Snake Catchers

28/03/2022

🐍All Creatures Great and Small🐍

This inquisitive brown tree snake was brought in by to be assessed after being found locally in a window sill. He had no major injuries and was able to go on his way.

Remember that if you find a snake at your own place, contact a licenced snake catcher for relocation. Snakes are an integral part of our ecosystem.

10/10/2021

An Albany Creek couple were enjoying a quiet cold drink when a visitor popped in to say hello. The moment caught on CCTV shows how quietly the creatures move and how they are not out to attack humans. After interrupting the conversation and scaring the couple the visitor headed off back into the garden. The images are not for reproduction without the permission of their owner.

04/09/2021

Diners be like “nothing to see here, this is Australia!”

30/08/2021

28/08/2021

Spring time in Australia and with it comes increased risk of snake bites. Keep the lawn nice and short and the dogs yard free of clutter and possible snake hiding spots. Teach your dog to avoid snakes and other wildlife. If you find your dog with a venomous snake get it to drop it without approaching the dog and call it away from the snake. Take the dog immediately to the vet to have it monitored. Call your local licensed snake catcher to remove and assess the snake. Never try to physically remove the snake from your dogs mouth as the snake may bite you.

15/08/2021

Early spring in South East Queensland. Beautiful carpet python spotted in Albany Creek.

12/06/2021

That's one way to stay toasty warm 🐍

Samford Valley resident Lisa Berrie came across this carpet python curling up in her toaster this week.

Thankfully the snake was successfully relocated outdoors.

"Our toaster was a fatality however as it fell to the floor during the capture process. The snake was almost 6 foot," Lisa said.

📷: Lisa Berrie

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15/03/2021

26/10/2020

🐍 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐃𝐑𝐘-𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐖𝐇𝐘 𝐃𝐎 𝐒𝐍𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐃𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒?

When a front-fanged venomous snake bites down with enough pressure, the muscles around the venom gland contract, forcing venom to flow along the venom ducts and through the fangs. A successful venomous bite generally depends on how effectively the snake has bitten the subject and whether the snake bites down hard enough to engage the muscles around the venom gland.

When defending themselves against a predator, snakes often strike out to intimidate their opponent without intending to deliver venom. A dry-bite occurs when a snake bites a subject, but does not inject venom. Dry bites may just be quick defensive bites, or glancing bites, where the fangs contact the victim’s skin, but the snake does not hold on long enough, or bite down with enough force, to result in the successful delivery of venom.

While further research is required on this topic, it is becoming widely accepted that venomous snakes instinctively know when to use, and when not to use their venom. Put simply, if a venomous snake bites a prey item, their intent is to inject venom 100% of the time, or they risk going hungry. Alternatively, when a venomous snake bites to defend itself, they don’t always inject venom, presumably for two reasons;

1) There is no situation where the snake benefits from using its venom on a non-prey item; it is a waste of venom and risks injury to the snake.

2) If a snake is faced with a life and death situation and a confrontation were to take place, no matter how venomous the snake is, its venom won’t act fast enough to stop the predator from killing the snake in the first place, rendering venom ineffective as a defensive strategy when delivered from a bite.

With regard to Brown snakes, such as the Dugite - aka Spotted brown snake (Pseudonaja a. affinis) as pictured below, and the Eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textillis) statistics show that the general rate of envenoming is approximately 20-40%, meaning dry bites occur in 60-80% of bite cases. With such a low rate of envenoming, it stands to reason that they instinctively know not to use their venom on anything they cannot eat.

To summarise, I am not advising anyone to take their chances if they are bitten; always apply snakebite first aid and seek urgent medical attention if you believe you have been bitten. I am simply explaining the mechanics of a bite and what a dry-bite is for those who are unaware, as well as outlining that snakes such as brown snakes can, and often do, dry bite.

📸 Dugite, aka spotted brown snake (Paeudonaja a. affinis) from Lakelands Western Australia.

16/07/2020

Happy world snake day! Be nice to animals, even the scary ones!

On July 16, take some time to celebrate these slithery creatures.