Goulburn Valley’s snake catcher’s top 10 gnarliest finds

The Goulburn Valley’s wonderful weather attracts snakes to find comfort in some truly fascinating spots. Here are the top ten craziest snake catches in the region.

Victoria is home to some of the most venomous snakes in the world, and that is certainly no exception in the Goulburn Valley.

Brown, tiger and red belly snakes are well known to those living in Greater Shepparton, Campaspe Shire, Murrindindi Shire, Moira Shire and Mitchell Shire, and there have been many sightings already this spring.

Tania Corby. Picture: Supplied

With summer just around the corner, Victorians can expect to see more snakes on the move.

It comes after a French backpacker died this week when he was bitten by a snake on a Mallee farm.

Tania Corby, a renowned snake catcher in the Goulburn Valley area based near Tatura, spoke to the Herald Sun about some of the craziest snake catches she has experienced in her illustrious career.

Ms Corby believes education is the key to avoiding snake bites.

“If you see them, stay still, as they can’t hear,” she said.

On hot days, snakes seek out shade and cooler areas to find solace in.

Snakes will “literally cook and die” if they spend too much time in the sun.

This means snakes can often be found inside houses, sheds and garages – for example, inside a cupboard drawer.

If a snake bite occurs, the recommended course of action is to call emergency services and also to apply a tourniquet to the affected area.

Pets, such as dogs, are also at risk and if your pets begin to show sporadic, random symptoms such as vomiting and paralysis it is recommended you seek immediate veterinary attention for your pet.

With that in mind, here are the top ten craziest snake catches in the Goulburn Valley, courtesy of local snake savant Tania Corby.

10. UNDER THE CAR – SHEPPARTON

A six foot brown snake – huge by a snake standards – was found underneath a car.

“A guy came and helped me [because] it was such a big job,” Ms Corby said.

”It was amazing he went undetected.”

9. ROLLER DOOR – ECHUCA

A snake was found wrapped in a roller door in Echuca.

As you can imagine, it would’ve been mighty difficult to close the door with the snake inside.

8. FACTORY – SHEPPARTON

A smart snake got under a machine in a factory in Shepparton.

“I had to pull up the floor to catch a two foot brown in Shepparton,” Ms Corby said.

“(It was a) bit of work to get him out of there”.

7. DOG KENNEL – LANCASTER

Snakes and dogs certainly don’t mesh all that well — as mentioned above — snakes can make dogs very sick.

Ms Corby was called out to a property in Lancaster, after a man rang about a snake being in the dog’s humble abode.

“The husband towed it out,” she said.

“We got the dog kennel with a shovel

“(Inside was) another six foot brown snake.”

Tania catching a cranky brown snake.

6. WASHING MACHINE – HARSTON

A washing machine is certainly not a spot an unsuspecting human would want to find a snake.

Luckily, Ms Corby was able to fish it out in the tiny town of Harston.

5. NETTING – ECHUCA

A brown snake accidentally got caught in some netting up on the Murray River.

Thankfully for the snake, Ms Corby was right on cue to rescue it from its misery.

A brown snake found himself stuck in some netting, but Tania was able to save the poor guy from his discomfort.

4. LINGERIE DRAWER – ECHUCA

Snakes are known to be found in cool, dark spots — but this may be the most creative and exotic spot for a snake.

Tania found a three foot brown snake inside a lingerie draw in Echuca.

“I turned house upside down, I was going to go through some drawers,” she said.

“I’m lucky I was using my hook.”

3. AIRCONDITIONING UNIT – UNDERA

Ms Corby was called out to a property in Undera where a cunning brown snake had found a way into the airconditioning unit — presumably to get the coolest breeze in the Goulburn Valley.

You could see the belly of the brown snake with the flaps shut.

2. CHRISTMAS TIGER SNAKE –SHEPPARTON

A man was sitting in his kitchen and saw a snake go into his lounge room and sit under a Christmas tree.

Sadly for the Christmas tree, it was unable to survive the snake being caught.

“I ruined their tree,” Ms Corby said.

The tiger snake that became the Grinch that ruined Christmas.

1. SNAKES IN BEER CANS – RUSHWORTH

A red belly snake in a beer can.

Ms Corby arrived at a property in the old mining town of Rushworth, where a snake’s head was stuck in a beer can.

“Snakes can fit into amazing places,” she said.

Despite many people’s fear of snakes, Ms Corby says she’s all good.

“If you were scared, you wouldn’t do it,” she said.

However, she’s had at least one lucky call.

Ms Corby got on the wrong end of a tiger snake.

She was flown to Melbourne and received antivenene, and thankfully was okay.

The snake’s head had to be cut off after somehow finding its way into an empty beer.

“This is what happens if you are bitten by a tiger snake”.