If grey nomads think a split hose or an oil leak is the most frightening thing they can see when they lift the bonnet of their vehicle … they had better think again!
A Sunshine coast mechanic got a pretty big fright when he found a monster snake lurking during what should have been a routine service.
“This large Carpet Python had seen the opportunity to stay warm within this engine bay and decided to take it!” says Max from the Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 on the company’s Facebook page.
With the weather warming up, grey nomads and other travellers are being warned to be alert for snakes, and to leave well alone of they come across any.
Snake catchers in many parts of the country are reporting they have been kept pretty busy during the winter.
“I have never had such a busy winter in more than 20 years and usually things slow down and I would only have three or so call-outs a week,” Gold Coast snake catcher, Tony Harrison, told the Gold Coast Bulletin. “This year I have been out every day, most commonly seeing carpet pythons and green tree snakes.”
He blamed the upsurge on the unusually warm weather and land clearing.
Snake Advice and Relocation’s Bryan Robinson told the Bulletin that there was a common misconception that snakes hibernate during winter.
“They still remain active at this time,” he said. “Snake activity normally reduces significantly but they do not disappear entirely like the bears of North America who go into caves for the winter.”
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, July was the fifth warmest on record, with temperatures around 1.59C above average.
Had the same thing happen to me. Car parked in driveway. Adelaide suburb. Murray darling python made his home under the bonnet .
Global warming???