The first warm weekend of spring sends Adelaide families outdoors to backyards, parks, beaches and campgrounds. Unfortunately, the snakes have the same idea.
Snake season in Adelaide runs from spring through summer, as snakes wake from their winter slowdown and go looking for food, water and a mate. SA Ambulance treated 91 snakebite patients in 2024, its highest number in five years. That’s not a reason to panic or stay indoors, but it’s a good reason for every family to know the basics.
Which snakes live around Adelaide?
The eastern brown snake is the one Adelaide families are most likely to meet. It’s found across much of the state, including greater Adelaide. Red-bellied black snakes are common in the Adelaide Hills and on the Fleurieu Peninsula, and pygmy copperheads live in the higher, forested parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges. All three are venomous.
Don’t try to identify a snake by colour. Even experts say colours and patterns vary within the same species, so treat every snake as dangerous.
How to snake-proof your backyard
As one SA Department for Environment and Water ecologist puts it: “Just because you’ve never seen a snake on your property doesn’t mean they aren’t there.” A few simple jobs make your yard far less inviting:
- Keep the grass short and clear away long growth along fences
- Get rid of junk piles, such as old timber, sheets of corrugated iron and stacked pavers (these are perfect snake hidey-holes)
- Tackle mice and rats, because snakes follow their food
- Store firewood away from the house and the kids’ play areas
- Check before reaching into sheds, cubbies and sandpits
Snake safety for kids
Children are curious, and that’s where the risk lies. Most snake bites happen when someone tries to touch, catch or kill a snake. Teach kids a simple rule: Stop, step back and tell an adult.
Explain that snakes would rather get away from us than bite. If they see one, they should keep their distance, stay calm and let a grown-up handle it.
When you’re out bushwalking or camping:
- Stick to marked paths
- Wear enclosed shoes and long pants in long grass
- Make a bit of noise as you walk (snakes will usually move away)
- Never put hands or feet where you can’t see
If you see a snake
- Keep children and pets well away
- If it’s safe, watch where it goes from a distance
- Leave it alone (snakes are protected in South Australia)
- Call a licensed snake catcher to remove it from your home or yard
Snake bite first aid
Snake bites aren’t always obvious. Kids may not even realise they’ve been bitten, and symptoms can take an hour or more to appear. If you suspect a bite, treat it as an emergency.
According to St John Ambulance:
- Call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance
- Keep the person still and calm. Lie them down and reassure them, as movement helps venom spread
- Apply a pressure bandage. If the bite is on an arm or leg, wrap a broad elastic roller bandage firmly over the bite. Then use a second bandage to wrap from the fingers or toes up the limb as far as you can reach. It should be firm enough that you can’t easily slide a finger underneath
- Splint the limb to keep it still
- Note the time of the bite and when the bandage was applied. Mark the bite site with a pen if you can
- Stay with them until help arrives
Don’t wash the bite (venom on the skin helps doctors identify the snake), cut the wound, use a tourniquet or try to catch the snake.
Pack a snake bite kit
The first aid steps only work if you have the right gear on hand. A dedicated snake bite kit in the car, the camping box or the beach bag means you won’t be hunting for bandages when every minute counts.
SURVIVAL’s Snake Bite Kit is designed for exactly this moment. Each item carries a simple pictogram showing what it’s for, so you’re not reading instructions in a panic. It also covers major bleeds, fractures and sprains, which makes it a handy all-rounder for family adventures.
Enjoy the outdoors
Snakes are part of life in South Australia, and a little knowledge goes a long way. Tidy the yard, teach the kids the rules, pack a kit and get outside. Adelaide’s best season is too good to miss.
Follow KIDDO on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter