Tableland Snake Catchers

Tableland Snake Catchers Tableland Snake Catchers for the safe licensed removal and relocation of problematic wildlife

Thanks Kelly Marie for giving us a call late yesterday. Sorry for the loss of Ben the rooster. This stunning Amethystine...
17/01/2025

Thanks Kelly Marie for giving us a call late yesterday. Sorry for the loss of Ben the rooster. This stunning Amethystine Python, Simalia kinghorni; helped itself to a chicken dinner. Amethystine Pythons are the largest species of snake that we see in North Queensland. Large adults are capable of taking adult chooks, flying foxes and prey upto the size of wallabies.

This time of year is the birthday season for a number of snake species. These are Juvenile Eastern Brown Snakes, Pseudon...
14/01/2025

This time of year is the birthday season for a number of snake species. These are Juvenile Eastern Brown Snakes, Pseudonaja textilis. Many juvenile Brown snakes are very different in appearance to their parents. Some show dark patterns on the head, whilst others have tiger like barring along the body. More often than not these dark patterns disappear with age. Whilst young they are easily misidentified with other species. Even as young snakes they are dangerously venomous and should be left alone. If you find one inside the house, please, please call Tableland Snake Catchers for assistance.

It's that time of year when people are mowing the lawn, tidying the garden, cleaning up after the wet week and breaking ...
23/12/2024

It's that time of year when people are mowing the lawn, tidying the garden, cleaning up after the wet week and breaking out the BBQ for Christmas. We hope that everyone has a fantastic time with family and friends and would like to thank everyone that has used our services throughout the he year. Stay safe on our roads and be aware of our Scaled mates. Merry Christmas from our family to yours. Tableland Snake Catchers

With the Summer storms kicking off we are seeing and getting reports of Freshwater Turtles on the local roads. Saw-Shell...
17/12/2024

With the Summer storms kicking off we are seeing and getting reports of Freshwater Turtles on the local roads. Saw-Shelled Turtles, Myuchelys latisternum and other species lay their eggs at this time of year. Many other snakes and reptiles have also laid eggs and the new generation is developing safely, hidden away from predators.
Sometimes when people clean up around the yard they uncover these secret nurseries. Perhaps a mother python incubating her clutch, or some eggs inside a retaining wall or such. They also turn up in some pretty strange places in backyards, like in this case where the eggs turned up in a mulch pile. Please, if you find eggs secreted away in your compost pile remember that they could be from a turtle, lizard or snake. Don't move them if possible, especially don't turn them over as this can kill the embryo inside. Thanks Rebekah for giving us a call for these eggs in her compost pile. Though a distance from water they are actually Saw shelled Turtle eggs. Because the pile is being moved and the dog might be interested in them they are going to be artificially incubated by our licensed wildlife carers and the young turtles released back to their home stream. We will keep you updated on how they progress.

Wow, wasn't the Tablelands just nuts today with "Black Friday". Well here is one of our favourites, decked out in Black....
29/11/2024

Wow, wasn't the Tablelands just nuts today with "Black Friday". Well here is one of our favourites, decked out in Black. The Red Bellied Black Snake, Pseudechis porphriacus. Coincidentally we had to relocate a large adult one from a house this afternoon. These are stunningly beautiful snakes, but they are dangerously venomous.

TALKING TURKEY.While Brush turkeys may look slow when looking for food, and foraging around picnic areas they can move f...
28/11/2024

