Snake catchers busy on Gold Coast with up to 10 caught each day

GOLD Coast snake catchers are going without sleep as the weather warms up and storms come through, with up to 10 of the slippery customers being caught each day. SEE THE VIDEO

WATCH out, watch out, snakes are about.

As the weather warms up, snake catcher Tony Harrison and his family are busy catching and relocating up to 10 snakes a day around the Gold Coast.

Brooke Smith of Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher handles a 3m python, believed to be the biggest Tony Harrison has found in 25 years. Picture: Tony Harrison

“It’s that time of the year where we don’t get lots of sleep, the whole family catches together and plenty of snakes are nocturnal,” Mr Harrison said.

“Yesterday I caught four before 8am. When there’s a low pressure system coming through, reptiles seem to know, whether they’re breeding or laying eggs, it seems to amplify it, it’s like our New Years.

A carpet python. Photo: Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher

A venomous small-eyed snake at Bonogin. Photo: Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher

“We’re getting carpet pythons, red-bellied blacks, brown and green tree snakes, small-eyed snakes.”

Mr Harrison said there were about 21 different species of snake that called the Gold Coast home and he was finding most of them now during his daily adventures.

Spot the snake! Red bellied black snake at an Arundel home. Photo: Facebook

Among them, Mr Harrison recounted a recent experience at northern suburb Woongoolba.

He said he and wife Brooke had been called to a boat builder’s yard to rescue an eastern brown snake in a water well.

And while this potentially deadly snake was safely caught and relocated, Mr Harrison said it was the height which concerned him more than the snake.

Son Jensen at his Yatala home with Mr Harrison playing with his pet Homer the Stimsons Python. Picture Glenn Hampson

“I’m a bit scared of heights,” he said.

“I had to climb down a ladder to get an eastern brown snake.

“I had to stand on the bottom rung and get back up the ladder with it. But I was more worried about the water. It was very, very tight and confined, I was hoping the eastern brown was tired out from swimming.”

Brooke holding an eastern brown snake found in a water well. Photo: Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher

Jensen Harrison is the two-year-old son of snake catcher Tony Harrison, and takes after his father with his love of reptiles. Picture Glenn Hampson

Brooke Smith of Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher handles a 3m python, believed to be the biggest Tony Harrison has found in 25 years. Picture: Tony Harrison

Mr Harrison said Pimpama appeared to be the area to watch, with up to three times as many snakes being caught in the area.

MEET THE TWO-YEAR-OLD SNAKE CATCHER

While neighbouring suburb Yatala was where his business was primarily located, Mr Harrison said “violent development” of the area meant a lot of snakes were on the move.

Tony Harrison caught a 1.7m eastern brown snake at an Ormeau property earlier this year. Photo: Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catchers

“They’re under a log one day and a bulldozer’s there the next,” he said.

Mr Harrison said locals could avoid snakes at their property and home by simply keeping it clear of rubbish.

He said snakes needed refuge and food, and homes with a lot of debris like railway sleepers or palm fronds attracted prey foods and snakes.

“If you leave crap lying around, they will start to come,” he said.

Small carpet python at Southport. Photo: Facebook