Ipswich student finds red belly black snake in school bag

A SCHOOLGIRL southwest of Brisbane got more than her morning tea when she checked her school bag for snacks and instead found a venomous snake.

AN Ipswich girl got more than her morning tea today when she checked her school bag for snacks and instead found a red bellied black snake.

Terrifyingly, the student at Augusta State School in Augustine Heights, southwest of Brisbane, only realised the venomous snake was there when it slithered over her hand.

A staff member stepped in quickly to zip the snake inside and await its removal.

When licenced snake catcher Lana Field arrived, she found the two-foot juvenile snake curled up inside.

Ms Field said red bellied blacks were naturally shy, so it was likely looking for somewhere to hide when it slithered into the backpack.

This red bellied black snake was found in an Ipswich student’s backpack this morning. Pictures: Snake Catchers Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan & Gold Coast

Ironically, the snake — the mascot for the Slytherin house from the Harry Potter series — had found refuge in a Gryffindor bag.

Any fan of the series knows the two houses are mortal enemies.

“It had every opportunity to bite the child because she’s putting her hand in there in a dark space but it would have been more interested in hiding,” Ms Fields said.

“Nobody has ever died from a red bellied black bite.”

The red bellied black hiding in a school backpack.

Ms Field, of Snake Catchers Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan & Gold Coast, said Ipswich call-outs for the species were common.

“Particularly in areas where the are rock retaining walls and any areas where there is some water in the vicinity.”

The school has both.

It is believed the school emailed parents about the snake on school grounds as a precaution.