While the effects of global warming are hazardous for humanity in many ways, venomous snake are benefiting from them.
The snake season seems to have begun early as Australia’s east coast sees one of its warmest winters ever. People are advised to keep an eye out for venomous snakes after receiving a “urgent warning” from the Australian Reptile Park.
The Australian Reptile Park said in a statement that a rise in temperature along with wintertime precipitation creates the ideal climate for venomous snakes to become more active.
Snake
Snakes commonly “brumate” in the winter, a state akin to hibernation where they become less active and frequently look for a spot to hide until the temperatures start to rise again. This typically doesn’t occur until September.
According to the Australian Reptile Park, however, the heat is luring snakes to emerge earlier than usual, and snake catchers have reported a considerable rise in call outs—a phenomenon rarely seen at this time of year.
But given that snake bites can be fatal in as little as 30 minutes, he urged people to learn how to handle them. These include calming down bitten people, taking off jewelry and watches, and bandaging the entire limb rather than just the bite site. Additionally, he advised homeowners to keep their backyards free of any firewood or other things that can serve as snake habitats.
Australia’s winters have been gradually getting warmer as the world continues to burn fossil fuels that warm the planet.
According to data from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, last month was the fourth warmest July on record for New South Wales. The country as a whole experienced temperatures that were about 1.2 degrees Celsius higher than normal.
The snake population in the UK, specifically pet snakes, is being impact by rising temperatures. This year’s June in the UK was by far the hottest on record.
More captive snakes are escaping from their enclosures as a result of the warming temperature, according to the animal welfare organization Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
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