A dog-walking group has moved out of Altona because of snakes, with one local vet warning that snake season is just warming up.
Karen Hollis, founder of Facebook group Cavalier Meet-Up in Melbourne’s West, said members have decided Altona is too dangerous for their cavalier King Charles spaniels.
She said the group’s favourite walk had been from Altona dog beach to Apex Park.
“We’ve also tried Cherry Lake, but we can’t go down there this particular time of year because of the snake situation,” Ms Hollis said.
“I’m actually linked up with a Facebook group that reports snake sightings in the west … Snake Sightings in Melbourne’s West found snakes had come into Altona’s streets – Purnell Street and Galvin Street.
“I thought, if they’re in Galvin Street and Purnell Street, I think we’ll move out of the Altona area.
“There’s [been] a tiger snake at the sports club, and they’ve been at the Altona dog beach as well, so I thought, no, we’ll just move down to Cruickshank Park in Yarraville.”
Dr Adam Campbell from Altona Vet Clinic said the large snake population, especially tiger snakes, came with the area’s waterways.
“We’ve got the Kororoit Creek, we’ve got Cherry Lake, we’ve got the whole swamplands where the old racecourse used to be,” he said.
“This year we’re expecting to be quite a deal worse just because of the mild spring and the rain, and all the other stuff that then gives you frogs and mice and rats … so we are expecting a reasonably bad snake year this year.”
He said dog walkers should keep their pets on leads in quiet areas with long grass.
“As soon as we get warmer weather … we’re going to get trouble.”
