The tip that might save your pet from “Chonk”

After “Chonk” the monster red-bellied black snake was caught in the suburbs of Brisbane, here’s the surprising tip that can save your pet from being bitten by a snake this summer.

At over 1.8m in length and boasting a neck a rugby player would be proud of, Chonk was quite the find for snake catcher, Bryce Lockett. But at this time of year, snakes of all sizes are emerging from their hibernation to find food and romance. Sadly however, many pets get in the way and wear a potentially deadly bite...

And while keeping lawns well mown and removing any hiding spots like logs or overgrown garden furniture will help keep snakes away from your yard, a surprisingly important tip centres around their food and water bowls. While it’s well known that leaving food out can attract rodents and then snakes, a water bowl is also a big snake drawcard.

You see, as the wind blows off the water in the bowl, it sends tiny droplets through the air that the snake is able to taste. And to a snake, water means food (like frogs and other small creatures) are nearby. So the recommendation? Move their food inside and get water bowls up off the ground to the highest point where dogs and cats can still access them. It might ultimately save their life...