Slithery visitor at back door | Gladstone Environment | Environmental News in Gladstone
Slithery visitor at back door
Brothers Stuart and Jeff McLeod (inset) found a huge red-bellied black snake curled up at the back door of their Agnes Water home.
THE McLeods of Agnes Water had an unwelcome visitor last week as a huge red-bellied black snake took up residence at their back door.
The weather is heating up and experts say snakes are on the move, which Stuart McLeod found out in a heart-stopping episode in the middle of the night.
“I was watching TV and it was pretty late, close to 1am when one of the dogs went crazy, barking and carrying on like I'd never heard before,” Stuart said.
“I came outside and was looking around with the torch and when I turned the torch back towards the door, here was this big snake curled up just near my foot.
“I jumped sideways and luckily he didn't move much.”
Stuart, his brother Jeff and father Wayne rang the local wildlife carer who put them on to snake catcher Anthony Zink.
Mr Zink advised them to leave it alone, but to keep an eye on it until he got there from Bundaberg.
“It moved its head a couple of times, but wasn't going anywhere,” Stuart said.
“That night was pretty cool actually and it was curled up in some plastic near the door.”
“It was hissing sometimes but didn't move much, until the snake catcher guy came,” said Jeff.
Mr Zink said he was receiving plenty of calls as the warm weather was flushing out reptiles of all types and sizes.
“I've been getting calls every day and they are everywhere,” Mr Zink said.
“You have to be pretty careful because they've come out of hibernation and they are pretty cranky - hungry and wanting to mate.
“This red-bellied black was okay at their place (The McLeods'), but he was a bit angry when I got him home.”
Mr Zink said people needed to be particularly aware of snakes at this time of year and to stay well away, or if close to stand still.
“Even some of the big pythons, which are normally fairly quiet, are a bit cranky at the moment,” he said.
“If you do see a snake nearby, stand still and leave the snake alone.”
More Stories
Latest stories from our news sites
-
Today
Windy with rain
24°C/28°C -
Tomorrow
Showers
23°C/28°C
Most Popular
- Cyclone loses its intensity
- Ului prompts disaster alert
- Ului threat passes leaving flood fears
- Back to Basics in use of acronyms
- Tanna returns home for summit
- 100 evacuated from Heron Island
- Heron Island cyclone evacuation
- Asset conference draws a crowd
- Three years for armed robbery
- Gladstone ups the stakes
Special offers
Pisces
20 February - 20 March
You are interested in changing your residence or at least creating a new living space for yourself. If you're uninspired by your current surroundings I see this... More Horoscopes »
Select your zodiac sign
Aries | Taurus | Gemini | Cancer | Leo | Virgo | Libra | Scorpio | Sagittarius | Capricorn | Aquarius | Pisces
