Reptile wrangler removes 102 venomous snakes from a single property

Feb. 6 (UPI) -- An Australian reptile wrangler was called to a home on a report of snake sightings and ended up leaving after three hours with 102 venomous serpents in tow.

David Stein spotted what he estimated to be six red-bellied black snakes in a mulch pile on his property in Horsley Park, a Sydney suburb.

"I was shivering and shaking at the time I saw them," Stein told The Guardian. "Then my wife googled and found that snakes congregate like that when they're ready to give birth."

Stein contacted Reptile Relocation Sydney, and snake catcher Dylan Cooper arrived at the home.

Cooper found five adult snakes, four of which were carrying eggs, and soon discovered dozens of babies.

"He was just uncovering baby after baby after baby. It was just totally amazing, I just couldn't believe it," Stein said.

Cory Kerewaro, owner of Reptile Relocation Sydney, said the number initially totaled about 40 -- and then more baby snakes started to hatch.

"There were 40 snakes, then 70, then 90," Kerewaro.

The business said in a Facebook post that the final tally was 102 snakes -- five adults and 97 newborns.

Kerewaro said the haul was a new record for the company, which has been in contact with reptile researchers about the discovery.

"We're contributing to helping people understand these animals -- it's pretty rewarding," he said.

The snakes will all be released back into the wild.

Red-bellied black snakes are venomous, but are generally disinterested in confrontations with humans.