The Reptile Bloke

28/07/2025

REPTILE AWARENESS ~ Each week, thanks to Troy, The Reptile Bloke, we share interesting information about reptiles. Stay safe and be nice to snakes.

Have you ever heard someone say that if a snake has a triangular-shaped head, it’s venomous, but if it has a narrow head shape, it’s harmless?

This is a common myth that gets spread around the internet, along with so many other myths.

The idea that “triangular-headed” snakes are venomous, while “narrow-headed” ones are safe is misleading at best, but potentially dangerous and deadly at worst.

There may be some truth to the myth in some very specific locations, particularly in parts of North America, but even then, it’s not true in all places in the USA.
One thing’s for certain, it absolutely isn’t true at all here in Australia.

In Australia, we have some of the most venomous snakes in the world. Elapid species such as the inland Taipan, the Eastern Brown Snake and the Mulga Snake, all of which have more of a narrow head shape compared to the broad, arrow-shaped heads found on Rattle Snakes and other vipers in the USA and other parts of the world.

While we do have venomous snakes with narrow heads, we also have Death Adders, which have a diamond-shaped head and are also venomous. Another example, the Tiger Snake (Venomous), particularly as they become older and larger develop quite a robust or boofy head shape.

Carpet Pythons, on the other hand, are non-venomous but have a broad-shaped head, while Black-Headed Pythons and Woma Pythons have a narrow head and are also non-venomous.

The bottom line is that head shape is a completely unreliable indicator as to whether a snake is venomous or not.

If you need a snake identified, contact a professional snake handler to identify the snake for you. We can then advise you on what may or may not need to happen going forward, depending on your situation.

Never attempt to handle any snake, even if you believe it is harmless.
𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 - 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱

Troy Hovenden is a licensed and insured snake catcher servicing the Blue Mountains and Penrith areas. Fees apply. TROY - 0404 109 421

Web: www.thereptilebloke.com.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thereptilebloke
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/SaveTheSnakes
Photos: ©Troy Hovenden

21/07/2025

So, I had to share this! On the weekend my wife, the kids and I went out to Gilgandra because it’s the 125th anniversary since the Breelong Massacre which occurred on the 20th July 1900 in Breelong which is a small town just south of Gilgandra.
My Great-Great Grandmother and three of her children along with their school teacher were tragically murdered by Jimmy Governor. This is not only a part of Australian history but my own family history so I like to commemorate it each year.
While out there we decided to pop in at .logic.farm where we got to play with these baby bush chooks!! My gosh they were cute!

16/07/2025

WORLD SNAKE DAY: Today is World Snake Day, a good opportunity to appreciate the rich reptile diversity found throughout the Blue Mountains. As winter settles in, local snake activity slows, but our region remains home to a variety of species, including the frequently spotted red-bellied black snake and the less-seen broad-headed snake. These reptiles play a critical role in local ecosystems, helping to control rodent populations and contributing to the balance of native fauna.

Bushwalkers occasionally cross paths with snakes sunning themselves beside a track or slipping quietly away into undergrowth. Encountering a snake in the wild can be a reminder of how closely interwoven we are with the natural world here. Being aware of their habitats and giving them space is the best way to ensure safe co-existence.

On World Snake Day, it’s worth reflecting on the intricate habitats that sustain both people and wildlife in the Blue Mountains. If you’re outdoors, keep an eye out, respect their environment, and take a moment to appreciate the unique lives these animals lead among the cliffs and forests.

As Troy, The Reptile Bloke says: 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 - 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱

Be sure to follow Troy on Instagram: www.instagram.com/troy_kh_photography

16/07/2025

Happy World Snake Day from this gorgeous Red-Bellied Black Snake.

