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Wolf snake (Lycodon capucinus)

On Christmas Island, the introduced wolf snake could threaten endemic reptiles and the island’s only endemic mammal, the Christmas Island shrew. It is nocturnal and associated with human dwellings, so sightings and possible movements in incoming goods are important to report promptly.

Key facts

Type: Pest animal, reptile.

Native to: South and Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and neighbouring countries.

Established in: WA.

Other names: Common wolf snake, Asian wolf snake.

Best time to act: Search after dark, when the nocturnal snake is more likely to be active, particularly around buildings and disturbed areas.

Identification

  • A slender, nocturnal snake that may climb and is often found around buildings.
  • Its body is generally dark brown to black, with pale bands or markings that may be broken or irregular.
  • The underside is paler than the back.
  • It is non-venomous and feeds mainly on small reptiles, including geckos, and small mammals.
  • Look-alike: Its pale markings can make it difficult to distinguish from other banded snakes; do not handle a snake to identify it.

Where it lives

In Australia it has been recorded on Christmas Island in disturbed habitat and around human dwellings, and could potentially occupy much of the island.

Why it matters

  • Its impact on native wildlife has not been established from the few specimens collected.
  • If it becomes established, it could threaten Christmas Island’s endemic reptiles and the Christmas Island shrew through predation.
  • The report compares its potential for harm with that of the brown tree snake in Guam, but does not document comparable impacts by the wolf snake in Australia.

How it spreads

  • It is thought to have arrived on Christmas Island accidentally with imported goods, although an earlier accidental or deliberate introduction has also been suggested.
  • It could spread to suitable habitat across Christmas Island and could reach other Australian territories, including the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, if introduced there.
  • Check incoming goods and freight for concealed snakes and report suspected sightings promptly.

Control methods

  • Do not approach, handle or attempt to capture a suspected wolf snake; keep people and pets away and contact the relevant land manager or wildlife authority.
  • Arrange any capture or removal through trained and authorised personnel, following local requirements.
  • Do not use poisons or other unapproved methods; there is no specific chemical control method recommended here.
  • Record the location and, only if safe, take a photograph from a distance, then report the sighting to the relevant biosecurity or wildlife agency.

Site hygiene and welfare

  • Inspect incoming freight, containers, equipment and other goods for snakes or hiding places before moving them between sites or islands.
  • Keep cargo and storage areas secure, and promptly report any snake found in a consignment.
  • Use methods set out in the national model codes of practice and standard operating procedures for the species.
  • Coordinate control with neighbours and the local government biosecurity plan, as isolated effort is quickly undone by reinvasion.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Prohibited matter. Report it to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 within 24 hours and do not move or deal with it. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: Prohibited dealing. All dealings are prohibited in NSW, so it must not be kept, bred, sold, moved or released. Report any sighting to NSW DPIRD. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Prohibited pest animal. It is a prohibited pest animal in Victoria. The Victorian Government is responsible for controlling it, so report any sighting to Agriculture Victoria.
  • South Australia: Not declared. Not declared under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019. Other laws may still apply.
  • Western Australia: Declared pest (C1), prohibited. C1 Exclusion: to be kept out of WA, or out of the parts of WA where it is not established. Report any sighting to DPIRD. It must not be brought into WA (prohibited organism).
  • Tasmania: Not a declared pest. Not a declared pest or prohibited matter in Tasmania. Importing animals is still controlled by Biosecurity Tasmania.
  • Northern Territory: Prohibited entrant. Wildlife that is not native to the NT is a prohibited entrant, so you need an NT permit to bring it in or keep it. Report any wild sighting to the NT Government.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • Western Australia: Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (WA), administered by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Sources