By Alana Mitchelson
PAKENHAM children had the rare chance to get up close and personal with the world’s five deadliest snakes at a show in Cardinia Lakes shopping centre last week.
Raymond Hoser, known as the ‘Snake Man’, said the most common snakes in Cardinia shire were the copperhead and that tiger snakes – among the world’s deadliest – were also prevalent.
Mr Hoser, who lives with about 100 snakes, 12 frogs and 30 freshwater crocodiles, brought some of his most prized reptiles to Pakenham on Thursday 29 September.
Among them were the world’s top five most venomous snakes – the fierce, taipan, brown, tiger and death adder snakes.
“I’ve been into reptiles since I was dropped as a baby and I’ve been catching snakes since I was four years old,” Mr Hoser said.
“At this time of year, you have one summery day and all the snakes come out to sun bake.
“Every sunny day we’ve had, the phones go crazy and we’re called to catch snakes. Grand Final Day last year was one of the worst – we caught 32 snakes in the one day.
“It’s important that if you see a snake to ignore it. Nine times out of 10 it will run away. If it doesn’t, then call a snake catcher.”
Mr Hoser said snake hotspots that residents should be wary of include near golf courses, railway lines, creeks and scrub.
For more information, visit snakebusters.com.au.
