Venomous Snakes at Bushy Park Wetlands

Visitors to Bushy Park Wetlands should be particularly careful if venturing off the walking track in summer due to the increased activity at this time of the year of 2 species of venomous snakes, which inhabit the area. The temperate watercourses and plains covered by woodland, shrubland and tussock grassland, provides the ideal habitat for the Eastern Tiger Snake and the Lowlands Copperhead Snake. These snakes shelter under and in fallen timber, in burrows, under flat rocks and deep in dense grass tussocks. Adults forage by day and during warm nights for frogs, lizards, nestling birds & small mammals. If bitten, firmly bandage the whole of the affected limb, apply a splint to immobilise the limb and quickly transport the patient to medical aid.

EASTERN TIGER SNAKE Notechis scutatus, in reference to the shield-shaped frontal scale. This snake is common over its range, which extends from Victoria, up the east coast of NSW to about Brisbane.

Eastern Tiger Snake by H James

The body and tail are greenish brown to blackish brown with distinctive crossbands that are greenish grey to yellowish white. These pale crossbands which diminish toward the tail alternate with the darker body colour to give the distinctive tiger-snake appearance.

Mating occurs mainly in late spring and from 15 to 80 (average 25) live young are born from January to April. Maturity is reached in 2 years, at a length of about 70cm. An adult can grow to a length of 210 cm and the Eastern Tiger Snake can inflict a potentially fatal bite.

LOWLANDS COPPERHEAD SNAKE Austrelaps superbus superbus (sue-per'-bus: "superb southern-Elaps") This species, is restricted to Tasmania, southern Victoria and south-eastern South Australia.

Copperhead Snake picture
Lowlands Copperhead by L Novotny

The body is reddish brown or dark greyish on the back and upper sides. The lower sides are usually a dull orange-red; the lowermost lateral scales being cream to yellowish. The head is dark reddish brown, greyish brown or blackish with a slightly paler snout.

Mating usually occurs in spring and from 10 to 45 (average 20) live young are born between January and March. An adult Lowlands Copperhead Snake may grow to 145 cm. It has a potentially fatal bite and like most snakes it will become aggressive if threatened.