‘Do not touch, do not pet, do not kill’: Advice from legendary Melbourne snake catcher

Stewy the snake catcher has been removing slithering creatures from unusual locations for 16 years. But it’s not the reptiles, or their hiding places he finds most challenging.

A lizard sighting is exciting. Spotting a spider is a little more nerve-racking.

But when Australians spot a snake slithering through their property it is time to call in the experts — and more often than not it’s Stewart Gatt on the other end of the phone.

Stewy the Snake Catcher’s phone rings non stop in the summer months.

Mr Gatt handling his own pet snake. Picture: Supplied.

“My phone constantly rings … at any time of the day or night,” he said.

“My family is used to it.”

Each caller provides Mr Gatt with a location and a detailed recount of where they have spotted the snake.

“I always tell people to keep their eyes on the snake from a safe distance,” he said.

“Remove kids and pets from the area and alert the people around you to the snake.

“Always treat the snake as venomous and most of the time if you leave it alone, it will leave you alone.”

Stewart Gatt has been catching snakes for more than 16 years. Picture: Supplied.

His advice for anyone who discovers a snake is clear: “Do not touch the snake, do not pet the snake and do not kill the snake.”

Mr Gatt spends his days racking up kilometres on his LandCruiser — adorned with snake decals and a ‘caution venomous snakes’ sticker — driving between jobs.

Upon arrival, he grabs his snake hook and his black snake bag, and is guided by residents to the reptile.

Sometimes he hooks the snake in one swift movement, other times he has to go digging and occasionally he has to chase the darting snake.

“Most of the time the snakes are in people’s yards, but I have seen everything from draws, to bedrooms to kid’s school backpacks,” he said.

“There are two extremes of people who find them, ones that go screaming and running and others who want to pet them.

“Half my job is consoling grown men.”

Once they were caught, Mr Gatt gently places them into the snake bag, and twists it shut.

“All the snakes needs to be released as soon as possible within 5 km of where they were caught,” Mr Gatt said.

He also said there is no miracle solution to keeping snakes out of your property.

“It’s best to keep your yard clean, the less ground cover you have the better,” he said.

“Snakes are mostly passing through and they won’t stick around for long.”

Mr Gatt has more than 16 years experience catching snakes and has had nearly 400 call outs since the start of snake season in September.

His job is extremely dangerous and he has had a few close calls with the snakes.

“You can never get complacent.”