Pregnant Red-bellied black snake removed from Sunshine Coast property

Catching snakes is a careful job at the best of times … but this call out to a highly venomous Red-bellied black snake on the Sunshine Coast was more delicate than most, with the creature ‘chock a block’ with babies and ready to deliver. SEE THE VIDEO.

A “heavily pregnant” Red-bellied black snake was relocated on a Sunshine Coast property on Tuesday and is expected to deliver “up to 40 live babies” in the next week.

The snake was spotted by the owner of an Ilkley property near where a lot of people “congregated” during events.

Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 owner Stuart McKenzie said the snake darted behind a rock as soon as he arrived, but once he grabbed her tail he knew she was “gravid” and “full of babies”.

A “heavily pregnant” Red-bellied Black Snake found on a Sunshine Coast property is expected to delivery up to 40 babies next week. Photo: Storyful

A snake catcher in the process of relocating a heavily pregnant Red-bellied black snake

Mr McKenzie said he has never caught a red-belly that pregnant before which made it a “very delicate catch”.

“I wanted to make sure I wasn’t rough when I handled her because she was literally chock a block full to the point where when I grabbed just down from her tail I could feel something in there – that’s how close it was to her cloaca (reproductive chamber)”.

Mr McKenzie said the snake was a “mature adult”, around 1.2 metres long and although “they do get bigger than” this was definitely a “healthy adult.”

Stuart McKenzie said he had never caught a Red-bellied snake that pregnant before, ensuring he handled her delicately. Photo: Storyful

He said it is likely the snake — relocated “not too far from where she was found to make sure she was comfortable” – will give birth in the next week or so.

Red-belly black snakes are “highly venomous” but Mr McKenzie said they are also a “relatively shy species”.

“If you get bitten by a red-belly they are definitely considered dangerous but like most snakes if you give them the respect they deserve they will keep to themselves.”

“The majority of snakes are quite shy and will generally go in the opposite direction – even brown snakes will keep away.”

Mr McKenzie said Red-bellied black snakes are “not commonly found” in the suburb of Ilkley.