SYDNEY: Imagine stepping into your backyard and spotting a pile of snakes slithering in your mulch. That’s exactly what happened to David Stein, a homeowner in Horsley Park, Sydney, who got the shock of his life when experts uncovered 102 snakes lurking in his garden.
It all started when Stein noticed a few red-bellied black snakes, a venomous species, in the mulch he had laid down for his trees. Thinking there were only a handful, he called Reptile Relocation Sydney for help. But what followed was something straight out of a nightmare.
Snake catcher Dylan Cooper arrived to investigate—and within three hours, he had pulled out five adult snakes and an astonishing 97 newborns from the mulch pile. According to Cory Kerewaro, the owner of Reptile Relocation Sydney, this was an extremely rare occurrence.
“It’s never really been seen,” Kerewaro told CNN. “It’s pretty bizarre.”
Red-bellied black snakes are known to give birth in groups, but witnessing so many at once is almost unheard of. One of the pregnant females even gave birth inside the removal bag!
Luckily, Stein called just in time. Had the babies dispersed, his entire neighborhood might have been dealing with an unexpected invasion.
While the experience was terrifying, Stein admitted it was exciting to witness. However, he’s relieved the snakes are now gone.
The reptiles have since been safely released into a national park, far from unsuspecting homeowners.
