Tableland Snake Catchers

28/08/2025

Eastern Brown Snakes, Pseudonaja textilis are one of our regions most dangerous species. Across the Eastern seaboard this species is responsible for a large number of bites to people, pets and livestock. Each year there is a surge in activity with this species around the spring breeding season. The warmer days and cool nights are a trigger for breeding activity to kick off in earnest. Associated with this is the increase in the males drive to find a mate, this causes males to travel over considerable distances searching for females.
This time of year lends itself to the old tale that a few farmers have repeatedly told me, "you always find two Brown's together". So what exactly are they doing?And that two might not be the only ones!
Over several years we have attended calls at this time of year and been presented with not one, but two and three and on one occasion 5 adult Eastern Brown Snakes all in the same place. From inside houses, where the male was following the female, to a pair in a garden being pestered by three other males.
When there are two snakes together they are either males fighting, twisted together( see below) or mating which is much more laid back and less obvious. Since there have been a few posts circulating in local community groups I thought it would be an opportunity for locals and visitors to learn a bit about our less obvious neighbours. Remember if you spot a snake, don't approach it. Let it move off on it's own or if it's indoors call our licensed snake catchers.

28/08/2025

This is an example of the Snake Bite Bandages that we carry with us on call outs and that we have in our Home and vehicle First Aid Kits. It has a tension indicator band that becomes square shaped when the correct tension is applied. This makes it simple to apply correctly, and will make a considerable difference to patient survival in the event of an envenomation. Follow the Pressure Immobilisation Technique and immediately call "000" or "112" from your mobile to connect with the Queensland Ambulance Service. These life saving devices cost around $10, please make sure you have a couple in your first aid kit, glove box, buggy, tool belt, or in your pocket - just like your mobile phone is.

28/08/2025

What to do with a snake bite?
This week has had me field a couple of calls from people where someone has been bitten by a snake. Thankfully, in these cases the outcome has been good, with no envenomation or symptoms. If you call me, I am not a doctor, I am not going to tell you it might be ok. If you think it's a snake bite, then the only things to do are these: 000 and PIT.

If a person has possibly experienced a snake bite the Queensland Ambulance Service should be contacted immediately on “000” or “112” from mobiles. Do not delay.

Snake Bite Management.

Australia has some of the most venomous land snakes in the world. Many of which are found on the Atherton Tablelands. These species include the Coastal Taipan, Eastern Brown Snake, Mulga or King Brown Snake, Red Bellied Black Snake, Rough Scaled Snake, Pale headed Snake, Black Whip Snake, and Death Adders. A bite from any of these species is life threatening.
If a person has possibly experienced a snake bite the Queensland Ambulance Service should be contacted immediately on “000” or “112” from mobiles. Emergency Snake Bite Procedure should be followed.

Pressure Immobilisation Technique or PIT

PIT is recommended for bite from all Australian Venomous Snakes.

Steps to administer the PIT(Pressure Immobilisation Technique)

If resuscitation is needed it takes precedence over the PIT, otherwise follow the steps in the attached picture.
Do not let the patient walk around, and definitely drive themselves to the Hospital!!!!
The patient will be assessed and transported to hospital by paramedics for ongoing assessment and management as life-threatening effects may take from minutes to hours to present.
If there is any doubt about the validity of a snake bite, treat it as a snake bite!

Common Symptoms of a bite may be non-specific in many cases.
Nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and diaphoresis (abnormal sweating) are common.
More significant symptoms include altered mental state, visual disturbances and seizures, respiratory dysfunction, and haemorrhage or haematoma (bleeding or bruising) at the bite site. Lymph glands of the affected limb will become swollen and tender.

Bites are not always paired marks, they can occur as scratches or as single puncture marks.
Snake venoms work in different ways, and vary with each species.
The three systemic effects are neurotoxicity, coagulopathy and myotoxicity.
Neurotoxicity affects the nervous system, drooping eyelids and drooling are early signs, followed by paralysis of limbs and airways.
Coagulopathy affects the ability of blood to clot and is signalled by failure of clots to form at the bite site and bleeding from the nose and gums.
Myotoxicity cases damage to skeletal muscle groups and is indicated by weakness, tenderness of muscles, muscular pain and renal impairment and failure.

Snake bite is particularly high risk for children due to the high venom dose relative to their body weight.

Treat any snake bite as an emergency!!

18/08/2025

An update on the Permanent Cassowary Crossing signs for Mt Hypipamee section. Hopefully they are less than 6 weeks away. We'll just hold off the celebration until they are in place. Just about daily we receive reports of near misses from this section. Please, please be Cass-o-wary when travelling through this section and slow down.

18/08/2025

Hopefully this little one makes it to Adulthood. Great work to all involved, we need the whole community to be onboard to look after our amazing wildlife.

