Experienced snake catcher Stuart McKenzie has experienced his busiest December ever and he expects even more call-outs in January.
He’s been inundated with requests to relocate reptiles from homes, businesses and public spaces.
And while it seems like there’s more snakes in the region, Mr McKenzie said there’s more sightings because of development and a growing population.
“We don’t have an influx in snake numbers, but it seems like it because they’re having to live in suburbia these days …they’re running out of bushland,” he said.
Mr McKenzie, of Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7, said there were traditionally more sightings during the holidays too.
“More people are at home this time of year, so people are seeing them in yards,” he said.
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At least three people suffered suspected snake bites during the past week, including a man in his 60s at Buderim on Monday night. He was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.
Mr McKenzie bagged a 2m brown snake at popular Mooloolaba Beach recently.
Spotted in the waves, it made its way across the sand before nestling in the rock wall near the playground.
“It was a hot day and snakes will go in the water from time to time. They’re actually good swimmers,” Mr McKenzie said.
“It went in there to cool down and then came back out to the hot sand and was looking for shelter again.
“There were people everywhere and the lifeguards did a really good job of keeping the tourists and locals away from it.”
Mr McKenzie expertly extracted the snake from the wall, before relocating it.
He expected more sightings in January.
“It’s generally is our busiest month, in terms of the sheer amounts of call-outs” he said.
“We get a lot at night. Because it’s so hot (in January) there’s a lot of snakes that move at night.
“September to October were busy with most of the snakes (seen) in the day during breeding season.
“In January we still get heaps during the day, but we get a lot at night.”
Hot spots
“Buderim’s always quite busy because of the rainforest there. There’s a lot of pythons and tree snakes.”
“We catch a lot of snakes around Nambour, Woombye and Palmwoods, towards the hinterland.
“Also at Noosa and between Maroochydore and Caloundra. I’ve caught two or three near Nicklin Way this morning (Tuesday).
“But we catch a lot of snakes in most suburbs.” Check out Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 online, via Facebook @SunshineCoastSnakeCatchers.
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