Australians Warned to Expect More Encounters with Venomous Snakes as Climate Shifts Habitats
Australians are being warned to prepare for more frequent encounters with venomous snakes as rising temperatures drive the reptiles toward densely populated coastal regions.
A major international study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases on April 2, 2026, has found that climate change is making traditional inland habitats less suitable, prompting a migration toward cooler, more temperate environments along Australia’s east coast.
This shift is expected to significantly impact communities across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria by 2050.
Surge in Snake-Related Incidents
The warning comes as authorities deal with a sustained increase in snake activity following the record-breaking heat of 2024 and 2025. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) recently confirmed that 2024 was the warmest year on record globally, a trend that saw snake-related emergency calls in Australia spike by 35 per cent.
In New South Wales alone, the Poisons Information Centre reported a record 320 snake bite consultations between September and December. Globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that snake bites cause 138,000 deaths annually.
The WHO has set an ambitious “2030 Roadmap” to halve these figures within the next four years.
Eastern Brown Snake Identified as Key Risk
The 2026 research, which modeled the future distribution of 508 venomous species, identified the Eastern Brown Snake as the primary threat to Australian urban centers.
Range Expansion: The study predicts the Eastern Brown’s habitable zone will push significantly further south into Victoria and closer to the humid coastal strip of NSW.
Coastal Taipan: Identified as the second most likely species to see a “human-overlap” increase.
Inland Contraction: Conversely, the world’s most venomous snake, the Inland Taipan, is expected to see its range shrink as central Australia becomes too arid even for its survival.
Planning and Preparedness
The study’s lead authors argue that these “snake heat-maps” are essential for future-proofing our healthcare system. “Our predictions can be used to decide where to stockpile antivenom, how to ensure adequate healthcare capacity, and where to focus public education,” the researchers stated.
While Australia maintains a world-leading survival rate for snake envenomation, experts suggest that suburban clinics in previously “low-risk” zones must now begin stocking CSL Antivenom and training staff for a higher frequency of encounters.
