation with his colleague Dylan Cooper, who alerted him to the remarkable situation just 15 minutes into the rescue, saying, "It's a pretty big pile... I'm already over 15 snakes!"

Though the dog involved in the bite incident was reported to be "alive and well," the experience underscores the importance of snake awareness in residential areas. Female red-bellied black snakes sometimes congregate during birthing to safeguard their young from predators, as outlined by Kerewaro. Notably, these snakes are the only members of their genus that give live birth, according to the Australian Museum.

Bites from this species, while rare, can lead to some unpleasant side effects such as swelling, nausea, and diarrhea. Legal guidelines require snake catchers to release snakes in proximity to their discovery location, but due to the scale of this rescue, they have obtained permission to relocate the snakes to a national park, minimizing future human-snake interactions.