The sea snake found on Omaha Beach near Auckland. Photo: Supplied / Department of Conservation
More sea snakes could show up on our beaches in the near future, an ecologist is warning.
A yellow-bellied sea snake was spotted at Omaha Beach near Auckland yesterday, but when conservation rangers arrived, it appeared to have been killed by a dog or bashed by a person.
Senior ecologist and consultant herpetologist to the Ministry for Primary Industries Dylan van Winkel said a small number of sea snakes typically washed ashore each year in New Zealand, usually after storms.
He said most of the sightings were in the upper North Island.
He said sea snake sightings were increasing as storms became more common, and while they were not aggressive, they were extremely venomous.
"Certainly with more storms, there's a much higher chance more sea snakes will get washed up.
"When they're provoked, disturbed, or in a situation where they're distressed they can be defensive. When a snakes gets washed up on the beach and is out of its element, and someone starts poking it with a stick or a dog attacks it, that's when it starts lashing out.
"It only takes one bite and you'll be on your way to the hospital and probably in a helicopter to Australia to be treated with anti-venom."
He advised people to keep their distance if they encountered a sea snake and to keep their dogs away from beaches after severe weather.
"Especially walking a dog on an exposed beach, after a storm there's a potential risk it could come across a snake."
He said any sightings should be promptly reported to the Department of Conservation on 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
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