16/07/2025

Happy World Snake Day!!
Our whole lives we have been taught to fear snakes.
Yes, some of them have venom, yes some of them are venomous enough to cause serious illness or even death, but despite their venom, we don’t need to be fearful of snakes.
Snakes aren’t out to hurt us. They don’t have a malicious nature. Snakes are incredibly shy and they really are way more afraid of us than we are of them.
Here’s a tip to avoid being bitten by a snake. Leave it alone!
Snakes are some of the most unique and amazing creatures on the planet. There’s so much diversity and I never get bored of watching how they move and eat and all the things they do.
Take a moment today to appreciate snakes with me.
Happy

13/07/2025

Happy Snake Week. To be honest I had no idea there was a “Snake Week”. Apparently there is now. 😃
World Snake day is coming up on the 16th.
If you have a photo of a snake that you’ve seen in the wild, post it in the comments and let’s celebrate snakes!

Snake Week starts TOMORROW! Check out all TWENTY of the awesome kickoff events on July 13!

Sunday
July
13
–
Saturday
July
19
Colorsss the book - on sale!
https://www.colorsssthebook.com
Event host: Deborah Hutchinson
During Snake Week (July 13-19, 2025), you can score a copy of Colorsss the book at 40% off the retail price! Just use the code below at checkout to deduct an additional 15% off the already discounted price. Then enjoy teaching kids about all the colors of these amazing creatures! Discount code:
SNAKEWEEK
https://www.colorsssthebook.com

Sunday
July
13
–
Saturday
July
19
Live Snake Talks
https://www.facebook.com/kentuckyreptilezoo
3:00 PM EDT
Event host: Kentucky Reptile Zoo
Join us on our page every day of Snake Week to tune in to our reptile talks! Every day at 3 pm, we’ll broadcast our interns giving informative talks about different snakes and topics about them!
https://www.facebook.com/kentuckyreptilezoo

Sunday
July
13
–
Saturday
July
19
Fort Wayne Zoo Snake Week
3411 Sherman Blvd
Fort Wayne, Indiana
46808
US
EDT
Event host:
The Fort Wayne Zoo will be doing chats all throughout Snake Week featuring both our snakes on exhibit and some of our ambassador snakes that live behind-the-scenes. Some of our exhibit chats will be accompanied with a feeding demonstration using frozen-thawed prey items. This is the current schedule of events, though more may be added as we get closer!

Sunday, July 13th at 1:00pm – Ambassador snake chat in Discovery Garden
Tuesday, July 15th at 1:00pm – Woma python chat in Australia Adventure
Wednesday, July 16th at 1:00pm – Ambassador snake chat in Discovery Garden
Thursday, July 17th at 11:00am – Red-tailed green rat snake feeding and chat in Rainforest Room
Thursday, July 17th at 1:00pm – Reticulated python feeding and chat in Rainforest Room
Saturday, July 19th at 1:00pm – Ambassador snake chat in Discovery Garden

Sunday
July
13
–
Saturday
July
19
New Mexico BioBlitz!
New Mexico, USA
Event host: New Mexico H**petological Society
As part of Snake Week, we will document as many snakes as we can in the state of New Mexico!
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/snake-week-new-mexico-bioblitz

Sunday
July
13
–
Saturday
July
19
Snake Week Drop In
Deer Haven Park
4183 Liberty Road
Delaware, OH
43015
US
12:00 PM EDT
Event host: Preservation Parks of Delaware County, OH
July 13 – 19, 12 – 5 p.m.
Deer Haven Park, All Ages
4183 Liberty Road
Delaware, OH 43015

It’s time to ssssselebrate! Slither by the Visitor Center this week to discover the cool traits of snakes! Enjoy a display, meet our ambassador snakes, and participate in a craft.
https://preservationparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=865

Sunday
July
13
Feeding session for Hog Island Boa on habitat
https://mnzoo.org/
1:00 PM CST
Event host: Minnesota Zoo
Come join us while we kick off Snake Week! Our Hog Island Boa Harley will be fed on habitat around 1:00 pm. There will be an opportunity to chat with a zookeeper during the feeding session. Our Hog Island Boa habitat is located in the nocturnal hallway of the Tropics Trail. Our ssssssnake Harley hopes to sssssee you there!