TALKING TURKEY.
While Brush turkeys may look slow when looking for food, and foraging around picnic areas they can move fast when disturbed or are chasing a rival, or your chooks.
The Australian Brush Turkey, ( Alectura lathami ) also called the Scrub Turkey, Bush chook and several less endearing terms. Is one of three species of Megapodes that call Australia home, the others being the local Orange footed Scrubfowl, Megapodes reinwardt , and the Mallee Fowl, These birds all build a mound of decomposing vegetation in which they lay their eggs. The adult birds pay no part in rearing their young once they hatch.
The breeding season starts in August with a male constructing a mound of leaf litter in a suitable location. This is the time that we receive the most calls for help from distraught gardeners and chook owners. Male Brush Turkeys are especially violent towards roosters, as they see them as direct competition for mates, in the form of the domestic hens.
Normally, Brush Turkeys eat insects, native fruits and seeds, but they will happily adapt to poultry feeds. Adult birds feed throughout the day, while young birds forage in pre-dawn light and in twilight to avoid predators. They are very adaptable and will quickly take advantage of available chooks food and scraps, as well as mulch heaps and scraps bins.

Generally a quiet bird, the brush turkey sometimes makes soft grunts. Males have a deep 3-noted booming call, that advertises their authority over their territory.

Brush turkeys are threatened by habitat destruction, though you might not realise this from their presence at several local picnic areas. Their preferred habitat of rainforest has largely disappeared from many areas in Queensland, and is under continuing threat. Across the Atherton Tablelands rainforest has become fragmented and divided by farming and urban development. In parts of Queensland these birds are locally extinct in some areas where it used to live before Europeans settled in Australia.

While brush turkeys are prominent in some urban areas, breeding success is very low there compared to their natural habitat. Brush turkeys living in urban areas may not contribute effectively to the long-term survival of the species. However, in some semi rural/town habitats they do very well.

Introduced predators such as domestic cats and dogs, and foxes have an impact, especially on younger birds.

The Brush turkey is fully protected in Queensland. Management of its natural habitat and respect for the bird is important if it is to survive, and so we can coexist with them.

The brush turkey is now accepted by most people as a part of the backyard birdlife. Many people have created a backyard environment similar to the brush turkey's preferred natural habitat—dense trees and plants, mulched garden beds, and plenty of moisture. However, brush turkeys can be fairly destructive to a garden and a landscaped garden can be stripped of small plants and mulch by a male brush turkey in less than a day!

So, how do we coexist with these somewhat destructive neighbours. Start by using these simple steps to make your garden brush turkey-proof:

Plan new gardens with brush turkeys in mind
avoid doing any planting near an existing mound.

Hold off on putting the new plants in the ground in late summer after the main mound-building period (August–December) has finished for the year.
This is also the main time that Brush Turkeys are an problem with chooks.

Tree guards on newly planted, valuable or vulnerable plants are essential.

Place chicken wire over mulched beds and secure it well with stakes and rocks to stop the male from collecting mulch for his mound.

Place heavy coverings such as rocks and large gravel instead of standard garden mulch

Don't try to destroy a mound or chase a brush turkey away. This will be totally ineffective -the male brush turkey's drive to build a mound is irrepressible, but you can encourage him to used a different spot.

When you see him start building the mound early in the season try to encourage a mound site away from valued gardens, by providing mulch in an area of heavy shade where there is one or more large trees nearby.

Don't feed brush turkeys, let them find their own food. Feeding them is the start of many problems.

Relocating brush turkeys - it's a bad idea and a absolute last resort.
If a mound becomes threatening to human health and wellbeing, or is causing financial loss, a licensed bird relocator can capture and relocate the male brush turkey. Done and dusted, but frequently a subordinate male will take over the territory and you are right back where you started. The relocator will charge a fee for their service. They will also need to consider the welfare of any eggs in the mound before relocating the bird.

Before you call a bird relocator consider that:
your neighbours may enjoy having a brush turkey nearby and often he isn't the only one, with a few female also calling the neighbourhood home.
When a male is removed, the resulting ‘vacancy’ may be quickly filled by another male.
Fully enclosed chook yards with a netting roof prevent the turkeys access to both food and birds.

