#21 Snakes alive

The negative public perception towards snakes is a killer, for both harmless and venomous reptiles.

Yesterday, I was distressed to see a man jump out of his vehicle on a rural road and attack a Red-bellied Black Snake with a role of hose. When the snake was limp, the driver threw it into the paddock to suffer as it died of its injuries.

I explained to the proud owner of the hose, that the snakes had been flushed out of hibernation by flood waters and just needed some warmth before seeking alternate winter accommodation. I feel sure, however, my pleas for a fair go for these displaced native animals fell on deaf ears.

An Eastern Brown Snake sunning itself beside the flooded Hunter River

Hunter Valley and Central Coast NSW residents will be well aware of the devastation and heartbreak caused by a one-in-thirty-year flood, as between 200 and 300 millimetres of rain fell during two days in early June, coupled by fierce winds.

Homes, businesses and farms have been inundated by flood waters destroying lives, property, livelihoods and livestock. In times of hardship, people band together to help each other. But the hidden hardships of our native wildlife during such natural disasters often goes unnoticed.

The trickling drought-stricken Hunter River is transformed into a 14metre-deep torrent as it breaks its bank and covers farmland, 10th June 2007

At this time of year in an area that receives cold winters, snakes are curled up in a safehold. However, it is not cold enough in this area for reptiles to fully hibernate. On warm days snakes will emerge from their hide-out and bask in the sun, and if their body temperature is raised sufficiently, they will occasionally eat. Terrestrial (ground-dwelling) snakes that are common in the Hunter Valley shelter in abandoned burrows and hollow logs, or beneath rocks and surface debris.

Snake habits

The two most commonly encountered snakes in the Hunter Valley are the Red-bellied Black Snake, Pseudechis porphyriacus, and the Eastern Brown Snake, Pseudonaja textilis. Both are venomous, the Eastern Brown being dangerously venomous.

The Red-bellied Black Snake's agitation is obvious by the flattening of the neck region

Regardless of size or venom toxicity, all species avoid confrontations with humans whenever possible and must be trodden on or otherwise harassed before they resort to biting in self-defense. The primary function of venom is to subdue prey, not to attack animals too large to be consumed.

A snake's first mode of defense is camouflage, lying motionless to avoid detection. If disturbed, a snake can flee swiftly, or display defensive behaviour like raising and flattening its head. Most snake bites occur when a person attempts to kill or capture a snake. If a snake is cornered in an enclosed position, or feels threatened, it may attack.

An Eastern Brown Snake well hidden in grass

As semi-dormant snakes are flushed from their winter shelter by rising flood water, they are sluggish and slow to react. If they survive the perils of flood, these cold-blooded animals will warm themselves in sunny positions before seeking shelter for the remainder of the winter. In their sluggish state, they are slow to move away from potential danger, so can become aggressive in order to protect themselves. Eastern Brown Snakes can be particularly quick to strike at this vulnerable time. But snakes are shy by nature, and will avoid human contact.

The Hunter River at Singleton 9th June 2007, from the levy bank, 9 hours before the river peaked

As natural wildlife habitat is cleared or degraded by humans, we are more likely to encounter snakes. Removing rubbish from around your home, especially sheets of iron and overgrown vegetation, will discourage snakes from taking up residence in your yard. Keeping feral mice and rats under control will also discourage snakes.

Snakes and the environment

Despite the common attitude that it is ridiculous to protect snakes, they play a role in functioning ecosystems. When snakes are absent, the biodiversity is suffering.

In natural ecosystems, the presence of top-level carnivores indicates that the herbivores are doing well. The fact that predators are present means that the lower links in the food chain are operating properly.

Another large Eastern Brown Snake suns itself after being washed from the flooding Hunter River

Snakes, in their docile state awakened in winter, are vulnerable to water birds, eagles and hawks, kookaburras and owls, domestic and feral cats and dogs, and of course, humans.

If the unnecessary threat from humans and their pets is eliminated, these magnificent but unpopular reptiles will have a chance to restructure their lives that have been impacted upon by a natural disaster, just as people are similarly attempting to get on with their lives.

A juvenile Eastern Brown Snake that didn't make it

If people find a snake inside their home or workplace, wildlife aid people or NPWS should be able to offer advice as to who to contact to have the snake removed and relocated safely. Rural people who encounter snakes would be wise to give the snake space to move on.

