The Department of Conservation (DoC) is warning New Zealanders not to touch any snakes that may wash up on the beach - even if they look dead.
The warning comes as two yellow-bellied sea snakes were found in less than ten days - one in Doubtless Bay last Sunday and the other in Tutukaka on Monday.
DoC marine species technical advisor Clinton Duffy told Newshub the snakes are the most common species found in New Zealand's waters, and are usually swept down from the north Tasman Sea.
While they are technically native to Aotearoa and drift towards our shores on ocean currents occasionally, they breed in the tropics and are only spotted here between six and 10 times a year.
He says the snakes are possibly washing up "incapacitated" as water temperatures cool heading into winter. But just because they look dead, doesn't mean they're safe.
"'Dead ones' could just be moribund due to the cold so any sea snake should be treated as if it is alive," he warns.
"They're highly venomous and a bite is likely to be fatal."
Even DoC staff aren't allowed to handle the snakes, unless they're specifically trained for it - and Duffy says to his knowledge, none of them are.
However - the chances of it biting are pretty slim as their fangs are small and located at the back of their mouths.
"In addition, yellow-bellied sea snakes are not adapted to life on land and those found ashore are usually injured or moribund from thermal shock."
