Last Weekend, resident snake catcher and founder of Fauna for the Future Darren Darch caught the dugite he said had previously escaped him at the Cannery Arts Centre.
On Monday, Mr Darch released the snake back into the wild with the help of his snake catching protégé, Rosie Leaney.
Ms Leaney said she recently moved to Esperance and, after completing snake training in other states, got in touch with Mr Darch in the hopes of getting a little more face-to-face snake experience.
After the successful release of the dugite, Ms Leaney shared some insights into her snake training journey which she said had always interested her.
“I’ve got a love for wildlife and wildlife rescuing and I’ve always had an interest in snakes,” she said.
“I find that the more I know about them, the less irrational fear I have. I think knowledge is power and knowledge is safety.”
Ms Leaney said it was “always really cool” to get the chance to be close to native wildlife, to see what it did, and how it moved and how it acted.
“Also to know that the people in the community, they’ve done the best for that animal,” she said.
“They didn’t want it in their yard with their dogs and their kids – which is understandable.
“But they haven’t gone and killed it – they’ve called someone, and that animal now has a chance at survival in a natural habitat.”
We asked Ms Leaney if she had any advice for people who might come across a snake.
“Snakes do not want to interact with us,” she said.
“I know it’s natural for us to be scared of them because they are a dangerous animal, but if you see one in the wild, stand back and give it space so it can move away.
“If the snake sees you as a threat, for example if you try and kill it with a shovel or are trying to catch it, then it will become defensive. That could end up in a bite.”
Ms Leaney said the best thing to do if people encountered a snake close by was to stand still and let it pass.
“If you’re concerned about a snake in your yard, or definitely if it’s in your house, keep kids and dogs away from it and call Darren, call Key Pest Control and they will be able to come and help,” she said.
“Just remember that they don’t want to interact with us, and they will do their best to get away from us.”
Ms Leaney also mentioned the important role snakebite training could have in saving lives.
“There are very few deaths in Australia from snakebites, especially if people apply snake bite first aid,” she said.
“People can empower themselves, so they know what to do.”
If you come acrossn a snake or animal that needs to be relocated, contact Darren Darch on 0404387215.