Sunday
July
13
Living with snakes
Comunidad 5 de Agosto
Cobija, Pando
-
BO
GMT-4
Event host: Proyecto Pucarara
A workshop in the rural community of 5 de Agosto, to explore the world of snakes, to know the common species and how to differentiate harmless from venomous species, accident prevention, first aid and the ecological importance of snakes in our lives.
https://www.facebook.com/ProyectoPucarara

Sunday
July
13
Living with snakes
Comunidad de San Isidro
Municipio de Padilla, Chuquisaca
-
BO
8:00 AM GMT-4
Event host: Proyecto Pucarara
A workshop in the rural community of San Isidro, to explore the world of snakes, to know the common species and how to differentiate harmless from venomous species, accident prevention, first aid and the ecological importance of snakes in our lives.
https://www.facebook.com/ProyectoPucarara

Sunday
July
13
Removing Rose-Colored Glasses in Research: Ecology, Mimicry and Crypsis in Serpents Rachel Pikstein
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/cCyzXBffQ8ayFprKvdSdBA
5:00 PM PDT
Event host: Rachel Pikstein IUCN Snake Specialist Group
Red on-black venom lack, red on-yellow kill a fellow” will only help one in North America, East of the Mississippi river (unless you run into an unusual color-morph!). Quantifying color-matching among organisms and their environments has been a challenge not only for the public, but for ecologists due to the qualitative nature of the variable and a lack of affordable technology for such assessments.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/cCyzXBffQ8ayFprKvdSdBA

Sunday
July
13
Slithering Snakes of the the World
Hasting House
14 Oak Street
Beverly, Massachusetts
01915
US
2:30 PM EST
Event host: Rainforest Reptile Shows
Celebrate with Rainforest Reptile Shows at Slithering Snakes of the World! Enjoy a fun, hands-on snake presentation and help raise funds for over 400 rescued animals at RRS Oasis Animal Sanctuary. A family-friendly wildlife fundraiser you won’t forget!
https://RRSOasisFundraiser.eventbrite.com

Sunday
July
13
Snake Sunday Curiosity Station
5555 W Zoo Blvd
Wichita , KS
67212
US
10:00 AM Central
Event host: Sedgwick County Zoo
Come visit the snake exhibit in our North American Prairie walk through. Meet with a zoo educator to learn about venomous snakes, what to do if you get a snake bite, and even touch a shed from a venomous snake. The station will be set up from 10am-2pm.

Sunday
July
13
Snake Sundays!
https://www.instagram.com/nczoo/?hl=en
EDT
Event host: North Carolina Zoo
Follow on Instagram and Facebook for our weekly posts! Every Sunday, we share engaging and educational content about snakes. Discover fascinating facts about wild native species in North Carolina, learn about the North Carolina Zoo’s conservation efforts for snakes, and explore a variety of topics related to these incredible reptiles.
https://www.instagram.com/nczoo/?hl=en

Sunday
July
13
Snake Talks at Murphys Point Provincial Park
2243 Elmgrove Road
R.R. 5
Perth, Ontario
K7H 3C7
CA
2:00 PM EST (Eastern Standard Time – Canada)
Event host: Friends of Murphys Point Park
Throughout July and August meet one of our captive Gray Ratsnakes and learn how you can help protect this species at risk. Snake talks take place daily at 2PM outside the Murphys Point Park Store with our Discovery Rangers. Follow on Instagram and Facebook to see more.

Sunday
July
13
Snake Week
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=arkencountersararatridgezoo
1:00 PM EDT
Event host: Karina Altman
To celebrate Snake Week, the Ararat Ridge Zoo will be posting daily snake posts from July 13-19 on the Ararat Ridge Zoo page. The focus of these posts is to debunk different sensational snake myths each day and share the sensational truth instead.
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=arkencountersararatridgezoo

Sunday
July
13
Snake Week
Ararat Ridge Zoo at the Ark Encounter
1 Ark Encounter Drive
Williamstown, Kentucky
41097
US
12:00 PM EDT
Event host: Karina Altman
Each day during Snake Week, July 13-19, 2025, the staff of the Ararat Ridge Zoo will provide snake-related activities for guests. During the entire week, our anaconda habitat will be decorated with Snake Week banners and information promoting snake stewardship and conservation. On Tuesday – Saturday at 1:15 pm, we will present our very popular Sssensational Snakes show at the Animal Actors Stage to debunk sensational snake myths and to teach the sensational truth about them instead. Before and after the show, a keeper will be stationed with snake-specific biofacts for visitors to learn about and interact with. On Monday – Saturday from 12:00-1:00 pm, several keepers will be stationed throughout the zoo with live snake ambassadors to provide educational interactions for guests. On Friday and Saturday, the keepers stationed with snakes will be providing free snake-related souvenirs (stickers, bookmarks, etc.) for guests, and every guest who visits each station will receive a free painting done by one of the zoo’s snakes.
https://arkencounter.com/zoo/

