The Bardick is a small, no-aggressive but venomous snake with pale brown skin and golden eyes. Photo: Darren Darch.
He has been a snake handler and wildlife rescuer for 25 years, yet Darren Darch said he had only seen a Bardick once before.
The call came from another wildlife carer at Esperance SWIRL Centre at Chadwick to see this small snake.
“I didn’t have to relocate this one, rather I only went to photograph it,” Mr Darch said.
“These are a small venomous snake who grow up to 70cm long.
“Very elusive and rarely seen, these are one of my favourite.”
According to Mr Darch, the Bardick (Echiopsis curta) is a “totally non-aggressive species with venom similar to death adders, which is “medically significant”.
“They hunt at night, are very elusive and rarely seen unless uncovered by lifting items on the ground.”
This is one more reason to be careful when lifting sheets of corrugated iron, planter tubs and so on.
“For a long time they didn’t understand this snakes mainly because nobody had been bitten by one, so loads of speculation but no concrete evidence,” Mr Darch said.
“They cover the southern parts of Australia, preferring coastal heath to call home.”
Mr Darch said the snake had “lovely golden eyes”.
“That’s why I love them,” he said.
