A Plague of Snakes

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1921, Page 1

A Plague of Snakes

AFTERMATH OF N.S.W. FLOODS

SYDNEY, June 7

()no result of the heavy rains in the Northern Rivers district of New South Wales, and of the. consequent floods in tha rivers, has been a plague of snakes. Many of the settlers are having unenviable experiences. Many of the wo ret varieties of Australian snakes live in the swamps, protected against their natural enemies by the thick growth. When an exceptional flood occurs, the waters of the rivers will generally sweep through the swamps, and the snakes are either drowned, or are carried off on floating timber. The reptiles show the most astonishing ingenuity in finding logs and branches which are likely to float, and lodging themselves securely thereon. There they remain until the river is falling, and their barques are thrown ashore somewhere. The Clarence river, on this occasion, rose exceptionally high, and the settlers along the lower reaches arc, at the present time, engaged in a perpetual war with the invading reptiles. Many stockowners report heavy losses. One man—Mr T. E. Smith, of Taloumbi—says that in three weeks he has lost two valuable horses, a cow, and a breeding sow, owing to their being bitten by the snakes. He has killed scores of snakes, but indications suggest that there are hundreds more to kill.

“Every drifting log and stick from the up-country swamps had a snake on it,” said another river settler. ‘‘l have killed over forty on my place recently. They are mostly black snakes from 9 inches to If teot 5 inches in length. I was digging a posthole the other day and 1 felt a tugging at one leg of the heavy trousers 1 was wearing. 1 thought it was a goat that was wandering about near me at the time, but when 1 looked round 1 saw the goat some distance off. A huge black snake was there, with his fangs well fastened in the material of the trousers. I killed the snake, and with some difficulty unhooked it, and T found traces of a considerable amount of poison m the thick eurdutoy.