With the Summer storms kicking off we are seeing and getting reports of Freshwater Turtles on the local roads. Almost 12...
21/11/2024

With the Summer storms kicking off we are seeing and getting reports of Freshwater Turtles on the local roads. Almost 12 months to the day since we had similar weather last year. This big girl is a Saw-Shelled Turtle, Wollumbinia latisternum. ( Thanks Michael for reminding me, the species had another scientific name revision several years ago to Myuchelys latisternum. )
Some smaller turtles use the wet conditions to find a new place to call home, but the vast majority of these larger turtles are adult females looking for a place to lay their eggs. They also turn up in some pretty strange places in backyards. Please, if you find a large Freshwater Turtle on the road, stop and make sure she's ok and give her a safety es**rt to reach her destination. ( Be safe as there are lots of cars on roads, and they don't always slow down for wildlife or people). Please, Don't pick her up and drop her in the next creek, she may have spent hours walking to get to her nesting grounds. If you find an injured turtle, please contact Tableland Snake Catchers , on 0473169779 or 0498438912 for assistance or Tablelands Wildlife Rescue Australia on the hotline 0740917767. That way it can be cared for properly, eggs can be saved and it can be given veterinary treatment by one of the awesome local vets at Tropical Vets on 0740917556 or Tableland veterinary services on 07957400(Atherton), 0740967500(Malanda).

Snake Bite First Aid for Pets. Coming into Spring we always see an increase in Snake activity, the reptiles are moving i...
31/08/2024

Snake Bite First Aid for Pets.
Coming into Spring we always see an increase in Snake activity, the reptiles are moving in search of mates, looking for food or water and new shelter sites. At this time of year there is an increase in snake interaction with humans but also our pets. We receive several dozen calls throughout the year that involve people concerned about their pets and possible interactions with snakes, some of these have been very close to home for us! Over many years we have seen some tragic and horrific outcomes, but also some remarkable recoveries; So today, we are going to try to sack the odds in your pet’s favour!
It is important as pet owners in North Queensland, that we are cautious and are aware of snakes in our environment and be prepared by knowing snake bite first aid protocol for our pets. Locally we have some of the most Dangerously Venomous snakes in Australia, including the Coastal Taipan, Eastern Brown Snake, Mulga or King Brown Snake, Rough Scaled Snake, Death Adder and Red Bellied Black snake. All these species can deliver a potentially fatal bite to humans, pets and other livestock. However, these snake species are quick to retreat if given the opportunity and therein lies the main reason for most snake bites. The snake doesn’t have time or space to get away; or has been injured, so it will defend itself.
Whilst snakes will never seek out to interact with or bite our Dog or Cat, our pets are inquisitive creatures, and incidents will sometimes occur when the animals are ‘checking one another out’. The possible exception to this is Adult Amethystine Pythons, Simalia kinghorni, a non-venomous species which predate medium to large mammals.
Further to this, dogs and cats will often chase or attempt to kill snakes, with cats possessing a strong hunting instinct, often bringing home their prize, making them both susceptible to snake bites.
Before I continue, I would like to stipulate that this is a guide! It is not a substitute for formal veterinary advice. If you believe that your pet, or another domestic animal, has been bitten by a snake, it is imperative that you contact your local vet or emergency vet immediately. Veterinary treatment for snake bite can be extremely expensive, especially if the animal suffers complications. Often the path to recovery is long, difficult and some pets never recover fully. Therefore, as sad as it may be, it’s something that the family should discuss, well before anything happens to your pet and discuss your options.
Please note, the following has been checked by two independent veterinarians who support this as current snake bite first aid for domestic pets.
Prevention is Always Best!
The best thing to do, is to prevent a bite from happening in the first place! The following are a few tips to help make the yard less attractive to snakes:
• Keep your grass cut short, this reduces cover for the snakes and makes them more visible.
• Keep vegetation and trees trimmed back and up, and cleaning up loose leaf and branch litter. This reduces cover and shelter for the snakes to hide, it also reduces places for rodents and skinks to hide. It also increases visibility of the snake when under shrubbery, so you can see it and get the pet away.
• Don’t keep domestic pet food outside. Whether it is dog or cat food, chook food this will bring in rodents which are a food source for many snakes, especially the larger elapids)
• Limit access to water collection (old buckets, tubs, etc) around your yard
• Don’t leave man-made materials laying around your yard (sheets of tin, tarps, wood piles, etc. This is perfect material for snakes to hunt under, or hide in the heat of the day)
Regularly check your yard to keep it clear from the above, and identify any potential snake activity (a snake’s shed being left behind is a key indicator a snake has been around, you can send us a photo or one of the snake id groups on face book to find out what it is)
Whenever possible, monitor your pet’s when outdoors
Invest in Snake Avoidance Training for your dogs if you regularly have snakes on or around your property. That way they will manage themselves away from the danger.
Do not allow your cat outside unsupervised, they can’t help themselves they will hunt something!
If you like to take your cat outside, make sure that it is only in the confines of your property, and you can always watch them.
Harnesses for cats are also a great investment, particularly with a long leash - You can enjoy time with your cat safely.
Install cat runs/enclosures, with a flat steel around the lower wall, a tight closing external door and encased in wire that is small enough to limit the ability of snakes to get inside (6.5mm x 6.5mm will usually do the trick). In the Wet Tropics we also need to contend with the possibility of the cat falling prey to an Amethystine Python, Simalia kinghorni; as these large pythons are easily able to overpower a cat.
On the reverse side of this, instead of making the yard “sterile”, provide the snakes with extra solid cover that they can hide in or under to get away for your pet. Smaller diameter hollow logs or 90mm PVC pipe cut to about 1.5 meters long and placed in a couple of spots around the yard can give the snake a refuge to hide in away from the pet. This gives you time to restrain the pet and move them away, and for the snake to move off.

