Wildlife catcher David Voss explains surge in snake encounters

A snake expert who catches chook-pen pythons to huge eastern browns in the burbs has spoken out as bite callouts increase across Qld and one region emerges as a deadly hotspot. SEE THE LIST.

David Voss of Gladstone Region Snake Catchers removed this python that had eaten a chicken from a chicken coop in 2023.

Paramedics have treated 15 Queenslanders for snake bites this week alone with callouts from Brisbane suburbia out to Goondiwindi in the west and up to Townsville in the north.

In Central Qld where there has been a noted increase in snake strikes and residents remain on edge following the eastern brown-linked death of Gladstone teenager Beau Horan, expert catcher David Voss is unsurprised bites across the region at an all-time high.

From huge snakes in toilets and freight train cabs to scorpions and spiders, Mr Voss has seen it all.

Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service figures also show a huge spike in people attending Rockhampton Hospital Emergency Department for snake bites between November 2024 to January of this year.

In Rockhampton, 50 people were treated for snake bites this season, compared to 31 people over the same 2023 to 2024 period.

Gladstone’s numbers have been more stable, with 21 people treated for the same time period compared to 20 the year beforehand.

There was also a surge at Emerald Hospital, with 16 compared to 6 in the same period.

Further south at Bundaberg, fencing and mustering contractor Brayden Brighton recently told his incredible story after surviving an eastern brown bite. 

Fortunately David has never been bitten, despite the risky nature of the work.

David said snakes can be found almost anywhere.

“You name the spot, I’ve probably caught a snake there,” he said.

David Voss of Gladstone Region Snake Catchers in action.

“We catch a lot of snakes inside people’s houses, I get them inside cars, in people’s businesses.

“I once caught a snake that was in the cab of a freight train.”

With almost nine years of experience in the industry, the man behind Gladstone Region Snake Catchers is well and truly committed to his craft.

“A lot of people say ‘oh, you must be crazy to be going out and catching snakes,” David said.

“All the snake catchers I know have a passion for reptiles.”

When asked about the biggest snake he’d ever caught, he revealed the story of a carpet python with a pesky hiding place.

“The biggest snake I’ve found around here was a carpet python – probably around 11ft,” David said.

“That one was actually in a public toilet.

“It was up in the beams in the roof, somebody went in there to use the toilet and there was a giant carpet python hanging down.”

He said he enjoys serving the community and saving snakes.

David Voss of Gladstone Region Snake Catchers removed this python that had eaten a chicken from a chicken coop in 2023.

“I really enjoy my work because it serves two purposes,” David said.

“I get to remove snakes that are in people’s properties, and I get to save the snake.

Ecologist and Herpetologist Dr Christina Zdenek discouraged the culling of snakes due to their vital role in Queensland’s ecosystem. Picture: Nick Hamilton.

Australian Reptile Academy snake expert Dr Christina Zdenek warned inexperienced homeowners against interacting with snakes due to the increased risk of bites.

“There is a 14 per cent to 50 per cent increase in the chance of a snake bite when people are trying to interact with them – whether that be to try and kill it, or to remove it themselves,” she said.

“Don’t interact with them – people consistently underestimate the speed of our Australian snakes.

“You need extreme expertise to handle and identify snakes.”

Dr Zdenek also discouraged the culling of snakes by homeowners and farmers and highlighted the role that they played in feral pest control.

“They’ve been here many more millions of years than humans have … we should see snakes as our ally – they are a free, natural, ecosystem-benefiting source of vermin control (by eating rats and mice),” she said.

Queensland Ambulance Service Rockhampton acting operations supervisor Joseph O’Donnell said all snake bites were treated as envenomations.

“Avoid snakes – if you see a snake, leave it alone,” he said.

“We assume every snake bite is a venomous bite.

“Symptoms can vary – it can be gastro-like symptoms with nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, and significant pain at the site can occur.”

Rockhampton Ambulance Service Acting Operations Supervisor Joseph O’Donnell

Mr O’Donnell also warned against going into the bush barefoot or in shorts.

“Most snake bites are to the lower limbs … always wear boots and long pants when you are out and about in the scrub,” he said.

Tragically, 16-year-old Beau died after being bitten by a brown snake at his family home in Wurdong Heights, south of Gladstone in November of last year.

Just a recently as Thursday, a female toddler and an adult male were both bitten by snakes and hospitalised.

Originally published as Wildlife catcher David Voss explains surge in snake encounters