Venomous snake INVASION hits Australia as fat serpents are lured into homes by devastating mouse plague

A VENOMOUS snake invasion has hit Australia. Fat serpents are being lured into homes across the country thanks to this year’s devastating mouse plague. AUSTRALIAN SNAKE CATCHERSnake catchers have seen a huge rise in serpent sightings[/caption] AUSTRALIAN SNAKE CATCHERA huge brown snake removed from a house in the Sydney suburbs this month[/caption] The “extra large” beasts are hiding in gardens, bins and garages across New South Wales. They have also been found slithering among piles of firewood, concrete blocks and rubble. It’s only the beginning of the dreaded ‘snake season’ – which started last month – and catchers have already removed scores of serpents. Sean Cade, owner of Australian Snake Catchers, removed an “extra-large” 6ft eastern brown snake from a western Sydney home at the beginning of October. And since then the expert has caught more than a dozen 5ft eastern brown snakes – and upwards of 25 red-bellies. He told 9news: “We’re definitely seeing bigger ones coming out. “They’re bigger than average and a lot healthier.” Most read in The Sun RUNNING SCARED Married Marathon 'cheats' sorry as they're blasted for running in same vests PRINCESS PICKLE Stacey Solomon finally reveals her baby's name after asking fans for help ICE TO MEET YOU Dancing On Ice 2022 full line-up revealed as show announces final celebs UBER MISTAKE Tommy Fury splurges $300 on 5 HOUR Uber trip to the airport in LA ON DUTY Gemma Collins gushes over 3-year-old 'stepson' in first Insta pic of the toddler TH-INK AGAIN Tattooist shows horse inking on customer but everyone’s saying the same thing He explained snake season normally starts in mid-September and runs until March – coinciding with Australia’s summer. But this year’s stint has been accelerated by the horrifying mouse plague, which tormented much of eastern and southern parts earlier this year, according to experts. Tens of millions of rampaging mice sparked horrific outbreaks stretching 1,000km from Brisbane down to Melbourne. Farmers were forced to torch their cars and crops, while other Aussies were told to tie string around their trousers to stop scurrying rodents running up their legs. One woman even woke up to a mouse chewing on her eyeball as the rodent infestation destroyed everything in its wake. Things got so bad there were even calls to declare it a natural disaster. ‘EXTRA LARGE’ SERPENTS Mouse expert Steve Henry, from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, said: “The mice are providing great food for snakes. “[But] while there are plenty of mice, there are also plenty of frogs due to the wet weather. “We will see lots of healthy snakes but not necessarily more of them. “We’re not going to see a plague of snakes.” Whether there will be a second wave of the mouse plague remains uncertain, Mr Henry added. A red-bellied black snake caught from a New South Wales home discovery channelExperts blame the rise in fat, venomous snakes on the mouse plague[/caption] discovery channelSerpents are being found in gardens, garages and bins[/caption]