A live sea snake found on a beach north of Auckland this morning may have been blown ashore by recent wild weather, the Department of Conservation says.
A member of the public found the yellow-bellied sea snake near the sand dunes on the southern end of Omaha Beach on Sunday.
DOC senior ranger Karl Fisher said they were alerted at around 10am by an email from the member of the public.
“We have sent one of our rangers to check it out, but in the meantime, we want people and their dogs to stay away from the dunes at the southern end of Omaha beach.”
The snakes were not usually seen on land, Fisher said.
“It’s very uncommon to see them on land, but with the extreme weather we’ve had recently, we are seeing all kinds of birds and sea life being blown ashore.”
He said once the ranger had visited the site, the area would be cordoned off and a decision on what to do with the snake would be made.
“In the meantime, we want to make sure the public are aware and especially dog walkers or any children playing in the area.”
Yellow-bellied sea snakes were venomous and can be aggressive.
They were found throughout the Pacific Ocean and are native to New Zealand.
Under the Wildlife Act 1953, it is illegal to harm, harass, or possess any part of a sea snake or krait.
