When snake catchers were called to a job in the Western Sydney suburbs, they expected to pull four red bellies from a mulch pile. Little did they know, they'd end up finding 102.
Catchers from Reptile Relocation Sydney were called to a property in Horsley Park after the homeowners had sighted a couple of red-bellied black snakes dispersing into a mulch pile.
"At this time of year, it can be common for some females to congregate and share the same birthing site," Reptile Relocation Sydney said on Facebook.
Dispatching their catcher, Dylan, "we expected to remove four red bellies that had been seen".
But as Dylan started digging through the mulch, he realised it wasn't going to be an ordinary job.
"Snake after snake, they just kept being uncovered."
By the time their work was done, catchers had pulled a total of 102 snakes from the pile — 97 newborns and five adults.
A video posted to the service's Facebook showed the snakes slithering among each other at the bottom of a bucket.
According to the Australian Museum, red-bellied black snakes, identified by their shiny black backs and red bellies, are found throughout eastern Australia.
They typically reside in streams, swamps, lagoons, and within forests, woodlands, and grasslands.
Redbellies are among the most frequently encountered snakes in eastern Australia, and despite being venomous, they are largely considered to be "inoffensive".
They are responsible for several bites per year but are typically "shy" and will only deliver a serious bite if severely harassed.
"For its size, the red-bellied black snake is probably the least dangerous elapid snake in Australia," the Australian Museum said.
Very few human deaths have been caused by a red belly bite, with most records from early times where the snake's identity was unconfirmed.
Bite victims may end up in the hospital with nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, sweating, local or general muscle pain and weakness, and red-brown urine.
There is a larger danger to children and pets due to their smaller size.
However, all suspected bites should be treated as serious and need medical attention "as soon as possible".
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