Wagga’s “snake man” Tony Davis has some practical advice for people who encounter a ‘Joe Blake’ outside.
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“It’s best for someone who sees a snake to stand still. If they stand still the snake won’t know if they’re a tree or a fence post,” Mr Davis said.
“They’re more scared of you than you are of them, so all they want to do is go away from you and go back to where it’s safe.”
Mr Davis warns that running away from a snake, particularly if someone has turned their back on the reptile, is never a good idea.
“It’s better to move away slowly, and walking backwards,” he said.
Mr Davis has been catching snakes for more than 20 years and has been called on to remove them from inside houses, as well as outside.
He has found them in sliding door cavities, bathrooms, dishwashers and, once, in a pillowcase on a bed.
If someone finds a snake inside, Mr Davis’s advice is to contain it if possible: Close the door and block any gaps at the bottom with a towel, then call for help.
