A TIGER snake slithering down Graham Street in Wonthaggi at lunchtime today caused a bit of a stir among shoppers.
All the attention from fascinated pedestrians drove the highly venomous reptile, which was seen to be coming from the taxi rank, to seek sanctuary in the Gypsy Dreaming store.
Hamish Trumble was manning the shop and thinking quickly as the snake approached, threw a basket over it, where it gratefully stayed until the snake catcher arrived.
“So, a little bit of excitement. I’ve never had a snake in my retail career, so, that’s a new one for me,” said Hamish.
“The boss was happy to learn that sales continued uninterrupted during this crisis and it was a good outcome for all, including the snake.”
Leigh Allamby of Bass Coast Snake Catchers came within ten minutes of Hamish calling and safely retrieved the snake.
Leigh commented that the tiger snake would not have come from surrounding bush land as they tend to live more in the areas of Ryanston, Woolamai or Tarwin Lower.
One theory is that the snake may have unknowingly hitched a ride on someone’s vehicle and found itself in the main street of Wonthaggi once it stopped.
Leigh will now work out where to safely release the reptile.
It isn’t the first time Leigh has had to rescue a snake from in town.
About two weeks ago he caught a copperhead snake at the Wonthaggi Plaza, which he believes came from Cape Paterson and was safely released back into the wild.
When Jodie Williams, the owner of Gypsy Dreaming heard about the snake incident she commented,
“It’s the year of the snake, so it’s all a bit mystical.”
