Claims snake catcher training so bad lives are at risk
Training for snake catchers is such a joke, industry experts claim, that permit applicants can upload blank documents as proof they have completed courses, leaving them free to tackle some of the deadliest creatures on the planet with virtually no experience.
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State Government cutbacks for accreditation of snake catchers are endangering the lives of the relocators and their customers, industry experts claim.
The Government has admitted it does not routinely check operators “in the field’’ and one veteran herpetologist said “nonlethal mitigation’’ permits were automatically issued without any checks.
“You can literally upload blank pdfs (as evidence of first aid and snake handling courses),’’ Fauna Solutions managing director Jonathan Lucas, said.
“Back in the old days a real person would call you and ask you a lot of questions about your experience.
“The quality of (snake handling) trainers has been compromised as well. it used to be incredibly rigorous but we’re now seeing people who are qualifying as trainers only a year to two after starting as relocators.’’
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Fauna Solutions was one of the first approved snake handling course providers, in 2006.
Mr Lucas worked in a venom lab with Venom Supplies Pty Ltd, where he was responsible for handling and milking more than 1000 venomous snakes each week.
He has been working professionally with venomous snakes for over 17 years”.
The Department of Environment and Science insisted its procedures were safe and effective.
“As part of the application process (to become licensed to remove snakes) the applicant must provide evidence of basic training in snake handling from an approved list of trainers, as well current first aid training,’’ a spokeswoman said.
“There is no routine inspection or review of operators in the field but, generally, authorised snake catchers are highly knowledgeable and provide a high-quality service.
“It is the responsibility of the authority holder to take appropriate steps to manage all the relevant safety issues for themselves and their customers during the removal of the snake, and that responsibility is subject to the obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act, which can carry considerable penalties for any breaches of that Act.’’
Several experienced southeast Queensland snake relocators backed up Mr Lucas’ comments.
Brisbane North Snake Catchers and Relocation’s Steven Brown said the State Government one-day workshops taught people only to use snake hooks, which he said were useless in hotter months when brown snakes and other common venomous species were too active to be easily caught with hooks.
“You need to use your bare hands — gloves make it hard to feel what they’re going to do — and a bag,’’ he said.
Mr Lucas said it was “totally possible to teach the right person how to safely identify, capture and relocate venomous snakes’’ — in most scenarios — in a day-long course, using hands-off methods.
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“These courses are about giving people the proper foundations to develop their skills over time,’’ he said.
“Obviously, a course is only as good as the trainer and we’re now seeing people passing on bad habits, as well as not letting their course participants know the limitations on their training.
“It’s no different to a giving a kid their P-plates – they’re not about to go and win Bathurst, but they don’t need to either.’’