It is not only unnecessarily violent and heartless to kill snakes, but it is illegal. Snakes are protected. If we hold a healthy respect for these animals, along with a commonsense approach, we can live in the same locality without incident. After all, it is we humans who are invading and changing the snakes' environment, not vice versa.

#9 Hunter Valley Ecology

The Hunter Valley's abundant coal deposits and timber were secured and exploited by early 19th centuary governers. Twenty years later, free settlers arrived and established agricultural and pastural activities. The 21st centuary sees agriculture and mining still thriving in the Hunter, but the timber has long gone, sadly, to the extent of environmental vandalism.

Steep hillsides have been excessively cleared

I concede that our forefathers were pioneers intent on the establishment and survival of a viable settlement in a new land. I recognise their fortitude and value in Australia's history. They were resourceful and industrious. But 200 years on, have current governments and constituents learned from history's mistakes?

Australians depend upon agriculture, industry and a stable economy for their livelihood and lifestyle, but is the vast imbalance between economy versus environment necessary?

Hunter land systems

A diverse range of rock and soil types, together with a wide variation in altitude and rainfall has produced many vegetation formations within the Hunter Valley.

Coal mines and agriculture stretch to the horizoin.

The Hunter River has its source in the Barrington Tops which is the second hightest range in eastern Australia. The Barrington Plateau is a fragile and special place with many plants reaching either the southern or northern limits of their distribution. Vegetation formations on the plateau include swamp, grassland, subalpine woodland, wet and dry sclerophyl forest, dry subtropical rainforest, warm temperate and cool temperate rainforest. Rainfall is high and the soils are primarily of basalt origin.

Because the Barringtons form an 'island' jutting out of the plains, endemic species exist on the plateau. The introduction of weeds, most notably Scotch Broom, Cytisus scoparius, is a major threat to the fragile environment.

Barrington rainforests are special places

Barrington's sub-alpine peat swamps are fragile environments of major significance

Tall open forest with a grassy and sparce shruby understory exist on the high slopes of Tomalla Plateau, and the Liverpool and Mt Royal Ranges.

Extensive clearing

Plains, foothills and even much of the steep high ground, however, have been heavily cleared of many plant communities, leaving no corridors in which animals can move around as conditions change.

Remnant pockets of mixed open eucalypt forest have been preserved on the north-western fringes of the Valley with the declaration of Goulburn River National Park, but woodland originally covering river and creek valleys has been substantially cleared. The Goulburn is a sandstone region with poor sandy soils.

Glennies Creek Dam at an all time low of 30%

Construction of dams in the Hunter Catchment include Glenbawn, Glennies Creek, Lostock and Chichester, with plans under way for Tillegra Dam on the Williams River. Although meeting community needs of flood mitigation, irrigation and domestic and commercial water supply, the change in hydrology has had a vast and detrimental effect upon the river and land systems.

Natural grasslands were probably of only small extent in the Hunter prior to white settlement, but have now been markedly increased by clearing, and many exotic grasses have either been introduced or have invaded the areas.

Brackish marshes, and periodically damp and permanently waterlogged swamps exist in low lying areas associated with the Hunter River estuary and behind the massive Stockton Sand Dunes. Mangroves line parts of the estuary.

A delicate Nodding Greenhood, Pterostylis nutans, gaining a foothold on an unmaintained roadside verge adjacent to a grazing property. Nature just needs to be given an opportunity.

This is just a brief, simplified overview of land systems in the Hunter Catchment and does not touch on fauna. The remnants of valley floor natural vegetation are few and far between, but together with high country ecosystems and patches of coastal plants, there is a base from which to preserve and restore at least some of the environment to provide habitat for native wildlife and invertebrates.

Similar environmental problems stemming from excessive clearing, over-use, inappropriate planning and poor management, exist Australia wide. Future problems associated with anticipated climate change are looming, painting a grim picture for our plants and animals.

All of the Hunter's environments are still under major threat from continued greed, stupid governmental decisions, mismanagement, ignorance and inaction. We all owe much to the land that sustains us, and would do well to consider how we can assist the environment in our backyard and beyond.

