A JOGGER got a shock recently when she found a copperhead snake with its head stuck in a can of bourbon and coke while running through Creswick bushland.
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Kate Villegas said while she was no snake lover, she was horrified to see wildlife at the brink of death due to carelessly discarded rubbish.
The venomous snake, which was stuck in a can of Woodstock bourbon and cola, was saved by a wildlife officer who travelled from Melbourne to set it free.
“It had suffered a small amount of irritation and was dehydrated, but it was okay to go back into the bush,” Ms Villegas said.
She said she was concerned about the amount of litter in the bush caused by people “not thinking of the consequences or impact on our wildlife”.
“I am in no way a snake lover, especially a deadly one, but please don't mess up their environment. No creature should die such a horrible death.”
Ballarat snake catcher Jules Farquhar asked anyone witnessing similar incidents to call him rather than wait for long-distance help to avoid reptiles suffering a “slow and painful death”.
“Snakes like to put their heads in something, they like to feel secure. They might stick there head in there for a bit of shade or shelter or to get a bit of moisture,” he said.
He said the snakes would then try to reverse out of the situation, but tear their scales trying to do so.
“I’ve done a lot of snakes being caught in nets but if I do get one of those can call-outs I’ll cut the can in half and remove the can slowly with scissors.”
Mr Farquhar, who works under his professional name of “Snake Ventura”, said copperheads were common in Ballarat, had a bad reputation and weren’t much loved, but they were an important and protected species.
“People don’t realise they’re a protected species; they’re a native animal. They play an important role in the environment – they eat things, they get eaten by things, they have a high ecological value,” he said.
“We think about conservation and caring for animals, but it’s usually the ones that humans can relate to - like fluffy mammals.
“Snakes are animals with scaly skin, no movable limbs, and they’ve got a bad reputation for killing people, but that’s not the case at all.”
Mr Farquhar said copperheads in particular were shy and simply keen to avoid human contact.
“I don’t expect people to love snakes like I do, but I hope they can be tolerant.”
Mr Farquhar’s services are available 24/7 by calling 0439 242 889.
