Fraser Coast snake catcher reveals his wildest finds

Whether it’s ‘scaling’ a roof while hauling a large python or rescuing a snake from under a shopping complex couch, no two days are the same for this game Fraser Coast snake catcher. VIDEO.

A Fraser Coast man who catches snakes with his bare hands has opened up on his bizarre call-outs, including at Bunnings and Harvey Norman and when one of the world’s most venomous snakes was found in a woman’s bed.

Snake catcher of six years Drew Godfrey, who is behind Hervey Bay Snake Catchers, said no two days were the same.

Originally from the Central Coast in New South Wales, Mr Godfrey moved to the Fraser Coast seven years ago for a “change of pace”.

But when he arrived he quickly realised some residents were shooting snakes or “smacking them with shovels” when found on properties.

Mr Godfrey wanted to do something about it, so using his skills he picked up from his environmental studies he started voluntarily relocating snakes.

Soon after he started Hervey Bay Snake Catchers and has been operating it ever since.

This Yellow-faced whipsnake was found under a couch at Harvey Norman.

As recently as last week the unpredictable nature of the job was shown when he was called to Harvey Norman to relocate a yellow-faced whipsnake which made itself comfortable under a couch.

Other memorable moments include finding an Eastern Brown snake, the second most venomous, in a woman’s bed after her cat had brought it in to play with.

There was also the carpet python that fell asleep in front of the turnstiles at Wetside Water Park, inadvertently shutting the whole park down.

Mr Godfrey said he’s come across one “mischievous” red-bellied snake on several occasions, catching it in the same house three times.

The job is not without risks, he spent his 33rd birthday in hospital after getting scratched by an Eastern Brown.

The Red Bellied Black snake is one of the snakes most often found on the Fraser Coast.

Despite the near miss, he continues to do rescues with his bare hands, a method he says is the safest for both him and the animal.

“Snakes are more scared of us, than we are of them,” Mr Godfrey said.

His advice to anybody who sees one in their house is to “leave them alone” and let the professionals look after them.