Gold Coast snake catcher removes two giant pythons from suburban home

AFTER seeing a giant python slither into the roof, a Gaven family called in snake catcher Tony Harrison. After seeing what they caught, they’d be grateful they didn’t venture up there themselves.

THEY’RE the house mates many of us don’t want, but most likely have.

Snake catcher Tony Harrison said he’s gearing up for a busy winter season as shivering reptiles take up residence in roof cavities across the Gold Coast.

“Statistically one in three people have them in their ceiling and most don’t even know about it,” he said.

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“This cooler season already, we’ve removed about 15 — some houses have had one, while others have had two or three. Which is not uncommon.

“I’ve been out to a house which had 17 or 18 in the roof, and people completely freak out when they see us come down with bags and bags os snakes they had no idea were up there.”

Two mammoth, two-and-a-half-metre pythons, weighing a whopping eight to 10 kilos were removed from a Gaven property roof yesterday.

A carpet python from Coombabah. Photo Facebook

“One of my regular customers, calls every season, this year they’d seen one go in and wanted us to catch it,” he said.

“When we were there, we removed the one in question and checked for more, when we found another one.

“They were definitely above average size, huge things.

“No doubt by the end of winter, there’ll be more.”

During the cooler months, snakes slide into roof cavities to keep warm.

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“This time of year they’re sitting out on a silver platter, as close to the roof as possible trying to get warm,” he said.

“Carpet pythons do us a favour and get rid of rats and mice. I personally like having them in the roof because then the dinner bells are not ringing for venomous snakes to come and feast.”

He said it was nearly impossible to stop, but easy to listen out for.

“If people are worried, especially if you have small pets, give us a call,” he said.

“The best way to describe it is like somebody slowly sweeping plaster wall with a broom.”

But as the season progresses and looks to shift to spring, the noises will change.

“Around August/September, it ends up being a bit of a brothel going on with the males combating over a female,” he said.

“It’s distinctive, flopping and thumping, sounds like an All Blacks game going on in the roof.”