SNAKES made a surprise visit to the Probus Club of Fingal Bay’s July meeting.

Guest presenter Teresa Purnell brought one of the snakes on which she based her PhD project at the University of Newcastle.

Teresa said, “So often when people realise snakes are involved, half the audience seems to make straight for the door!”

“They miss out on information and ideas about how to react when a snake appears, in our homes or while we are walking in the bush,” she said.

Not all reptiles are killers, and they are protected by law, so it is wise to call for help.

The Hunter Wildlife Rescue staff can advise on immediate action and help with removal.

Teresa has been a volunteer at Hunter Wildlife Rescue for nine years and says it is surprising how many “help me” calls are received each week.

During the informative presentation, Teresa showed illustrations to assist in recognising various species, and gave advice on safety procedures.

These included, standing still as snakes are usually more anxious to get away from you than you are from them.

It’s also a good idea to take a photo if possible, to help with identification.

You can contact Hunter Wildlife Rescue on 0418 628 483.

The club’s Joint Vice President Julia Redlich told News Of The Area, “It was a fascinating meeting, with some rather unexpected reactions.”

“The club has had a variety of guest speakers and this was definitely one of the more unusual presentations,” she said.

The Probus Club of Fingal Bay meets on the second Monday of every month at 9.30am at The Fingal Bay Sports and Recreation Club.

 

By Marian SAMPSON