11/08/2025

We were out early this morning to put up these Cassowary Crossing signs on Sluice Creek road. Over the last couple of weeks there have been an Adult pair of Cassowaries slighted several times. This morning as we were putting up these signs we were graced with a visit and inspection by these birds, of course the phone was in the car, but it's truly special to see these birds in their natural habitat. Please keep reporting sightings to the Department of Environment and Science on 1300 130 372.

04/08/2025

Whooo, whoo doesn’t love owls!!! 🦉It’s international Owl Awareness Day! Australia has 11 species of owls that are divided into 2 owl genera, Tyto and Ninox. Tyto owls have a distinct heart-shaped facial disc that funnel sound waves to the ears, these include Barn owls, Grass Owls, Masked owls and Sooty owls. While Ninox owls, also known as hawk owls, have a less distinct facial disc, and rounded heads, which includes our smallest owl, the Southern boobook, Barking owl and large Rufous owl. Sadly, all of our owls are declining in numbers with several species listed as threatened. The Primary causes in owl losses are:
- Reduced nesting hollows and habitat
- Rodenticides through secondary poisoning
- Increased urbanisation leading to more owls being hit by cars, and attacked by domestic pets.
We can help by keeping old and hollow bearing trees, controlling rodents without using second generation rodenticide poisons (https://www.actforbirds.org/ratpoison/safe-home-for-birds), keeping cats and dogs inside at night, and being careful when driving after dark. Please call us on 0473169779 or Tablelands Wildlife Rescue Australia, so we can put you in touch with an appropriate cater, or your nearest wildlife care organisation. If you see a owl sick or injured owl, or a young owl on the ground - in particular over the next few months as chicks are fledging. Several areas around Atherton, Tolga and Kairi are well know for Barn Owls, Masked Owls and Grass Owls. Eucalypt areas are favoured by Barking Owls and Boobook Owls. Rainforest areas are favoured by Lesser Sooty Owls, Boobook Owls and Rufous Owls. Happy owling!

31/07/2025

As usual in Winter we are starting to receive lots of calls for basking snakes, both pythons and elapids ( venomous snakes). This time of year has cooler nights and as the nicer, sunnier days start to become more constant, we will see a lot of snakes coming out and enjoying the sun. We also start to see a bit more breeding activity happening. If you encounter a basking snake the best scenario is to leave them be. Enjoy the beauty of their colours and patterns where possible and if you’re comfortable doing so. They will move themselves if left alone, once the warmer weather becomes more consistent. In the meantime they will just continue to bask on the warm days and if disturbed, return to their winter shelter sources, which they still require to see out the cold nights. It not uncommon to see pairs basking together.

In situations where you’re not comfortable, you have kids or there’s pets trying to interact with the snake. The best thing to do is keep kids and pets contained and watch the snake from a distance that won’t disturb it. Basking snakes are much easier to catch than ones that have been disturb and are hiding in their shelter source. Like under the concrete slab or tucked up in the roof.
Snakes will typical bask about the same time each day, they can be very predictable in that respect which can help establish patterns and makes having them caught easier.

Contrary to popular belief, all snakes will do their absolute best to avoid interacting with us and our pets. They just want to enjoy the warm weather and keep their bellies full, much like us.

The picture below are a pair of Eastern Brown Snakes from last year and a Carpet Python making it's way to a safe retreat in the roof.

31/07/2025

Hopefully this trial will be successful and applied to locations where the birds are spotted. It's critical to report sightings to the Department of Environment and Science on 1300 130 372 so the data base can reflect where, when and which birds are active.

Far North Queensland drivers were warned with flashing signs triggered by approaching cassowaries in a bid to save them from being hit.

28/07/2025

Adult Cassowary foraging on the edge of the Kennedy Highway about 500 meters on the Atherton side of the Longlands Gap road intersection. Please slow down and be aware of these birds and other wildlife through this section. Please report any sightings on 1300 130 372.

27/07/2025

On the 28th July 2025 it will be 75 years since Kevin Budden died in Cairns Base Hospital from a taipan bite. Kevin Budden was only 20 when he caught a Coastal Taipan near Cairns, the first taipan destined for antivenom production. Sadly, Kevin paid with his life for something that saved many lives later on.

The full story is wonderfully written by Brendan James Murray in his book “Venom”. This book is must have reading and which I highly recommend to anyone even remotely interested in the history of our early days herpetologists who came in contact (often with tragic consequences), the Coastal Taipan prior to the development of specific antivenom.
Here is the ABC podcast for those who want to listen to this amazing piece of Australian history.
A heart felt thankyou to all those dedicated to the development of snake antivenom.

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24/07/2025

It would seem it's the same story across the Eastern Coast. Brush tailed possums are masters of adaptation, taking advantage of the changes and challenges that urban living brings.