Stunning photos of snake caught at sea as catchers issue warning

A snake catcher has revealed how crazy the season will be after a photographer captured stunning and rare photos of a bird snagging a giant sea snake. SEE THE PHOTOS, VIDEOS

White-bellied sea eagle captures a huge sea snake. Picture: Sunshine Coast photographer Glen Vidler.

A Queensland snake catcher has revealed how crazy the season will be after a photographer captured stunning and rare photos of a bird snagging a giant sea snake.

Sunshine Coast photographer Glen Vidler snapped amazing pictures of a bird taking a sea snake from the ocean.

“A once in a lifetime picture for me,” Mr Vidler said.

The picture taken was taken at Point Arkwright, just south of Coolum Beach, last week.

Mr Vidler said the white-bellied sea eagle captured a huge sea snake.

“I was there for five minutes at the Turtledeck lookout when this happened,” he said.

White-bellied sea eagle captures a huge sea snake. Picture: Glen Vidler.

“I’ve never seen a huge catch like this before so I felt very lucky.‘’

Daniel Rumsey, from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers, said the start of snake season had been “crazy busy”.

“The snake season is here, and the team has experienced one of the busiest weeks on record.” he said.

“It’s been wild these past two weeks.

White-bellied sea eagle captures a huge sea snake. Picture: Glen Vidler.

“Similar figures to what we’d normally see in our busiest time of year which is usually February.”

The heat has been turned up in more ways than one as SEQ prepares for snake season.

“It’s gotten really warm really quickly,” Mr Rumsey said.

“As we know the sun activates movement with snakes.

“But it’s also crazy because this time of year is for mating.

“The male snakes will venture further than usual looking for a female mate or multiple female mates.”

White-bellied sea eagle captures a huge sea snake. Picture: Glen Vidler.

The experienced snake catcher said they’d seen no people being bitten yet and no deaths with pets being bitten.

“As always if you see a snake please don’t approach it,” Mr Rumsey said.

“Give yourself distance. Snakes will only try to defend themselves if cornered or approached.

“If it’s in your home or backyard please call a snake catcher or licensed professional.

“If bitten treat it seriously and seek first aid and medical treatment.”

Despite the unprecedented rise in snake numbers the past two weeks, Mr Rumsey said it was nothing to be concerned about.

“No one has to worry yet. It will naturally fluctuate,” he said.

Stuart McKenzie of Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers. Picture – Facebook/Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7

“When it gets too hot they actually don’t need to be out in the sun as long. The hottest day last week was our quietest day actually.

“We’re also not seeing heaps of night activity as it’s still quite cool then. That will start to ramp up and we’ll see more nocturnal activity heading into summer.”

Earlier this year Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers detailed some of their wildest encounters in the region.

Snakes were sighted in unusual locations including on top of a toilet roll at Doonan as well as coiled around a traffic light at a busy Maroochydore intersection.

Luke Huntley of Snake Catcher Noosa recorded the catch of his life, when he pulled a red-belly black snake from a $400k Ferrari California at Noosa Waters.

Originally published as Stunning photos of snake caught at sea as catchers issue warning