What If Prevention Fails?
Unfortunately, sometimes despite our best efforts our animals end up interacting with snakes, either by accidentally finding one that is moving through the area, or by running over it without seeing it. So, the important thing to do is to be prepared! Keep a well maintained first aid kit for your family and the one for the pet in an easily accessed place and make sure it is well provisioned! If you are working on the farm, or other rural situation as some hunters do keep a first aid kit with at least two Snake Bite bandages in the bike or ATV.
What is found in a standard snake bite first aid kit for pets?
They are pretty much the same as a First Aid kit that you can purchase or make up for ourselves and will generally include:
30ml Saline
Cohesive Bandage 5cm x 2m
Cohesive Bandage 7.5cm x 2m
Cohesive Bandage 10cm x 2m
Combine Dressing 20cm x 10cm.
Cotton gauze swabs (pack of 3)
Digital Thermometer
Eco-friendly p**p bag roll
Emergency Foil Blanket
Hypo allergenic tape
Nitrile gloves (pair)
Non-Adherent Wound Dressing 5cm x 5cm
Non-Adherent Wound Dressing 7.5cm x 7.5cm
2 Shears/Scissors
Skin cleaning wipes with cetrimide X 5
SMART Snake bite Bandage (pressure immobilisation bandage) X 2 ( about $10 - $12 )
Survival Wallet Includes:
Adhesive dressings
Wound Closure
Probes (pack of 5)
Tick Removal Spoon
Tweezers
Snake & Funnel-web bite instruction card.
Cost: depending on where you get the components from $80 up to $200.
It is important that you research available snake bite first aid kits for pets and purchase one that fits your needs (e.g. for home use, travel use, remote use, etc). However, most kits for pets are standardised, and will provide you with the necessities to apply first aid in the instance of a pet snake bite. It is possible to make these kits up yourself using the list above, if nothing else get the Smart Snake Bite Bandages! Always carry a mobile phone, and have the vets number saved for the emergency.
How do you know it’s a Snake Bite?
Snake bites are normally quick, the snake is often not seen by the pet’s owner. Both cats and dogs are usually bitten on, or around, the head, neck, and front legs when they check out the strange long creature. Snake fangs are best compared to a hypodermic needle, and it can be all but impossible to see the bite site, but often the animal will lick at the spot. If you see the snake and pet make contact then assume that is where it is bitten, and apply the pressure immobilization to that leg, sometimes both! Particular attention should be paid to the dog or cats’ nose and ears, which are often free from fur, allowing for the snake fangs to inject at these sites. You can’t apply a compression bandage to the head or face so getting to the vet is really important!
If you can, take note of the colour and patterns of the snake if you see it. If you have your phone, get a photo of the snake from a safe distance. This can aid identification but isn’t essential.
Do not attempt to catch, harm or kill the snake if it is alive - This can risk harm to you, and wastes critical time that is needed to administer first aid to your pet. An injured snake will be very defensive and needs veterinary help too, so Call Tableland Snake Catchers to assist with this.
