The yellow faced whip snake is fairly common on the Sunshine Coast and along southern parts of Australia. Residents may spot them outside or in their garden, but they have been known to try to enter homes and buildings when searching for food or shelter.
Although the yellow faced whip snake is venomous, it is not considered life threatening to humans. This small snake tends to be quite nervous and will likely try to hide when first encountered.
This petite snake is part of a larger family of considerably dangerous snakes, most of which are venomous. Its relatives also share the yellow faced whip snake’s noteworthy ‘whip-like tail’, slender body, and large eyes. Yellow faced whip snakes can grow up to a 1m in length, with females usually being smaller than males.
The yellow faced whip snake is distinguishable by the markings on its face. Their heads are narrow and yellowed, with pale rings around the eyes. It has a dark marking above its upper lip. Adults tend to be pale olive or blue-gray in colour, with rust coloured dustings or longitudinal stripes along its body.
This snake is often confused with the eastern brown snake because they are very similar in appearance.
The yellow faced whip snake is endemic to Australia. They can be found in almost every Australian region apart from Tasmania. Their habitat of choice tends to be coastal forests, grasslands, and scrublands.
The yellow faced whip snake is known as a community dweller, meaning that it is not uncommon to find more than one at a time. In particular, community habitats tend to pop up during the winter months with small gatherings of these snakes found under rocks and in small crevices.
The yellow faced whip snake is venomous, but is not considered a threat to humans. (Although it is still recommended to seek immediate medical treatment if bitten). Their Venom is highly toxic to cats though and would require emergency veterinary treatment if bitten.
These snakes choose to prey on smaller reptiles like lizards and skinks, which is likely why they can be found near homes or in gardens.
You may come across a yellow faced whip snake in your home, garden, garage, or even place of work. Their diet and habitat preference makes them quite common near residential areas on the Sunshine Coast. However, they are a timid and shy species, so this species is more likely to run from you than to try to defend itself.
If you spot a yellow faced whip snake, do not try to grab or trap it yourself. Instead, call our team and we will come to safely capture and relocate the snake elsewhere.
