OF all the venomous snakes found in Victoria, Tiger Snakes are one of the more variable species in terms of their appearance.

They range from being light brown-grey in overall colour, but sometimes they are much darker, with some individuals being black.

In some parts of their range, they may lack the distinctive creamy-yellow bands that give the species its common name, but in the North East most individuals that are encountered are well-marked with alternating dark and light bands across their body, pale yellow underneath and typically a dark grey-black head.

Most adults recorded are less than a metre in length though the species can sometimes grow to around 1.5 metres.

Though Tiger Snakes are widespread throughout Victoria, they occur sparsely throughout the North East.

They are rare around Wangaratta and are more common in the southern wetter parts of the region around the Great Divide.

Tiger Snakes are most often found close to wet areas and watercourses where they primarily feed upon frogs, sometimes catching their prey in the water.

They also prey on other small vertebrates such as mice and lizards, and they are adept at climbing to search for arboreal prey including birds and the contents of their nests.

Generally, they are diurnal though they can be active at night in warm weather.

More than most other species of snakes, Tiger Snakes can be quite active in cool conditions, sometimes even during winter.

They will actively bask in a quiet sunny location, often among leaf litter and grasses where their patterning provides effective camouflage.

When inactive, they shelter under rocks, logs or underground beneath debris, which may include man-made objects such as sheets of tin or strewn concrete slabs.

Tiger Snakes are highly venomous and like all other species of venomous snakes, care should be exercised when in close proximity to them.

They are relatively slow-moving but if provoked they will readily respond with an active threat display, flattening their neck and upper body and raising their head off the ground while hissing a warning, often preferring to drive off an intruder rather than fleeing for nearby cover.

Locally, Tiger Snakes may be encountered along the Ovens River, especially around the Bright area, or the lower reaches of the King River.