Call your vet immediately, before attending to their location, in some rural areas you will have to drive to the available clinic, and on the Atherton Tablelands this can be over an hour away. The vet can advise if they are most appropriate to support you and will be able to gather necessary information prior to your attendance.
Symptoms of a Snake Bite in Pets
It is important to specify here that all animals will respond differently to snake bites, this is dependent on the species of snake, the pet, the size of pet and snake, health, age, and many other factors.
However, more broadly, symptoms of a snake bite in a dog or cat can include:
• Dilated pupils
• Weakness in hind legs
• Trembling
• Drooling and Pale gums
• Pacing around anxiously
• Restlessness and Panting
• Difficulty breathing
• Vomiting
• Collapse straight after being bitten, and then act normally for a period of time
• Become comatose / unconscious
• Bleeding from nose, mouth, bite site
How to Apply Snake Bite First Aid for Pets
1. Remain calm and don’t panic. I know this is much easier to say then to do, however, keeping calm will soothe your pet and help minimise their distress and movement.
2. Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage, if possible (similar first aid techniques as recommended for people), do not use a tourniquet or restrict blood flow.
3. Then apply a further elasticised or firm bandage - start at the toes and move up the limb as far as can be reached. Apply tightly but without stopping blood flow.
4. Ensure that the bandage passes the over the snakebite, and as far up the inflicted limb / area as possible.
5. Splint the limb including the joints on either side of the bite and keep the animal quiet.
6. If you don’t have a bandage handy, any stretchy material will do (torn up t-shirts, stockings or other fabric can be used as a bandage).
7. Once the bandage is on, mark the bite site on the bandage with a pen or other substance that will leave a mark. If you’ve got nothing else on you, putting a little mud or dirt on the bandage will work
8. If you do not know exactly where the bite mark is, do not waste time trying to look for a bite mark or clean the bite site with anything.
9. Keep your pet calm and quiet, movement helps the venom spread around the lymphatic system, so the less they move, the more time you have.
10. Carry your pet to the car, do not allow your pet to walk if you can help it. Again, any restriction of movement helps.
11. Transport your pet to a vet immediately, and we definitely recommend calling the clinic to let them know you are on the way. They may also provide additional instructions.
Other Helpful Items for both people and pets.
Frequently, snake bites do occur in rural or remote areas that may make it challenging for the pet to be treated. Working dogs sometimes run over snakes whilst herding cattle and unless you see the incident the dog may carry on normally for some time before suddenly showing symptoms. Below are some helpful items to assist with your safety and well-being, regardless of location:
• Satellite or mobile phone (to ensure communication access)
• Personal Locator Beacon
• GPS Tracking Device
• There is first aid training, snake bite first aid training and CPR training for animals’ available nation-wide.
A final reminder that this guide, never substitutes for the guidance provided from veterinary experts. I hope this guide has been able to offer you some reassurance and has helped you to be prepared in the instance of a snake bite to a beloved pet.

