Snake warning for South East Qld as breeding season starts

Amid a triple La Nina, snake handlers are warning Queenslanders to expect ‘crazy’ snake activity ahead of the breeding season.

After breeding season delayed by recent cool and wet weather, snake catchers are gearing up for an “absolutely hectic” end to the year.

While a third-straight La Nina is set to bring a “lot more rain” over the summer than normal, it’s the days of sunshine and 30C-plus temperatures where they will sliver out.

From carpet pythons inside television sets to venomous red-bellied black snakes sucked up by vacuum cleaners and eastern brown snakes at the beach – the experts have warned to expect the unexpected.

Josh Castle with the "biggest red bellied black" he'd ever caught at a Burpengary home. Picture: Josh's Snake Catching

Brisbane-based snake catcher Josh Castle predicted an “absolutely hectic” next few weeks.

Mr Castle, of Josh’s Snake Catching and Relocation based in Griffin in Moreton Bay, said activity was beginning to ramp up now.

“Lots of fat snakes, some pretty massive ones. Lots of them fighting and breeding,” he said.

“We’re getting a lot of red-bellied and browns at the moment.

“When it warms up it’s going to be absolutely hectic.”

Mr Castle said he expected to receive 10-20 call-outs per day for jobs in Brisbane’s north, Ipswich and Logan.

Tony Harrison, of Harrison’s Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher, said the wet season meant there was an ample amount of knee deep grass for snakes to move around undetected.

The Gold Coast and Logan-based snake catcher of almost 30 years said there could be a sudden burst once temperatures hit high 20C to 30C.

“Normally every day in October we don’t get a chance to eat or sleep,” Mr Harrison said.

“The most call-outs we have had in a day is 19.

“On a busy day we can be up at 3am and go into the night.”