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Snake, shark & wildlife safety

Eastern brown snake

Eastern brown snake

For assistance, call the Visitor Centre on 1800 357 823.

In an emergency call Triple Zero (000).

We remind visitors to be aware of wildlife-related risks within the national park and take responsibility for your own safety and those in your care.

Snakes

A range of snake species inhabit the park, so you are encouraged to stay alert and keep an eye out for snakes while walking in Booderee National Park. Snakes can hear low frequency sounds like the thud of approaching footsteps and movement of a large object and will either move away or hide to avoid detection.

If you see a snake remember to not approach the snake. Stay at a safe distance - based on terrain this could be anything from 5-10 metres. However, if you are already within this space, calmly and slowly back away, keeping an eye on the snake and on where you are going. Try not to corner the snake, generally they will try to get away from you, rather than strike, so allow it space to escape. Carry a first aid kit and familiarise yourself with knowing how to treat a snake bite. If there is an emergency call Triple Zero (000).

We recommend:

  • Avoid walking through thickly vegetated areas, especially during warmer months.
  • Wear over-the-ankle boots and loose-fitting long pants and clothing which provides a contrast to the environment (normally darker clothes) so that snakes will be more likely to see you coming.
  • Step onto, rather than over fallen logs as there may be a snake on the other side.

Sharks

Sharks are common off beaches in and around Booderee National Park, and a number of species can be dangerous.

Shark in waters around Booderee National Park.

Shark in waters around Booderee National Park

There have been no recorded shark attacks in the region. However, there is a small risk of shark attack particularly between December and March, when shark numbers are at their highest.

Beaches in the park are not patrolled or netted. The aerial patrol flies over beaches from Stanwell Park to Batemans Bay on weekends and public holidays in summer, which includes Jervis Bay. If a shark is spotted by the aerial patrol, a siren will sound to alert swimmers. However, as the aerial patrol flies over a significant length of the coastline, personal vigilance when swimming is paramount.

Park rangers and police will alert swimmers if a dangerous shark has been reported near swimming beaches.

Here is what you can do to reduce the likelihood of a shark attack:

  • Do not go swimming or wading in the sea between dusk and dawn. Many shark and ray species are more likely to be active and feeding at that time.
  • Do not swim in murky waters or in estuaries like Sussex Inlet, dangerous bull sharks favour these types of waters.
  • Sharks feed on fish, seals, and seabirds – avoid swimming with seal colonies and large schools of bait fish, which are often indicated by activity on the surface and seabirds diving into the water.
  • Do not swim near wharves or boat ramps where people clean fish and discard carcasses, as sharks are attracted to blood.

Stingers

Non-tropical marine stingers, such as the Bluebottle (physalia) or Hair Jelly (cyanea), may be found anywhere on the Australian coastline. Their stingers are not generally life-threatening but can cause distress and discomfort if you are stung by them.

If you are stung, or you are with someone who has been stung, the treatment will vary depending on the type of stinger involved.

The treatment for Bluebottle stings is as follows:

  • Keep the patient at rest and under constant observation.
  • If it's a major sting to the face or neck, dial triple zero (000) immediately and ask for an ambulance (especially if there is swelling).
  • Do not allow rubbing of the sting area.
  • Pick off any remaining tentacles with fingers (a harmless prickling may be felt).
  • Rinse the sting area well with seawater to remove any invisible stinging cells.
  • Place the sting area in hot water (no hotter than the rescuer can comfortably tolerate). If the pain is unrelieved by the heat, or if hot water is not available, apply cold packs or wrapped ice.
  • Do not use vinegar or rub sand on the sting.

For other non-tropical minor jellyfish stings:

  • Keep the patient at rest and under constant observation.
  • Do not allow rubbing of the sting area.
  • Pick off any remaining tentacles with fingers (a harmless prickling may be felt).
  • Rinse the sting area well with seawater (not freshwater) to remove any invisible stinging cells.
  • Place the stung area in hot water (no hotter than the first aider can tolerate).
  • Seek urgent medical help dial triple zero (000) and get a surf lifesaver or lifeguard, if:
    • local pain is unrelieved by these treatments
    • generalised pain develops
    • sting area is large (half of a limb or more)
    • patient appears to be suffering an allergic reaction to the sting.

Wildlife

Many people enjoy watching wildlife and there are few things that match the thrill of encountering a wild animal in its natural habitat.

Visitors are advised not to feed wildlife for a number of reasons. While it might feel good at the time, feeding wildlife can have real and harmful knock-on effects.

Here’s why:

  • Human food isn’t good for animals. Human food is not nutritious enough for animals and may cause serious health problems and diseases.
  • Feeding wildlife makes them lose their natural fear of people. Feeding can make animals become too comfortable around people and once animals learn they can beg for food, they can become a nuisance—or even worse, a safety risk.
  • Feeding wildlife from or near vehicles is dangerous to the animals, people, and property as animals may be hit by a moving vehicle or might try to enter a vehicle in search of food.
  • Feeding wildlife can increase the spread of diseases, some of which may be transmitted to humans.