Deadly eastern brown snake taken off Gold Coast beach with surfboard

A video of a deadly brown snake chilling on a Gold Coast beach as an onlooker tries to prod it with a surfboard has gone viral.

Australia’s most dangerous snake has been spotted casually sunbaking on a Gold Coast beach as an onlooker tries to prod it with a surfboard.

In the video posted on TikTok, which has been viewed more than 200,000 times, the brown snake can be seen lying on the sand at Spit Beach on the Gold Coast, while a man with a surfboard pushes the snake towards a net.

Principal Ecologist WILD Conservation Kane Durrant identified the snake to news.com.au as an eastern brown snake, know to be among the most “dangerous both in toxicity and temperament” in Australia.

Eastern brown snakes have emerged from hibernation. Picture: Supplied-Kane Durrant

“They are common in the bushland around beaches, especially in Northern NSW and South East Queensland,” he said.

But Mr Durrant said they were not “overly common” near the surf due to their “dislike of open spaces, and a lack of cover and food at the water”.

He urged people not to interfere with them and leave it to the professionals, especially as they could be dangerous.

“The best thing to do here would be to clear a path for it and let it return to the surrounding bush,” he said.

“Or call a professional snake catcher who could come and safely remove it.”

Social media users had some fun with the video.

“His probably thinking here I am living my best life, and I’m getting kicked out,” one person joked.
Another quipped, “free the homie, did nothing wrong”.
“Suns out guns out,” a third wrote.

The eastern brown snake is often referred to as the common brown snake.

They feed primarily on rodents but are opportunists and will eat a range of prey species, including other snakes.

They are known to have a slender build and can grow to 2m long. The colour of its surface ranges from pale brown to black, while its underside is pale cream-yellow, often with orange or grey splotches.

The man pushes the snake towards the net with a board. Picture: Tik Tok / aboutviv

Brown snakes are the second most venomous snake in the world. Picture: Tik Tok / aboutviv

It is the second most venomous snake in the world after the inland taipan, which is also native to Australia.
The inland taipan, though, is considered a docile snake — whereas brown snakes kill more people than any other snake in the country.

Just 1/14,000 of an ounce of an eastern brown snake’s venom is enough to kill an adult human. About two Aussies die every year after being bitten by the reptile.

In September pet owners were issued with a stark warning after a brown snake was spotted drinking from a public dog bowl at a beach.

With the weather warming up Aussies should be extra vigilant about snakes, experts say.

Mr Durrans said he’s been receiving increased calls from concerned residents who have spotted the snakes on their properties, with eastern brown snake encounters making up a third of their calls.

He said snakes become more active during snake season, which typically starts in September and can continue until April.

“Right now male snakes are travelling over land looking for females and they’ve also all come out of hibernation so a lot of them are out at the moment looking for a feed,” he said. “And that’s putting them into contact with people as they travel through their yards and public places.”

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Originally published as Deadly eastern brown snake taken off Gold Coast beach with surfboard