Stung near a nest?
Move away from the nest and keep others back. Call 000 if there's noisy breathing, a swollen tongue or throat, wheeze, a change in voice, dizziness or collapse. Use an adrenaline autoinjector straight away if the person has one and shows signs of anaphylaxis.
Craigieburn in particular
Four snakes, all venomous
Hume City Council lists Eastern Brown, Red-bellied Black, Lowland Copperhead and Eastern Tiger snakes in the municipality, and says every species found there is venomous. They're most active from spring to autumn, near waterways and wetlands, and often bask on concrete near houses.
Grassy woodland and old grassland
Hume describes the Malcolm Creek trail winding through Craigieburn's grassy woodland and River Red Gums, and says native grassland once covered the area, with Milkmaids Nature Reserve a surviving patch. Homes on that edge can expect wildlife at the back fence.
European wasps: Hume's rule
Hume's General Purposes Local Law No. 1 2023 says an owner or occupier must ensure any European wasps on the land are destroyed. A pest business does that part.
European wasp or paper wasp?
| European wasp | Paper wasp | |
|---|---|---|
| In flight | Fast, legs tucked in, rarely hovers | Back legs dangle, often hovers over lawns and bushes |
| Antennae | All black | Orange-brown |
| Nest | Papery and rarely seen; about 80% are in the ground | An upside down cone of cells under eaves or branches, golf ball to side plate size |
| Temper | More aggressive, and can sting more than once | Stings mainly when the nest is disturbed |
Buying, or due a termite check?
A pre-purchase pest inspection looks for termites and other timber pests; a building inspection is a separate profession. Consumer Affairs Victoria warns against relying on an inspection report offered by the agent or seller, because your own report is the only way to know it's independent.
Possums are protected in Victoria, so the job is proofing the roof, with lawful catch and release on the property where the rules allow it.
Where we'd start in Craigieburn
Get any European wasp nest treated before autumn, when nests peak. Keep the grass short where the yard meets a reserve or creek. Buying? Book your own inspection first. Then tell us what you've found and your postcode.
Want someone to look at it?
Tell us what you've seen and your postcode, and a local pest business that handles exactly that calls you to talk it through.