Black-striped snakeCryptophis nigrostriatus (Krefft, 1864)These are unique and beautiful small snakes that are found per...
26/08/2024

Black-striped snake
Cryptophis nigrostriatus (Krefft, 1864)

These are unique and beautiful small snakes that are found periodically by gardeners moving ground debris. Though fairly common through its range, you’d be unlikely to encounter this beautiful and secretive night-dweller of the open forests.

Identification
Black Striped Snakes are a small to moderately-sized species. The head is slightly flattened and barely distinct from the solid body. The back has a vertebral line from one to five scales wide that is black to dark brown, it extends all the way to the tail tip. The top of the head is the same colour as the stripe, sides of the head are paler brown, the eyes are dark. This line contrasts with the adjacent reddish to orange-brown scales on the sides. The ventral colour ranges from cream to cream-white. Scales are smooth and glossy. Individual scales can have a darker base and lighter hind edge giving a reticulated pattern. The eyes are small and darkly coloured, the nasal scale is in contact with the preocular.
Midbody scales in 15 rows, ventrals 160-190, subcaudal scales 45 – 70, all single. A**l scale is single. Total length is 50 cm.

Similar species
May be confused with the closely related Carpentaria Snake, Cryptophis boschmai, and the Small-eyed Snake, Cryptophis nigrescens. Also the Red-bellied Black Snake, Pseudechis porphyriacus. At Ravenshoe, Herberton and Mareeba the Small-eyed Snake’s distribution overlaps the Black Striped Snake, but they share slightly different habitats and I have never seen them sheltering together.

Habitat
Black Striped Snakes are found in sclerophyll forest, as well as woodlands, heaths and rock outcrops. They shelter beneath stones, exfoliated rock, loose bark and fallen timber, and within rock crevices.

Distribution
Black Striped Snakes Occur along the coast and ranges of eastern Australia between northern Cape York Peninsula to Southern Queensland. They are infrequently seen due to their nocturnal habits and are often found after rainfall events of during gardening and moving leaf litter.

Seasonality
During winter, the species brumates inside crevices in fallen logs and under exfoliating rocks.

Feeding and diet
Black Striped Snakes hunt skinks as their predominant prey but may also take other small reptiles and frogs.
The species is an active forager at night, as they are frequently encountered crossing roads and tracks searching for diurnal lizards in their nocturnal sleeping places. This interpretation follows from the fact that Black Striped Snakes are active on the surface at night while its known prey species are largely diurnal. However, they may also be considered an ambush predator of diurnal lizards temporarily seeking shelter under surface cover during the day, and then moving to a new ambush position by night.

Other behaviour and adaptations
In the wild, the Black Striped Snake is usually only found on the surface at night and is normally unearthed from under cover during the day. They most commonly turn up after periods of heavy rainfall when they are flooded out of their hiding places.
This species may form winter aggregations, with several individuals being found sheltering together. On several occasions I have witnessed multiple snakes using the limited suitable shelter sites in the area; decomposing logs that are still in higher moisture places. Particularly during the dry season.

Breeding behaviour
Sexual maturity is attained in males at a snout-vent length of about 250mm, in females at about 300mm (at approx. 2-3 years of age).
We have observed Male combat in the first half of spring (August-September). Females can carry enlarged follicles in early spring (September). Gravid females occur over a broad season, from early spring to early autumn (late September to mid-April). The species bears live young (ovoviviparous), with up to 9 young being born (average of 4-5).

Conservation status
Not listed as threatened.

Predators
The Black Striped Snakes may occasionally fall prey to its own kind (cannibalistic). Bandicoots and quolls opportunistically. Nocturnal birds of prey like owls and frogmouths. Cats and Dogs

Danger to humans
The Black Striped Snake is very secretive and unlikely to be encountered in the open during the day. Their nocturnal wanderings and small size mean there is a chance of stepping on them. When disturbed they may thrash about "aggressively", but this is a defensive display, and it is usually disinclined to bite. Toxicity of the venom is unknown, and the effect on humans is not recorded. A bite from the closely related Small Eyed Snake, Cryptophis nigrescens, however, can range from no symptoms to renal failure and possibly death (one recorded fatality). Their venom contains a long-acting myotoxin that continues to attack muscle tissue (including heart muscle) for days after envenomation. A bite should always be treated as serious and medical attention sought as soon as possible by calling 000. If an interaction occurs with your pet, please consult your Vet.