Further reading:

Stockton Dunes to Mt Sugarloaf green corridor

Significance of and threat to peat swamps

Vegetation mapping/conservation of Hunter

Coal mine rehabilitation regulation

Hunter coal production and export

Salinity and the Hunter

#8 River Red Gums endangered in Hunter Valley

These massive spreading trees with beautiful multi-coloured trunk and branches are endangered in the Hunter Valley, so I set out to take a look at some and learn a bit about their history and future prospects.

Their history is brutal and their outlook grim

There's something about the greenery of surrounding growth that makes these splendid Hunter Valley giants look a little less majestic when compared to River Red Gums adorning the sparcely grassed red-brown earth of inland Australia, but still a magnificent sight!

A regionally engangered species

The River Red Gum, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, is the most widespread eucalypt in Australia, found in all mainland states and territories. During my travels I have admired these impressive sprawling trees, most notably along the Murray and Macquarie Rivers and dry river banks of far south-western New South Wales.

Eucalyptus camaldulensis, however, has a unique status in the Hunter Valley - the Hunter being the only NSW coastal catchment where the River Red Gum occurs naturally.

It is estimated that numbers of the species have dropped an alarming 99.5 per cent in the region since European settlement.

Pea-sized River Red Gum seed pods

Since European settlement, Hunter floodplains have been extensively cleared to make way for agriculture. River Red Gums depend on permanent or seasonal water for regeneration and optimum health. As the hydrology of the Hunter has been altered dramatically with the construction of dams for flood mitigation, the remaining red gums no longer receive periodic flooding.

Grey-green foliage of the River Red Gum

Today, there are only 19 known stands, mostly occupying private land, with the total number of individuals estimated to be between 600 and 1000 mature or semi-mature trees.

Weed infestation

Grazing and weed infestation are other major handicaps the Hunter's red gums have to cope with. Introduced Kykuyu grass, Pennisetum clandestinum, and the tough spreading ground cover Galenia, Galenia pubescens, are two main culprits. During my on-site investigations recently I also found Balloon Vine and Morning Glory to be rampant amongst the red gum understory, along with African Olive trees and the toxic shrub Green Cestrum.

A Red Gum on the banks of the Hunter River crowded by weeds including Pepper Trees, African Olives, Balloon Vine and Morning Glory, as well as native River Oaks.

Add a lack of local awareness to the woes of the red gum, and extinction looms. There are no known occurences of Eucalyptus camaldulensis in Hunter conservation reserves, but recognition of the rarity and bleak future of the Hunter's River Red Gum population has provided hope.

Conservation

Under the Threatened Species Conservation Act, the Hunter catchment's River Red Gums have been listed as an Endangered Population. Scientific studies are currently being undertaken to determine whether they are a separate species to that of the Murray/Darling catchment, and also to determine whether previous plantings were established from locally collected seed.

More recently, in 2004, River Red Gum seedlings were planted amongst an existing stand by local environmental groups and community members. These seedlings were propergated by local high-school students from locally collected seed. It is thought that locally collected seed is important to preserve the genetic ingegrity of the Hunter red gum population.

Semi-mature and planted juvenile River Red Gums by the Hunter River

Recently initiated local government planning headed by keen staff hopes to inject renewed interest and enthusiasm into the community to take more responsibility for the future health of these endangered trees. The Hunter Catchment Authority is carrying out on-going work to reduce erosion, and LandCare and Tidy Towns groups provide manual assistance and funds to conservation efforts.

A recent meeting brought these bodies and community members together to discuss the planning of a project that will incorporate the conservation and regeneration of the River Red Gums into an extended vegetation corridor and recreation area. Although numbers were low, it was encouraging to see co-operation and input from all sectors.

The bark falls away from the River Red Gum trunk and branches to reveal a smooth and richly coloured surface

I have enjoyed wandering amongst the two accessible stands of local River Red Gums over the past few weeks, identifying weeds and familiarising myself with habitat and growth habits. I have done as much reading as I can find from reputable sources and spoken to local council and water catchment people. It has been an interesting learning experience.

River Red Gums by the Hunter River surrounded by weedy Balloon Vine.

I am going to take part in the revegetation and conservation program that my local council and community groups are undertaking and I might make a future blog entry to detail progress.

Education can provide awareness, and awareness can promote care and action. If there is an endangered species in your local area, you might find it interesting and rewarding to learn about it, or even become involved in a conservation project.