I thought I’d do something a little different this month and talk about AI and Google.
Now, before you ask what that has to do with snakes… trust me, it has everything to do with them!
These days, if people spot a snake or lizard in the backyard, one of the first things they do is grab their phone, take a photo and ask ChatGPT or Google Images what it is. While technology is an amazing tool, this is one area where you need to be very careful.
I’ve seen plenty of examples where AI or image searches have identified a completely harmless snake as highly venomous, or worse, labelled a venomous snake as non-venomous. Sometimes they’ll even suggest species that don’t even exist in Australia!
The problem is that many of our reptiles look very similar. Colour can vary, young snakes often look different to adults, and a photo taken from the wrong angle can easily confuse identification software.
When it comes to snakes, getting it wrong isn’t worth the risk.
If you’re unsure what you’ve found, the safest option is to take a photo from a safe distance and send it to your local snake catcher for identification, or simply give us a call to come and safely remove it if needed. That’s what we’re here for.
It’s also worth remembering that in NSW, it is illegal for anyone who isn’t appropriately licensed to catch, relocate or handle native wildlife, including snakes. Likewise, harming or killing native wildlife can result in significant penalties, including prosecution.
Even though winter has arrived, don’t assume snakes have disappeared until spring. Reptiles don’t hibernate the way many people think they do. During the cooler months, they become less active, but on a sunny winter’s day, they’ll often emerge to warm themselves, have a drink or look for food before returning to shelter.
If you’re working around the yard this winter, take a little extra care when moving wood piles, old logs, tree stumps, sheets of tin, or rocks, or when cleaning around dams and creek banks. These are all places that provide safe, sheltered resting spots during the colder months.
A quick look before you lift or move something can prevent an unpleasant surprise for both you and the reptile.
As always, we’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year for snake removals, reptile identification and advice. We’d much rather answer a question or safely relocate a snake than have someone take unnecessary risks based on what the internet thinks it has found.
Stay safe, enjoy the winter sunshine, and remember — not everything you read online is as clever as it sounds!