As the cool weather arrives on the Atherton Tablelands, so do the Saurus Cranes and Brolgas. Each year we are contacted ...
10/06/2024

As the cool weather arrives on the Atherton Tablelands, so do the Saurus Cranes and Brolgas. Each year we are contacted about damage mitigation measures for these birds, to help discourage them from foraging and dancing in newly planted fields. The resident Sulphur Crested Cockatoos are also a significant cause of crop loss in Citrus, Maize and peanut crops. This would be a useful deterrent to other species, as well like Rainbow Lorikeets and Red tailed Black Cockatoos. Primary producers may find this to be a cost effective and humane alternative that growers should consider.

A lesson to never assume, and that colour is not a reliable way to identify any snake. This is something that we reitera...
28/04/2024

A lesson to never assume, and that colour is not a reliable way to identify any snake.
This is something that we reiterate to people all the time, and it's something that always causes concern to us, especially when people call for assistance with snakes indoors. When the snake is a harmless Keelback or a Carpet Python there isn't too much to worry about. However, we've received a couple of calls recently where the caller has had no photo and given a very broad description of the snake. This isn't a criticism of anyone, maybe the snake was too fast, your terrified of them or mobiles aren't your thing. Anyways.
On Anzac Day we received just such a call for a long, thin black colored snake. It had been spotted in the laundry/ bathroom and moved quickly into the bedroom next door. It had been contained in the room by closing the door and was climbing in behind a cupboard. All excellent, just what we need! My immediate assumption from this was that it would most likely be a dark coloured Common Tree Snake.
OMG, I couldn't have been more wrong! Fortunately, I have been working with Snakes for 30 plus years, and I never drop my guard if I can't see the snake. Upon cautiously sliding the door partially open, I could hear a larger sounding snake moving across the far wall. First thing I thought, " that sounds big and heavy" then I spotted the last third of the snake going behind some clothes. It's belly was partially tilted towards me, and it was creamy- yellow with orange spots. ( So very, very not a tree snake!) At that exact moment I realized, that looking back at me from the far end of the window was a very distinctive face, both large orange eyes fixed directly upon the intruder!
This was not some pretty little tree snake, but infact a very beautiful, very dark almost black, and very dangerous Adult Coastal Taipan, Oxyuranus scutellatus.
We get lots of calls where people think the snake that they have seen is a Taipan but very, very few turn out to be these beautiful but deadly Snakes. Having said this we have recorded more calls for Coastal Taipans in April then in any other month over several years. This may be because the weather is cooling and they are a bit slower moving about, and get seen or they are trying to put on condition before it's too cool to hunt.
These impressive snakes have a really bad reputation, courtesy of many exaggerated tales. But there's one part of the reputation that's not undeserved, they are highly venomous and extremely dangerous. They are active, fast moving and intelligent snakes that specialize in hunting small mammals, up to the size of bandicoots. If disturbed they will always look for an escape rather than a conflict, but corner or threaten them and they won't hold back.
This particular one just wanted to be back outside, so with some careful timing it put itself into the capture bag without any issues, and was released in an area with abundant prey and where it can't get into trouble with people.
Unfortunately, the photo doesn't show the size and dark beauty of this snake. But holding a hoop bag open with one hand and phone in the other whilst being eyeballed by the most Dangerous snake in North Queensland, better than most!

Address

Atherton Tablelands
Atherton, QLD
4888

Telephone

+61473169779

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tableland Snake Catchers posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Tableland Snake Catchers:

Videos

Share