Humans aren't the only species who enjoy a good sunbake in spring – snakes love the warm weather too.
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This time of year is prime snake spotting season with WIRES Illawarra fielding up to 60 calls a month for help with rogue slitherers.
The region’s WIRES reptile co-ordinator Hugh Marriott said snakes loved anywhere they could curl up, hide and grab some rays.
‘‘They love being in and around the backyard and will make a home under anything that’s lying around like sheets of corrugated iron or stacks of bricks,’’ he said.
‘‘They’re looking for food, shelter and water and gardens are perfect for that.’’
Illawarra households commonly find wayward red-bellied black snakes in their yards, along with diamond pythons and golden crowned snakes.
Mr Marriott advised people against trying to catch snakes, urging them to simply watch them from a distance, remove children and pets from the area and call WIRES for help.
‘‘We don’t want people trying to pick snakes up or hitting them over the head, we want the best outcome for the animal and the humans involved,’’ he said.
‘‘People put themselves at risk if they try to touch or harm snakes as they will become highly defensive.
‘‘We love reptiles in the Illawarra and we want to live comfortably with them to a certain extent; we do have to cohabitate and they do serve a purpose in the environment.’’
If you want to keep snakes out of your yard, WIRES recommends keeping it tidy, removing any foreign items, and maintaining lawns.
Clearing vegetation and shrubs under fencelines and removing pet food can also help.
Mr Marriott said WIRES aimed to relocate any snakes they were called to remove.