It’s peak snake season between September and April each year.

Among the species inhabiting the region, brown snakes are the most commonly found in Canberra – exceptionally well adapted to urban ecosystems – and highly feared and maligned due to their proximity to us.

Yet their lives remain a mystery.

Gavin Smith, an experienced snake catcher in ACT and Associate Professor and Head of Sociology at The Australian National University (ANU), is determined to uncover more about the secretive lives of urban-adapted brown snakes. He started his research project in 2021, tracking brown snakes caught in urban areas and released in wildlife reserves to investigate the impact and outcomes of translocation.

The project also involves collecting biological data from individual snakes to better understand the population structures and dynamics of brown snakes in the ACT, and running behavioural assays to examine snakes’ individual personality traits, how they differentially utilise habitats, and their preferred body temperature at different times of the day and season.

“Through this project, we want to tell the story of brown snakes from their perspective by paying attention to how they behave and interact with the environment, to change the prevailing representation of them as strange and scary, and to inform snake relocation guidelines,” Smith says.

It was in this project that he got to know and work with Senior University Vet, Dr Justin Clarke, who “is a source of much knowledge and support” and who has “added extraordinary value” to the research process.

Their shared interest in snakes sparked an immediate connection when Clarke introduced himself to Smith in early 2023 and offered to assist with his project.

“Gavin was excited that I had an interest in brown snakes because most people, even many vets, are scared of them,” Clarke says.

“I had had a lot of experience dealing with reptiles, including snakes, from my previous veterinary practices, so I’m not afraid. Actually, I’d always liked them.”

Working closely with the ANU Animal Ethics Committee (AEC), Clarke oversees Smith’s project and advises on protocol procedures and amendments to ensure the wellbeing of project snakes and the researchers’ safety.

He also conducts health assessments for wounded or injured snakes that Smith brings in.

“I prescribe treatment for the snakes when necessary. Sometimes they need antibiotics. Sometimes they need bandages or sutures, or just cleaning. And sometimes I refer them to vet hospitals for something more severe,” he says.

In addition to providing consultation, guidelines and clinical care, Clarke is also directly involved in the research, supporting Smith and his team from searching for snakes in the field and collecting biological and biometric data from them to lending a hand in the behavioural and temperature tests in the lab led by Smith’s PhD student, Hannah Gerke.

“I enjoy going along with researchers to observe, support, and contribute to the production of knowledge where I also learn something new every day,” Clarke says.

“For example, from my observation through helping with this research, I found brown snakes less aggressive than I initially thought. Of course, they are potentially dangerous and deadly. But in the first instance they tend to avoid people and other novel objects which might appear scary to them and only attack as a last resort when they feel threatened.

“When relocating snakes, we want to protect both people and the snakes from potential threats, but is it a good solution and will it harm the snakes? This research can be valuable in informing policy and educating all of us about snakes.”

Right now, Smith’s snake tracking project is entering its latter stages and the team is compiling and analysing spatial, behavioural and biological data for the preparation of publications, while Gerke’s tracking, personality and thermal biology research is still going on.

“I’m interested in reading their findings,” Clarke says. “Analysing and interpreting data is the scientists’ job, while mine is to use my expertise to support them.”

“And I hope ANU researchers know that there’s a whole support network behind them, including us university vets.

“We’re here to advise and help with animal welfare, and to enable our researchers to go much further in their work.”

Check out the ANU Veterinary Services website for more about the support Justin and his team provide.