Sunday
July
13
Snake Week Celebration
7019 Stockton Ave
El Cerrito, Ca
94530
US
12:00 PM PST
Event host: Things That Creep
Did you know there are 18 types of snakes found in the San Francisco Bay Area?
Come meet your neighborhood snakes at this hands-on event!
Bring a friend who needs to meet a snake!

– Learn about Bay Area snakes
– Test your snake knowledge and win prizes during snake trivia
– Help us build our Pocket Guide to Bay Area Reptiles
– Enter a raffle for tickets to the Botanical Gardens, gift certificates to Flowerland and more!
https://givebutter.com/snakeweek

Sunday
July
13
Snakebite Mitigation and Snake Conservation Education Program
NEPAL
Mithileshwar
Janakpur, Madhesh
+977
NP
1:00 PM GMT +5:45
Event host: Save The Lives Society Save The Lives
Snakebite Mitigation and Snake Conservation Education Program is designed to aware locals about different aspects of Snakes, Snakebite Mitigation and Snake Conservation in Nepal. The program includes Species of Snakes, What to do/ What not to do during Snakebite, Importances of Snakes, Basic first-aid practice, Myths and Facts about Snakes and Snakebite, Safety measures during Snake Rescue and Relocation, and screening some educational videos about snakes and snakebite to promote co-existence between humans and snakes.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1CGHkNmno7/

Sunday
July
13
Wonder Walk: Hidden Habitat
Matthaei Botanical Gardens
1800 N. Dixboro Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI
48105
US
1:00 PM EDT
Event host: Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum
Walk with Natural Areas staff through rich and diverse ecosystems that host the elusive Massasauga rattlesnake, a species delicately balanced between survival and vulnerability. Learn about the intricate life history of the Massasauga, including its unique adaptations and its vital role in the ecosystem. Our guided walk emphasizes the importance of habitat protection and stewardship, offering insights into conservation efforts aimed at preserving these fragile environments. Closed-toe shoes are required.
https://mbgna.umich.edu/event/wonder-walk-hidden-habitat

Sunday
July
13
World Snake Day 2025
11201 Garrison Forest Road
Owings Mills , MD
21117
US
9:00 AM EDT
Event host: Irvine Nature Center
Celebrate World Snake Day at Irvine Nature Center! Throughout the day, there will be a self-led scavenger hunt and games in the Exhibit Hall. All activities are included in the price of admission ($5/person ages 6+) and free for members.

Or join us for these 3 naturalist-led programs. Tickets are required and include access to Irvine for the entire day.
H**p Hike: 8 AM- 10 AM (ideal for all ages)
Animal Presentation: 12 PM- 2 PM (Ideal for all ages)
Animal Art- Snakes! 4 PM- 6 PM (Ideal for ages 13+)

$30 day passes are available for World Snake Day. This includes access to all 3 snake programs and free entry to Irvine. Make a day out of it! Pack a picnic or run out and enjoy one of the many local food choices. Ticketholders are welcome to come and go throughout the day.
https://www.explorenature.org/event/world-snake-day-2025/

07/07/2025

Nature is absolutely brutal, but that’s what i think makes it so fascinating. Everything is out there trying to eat, but not be eaten by other things that are just trying to eat!
If you can eat, not be eaten, and then reproduce, you’re winning!

One of the animals emerged victorious.

02/07/2025

I can’t believe this. It’s freezing cold, and windy enough to blow the stripes off a zebra, but I have now done two snake jobs in two days. This Golden Crowned Snake was hanging out on a front doorstep this evening. Not sure why it’s out. Probably got disturbed from wherever it has been overwintering.