Monster snake bagged
Eastern brown a record for local snake catcher
‘‘ YOU CAN FEEL HOW BIG, HEAVY AND STRONG IT IS - YOU GET THE SHAKES ONCE YOU’VE BAGGED IT.
GUNTER GLASER
A SEASONED snake catcher has admitted to getting the shakes after catching the largest eastern brown of his career at a Hampton property on Sunday.
Darling Downs Snake Catchers 24/7 Gunter Glaser said a bite from the 2.1 metre reptile could stop a heart in 10 minutes, something he was aware of as he struggled to get his hands around it.
“We’re used to seeing 4ft eastern browns, occasionally a 5ft which is exciting,” he said.
“But when you get one of this size... any snake catcher knows the adrenaline gets to you.
“You can feel how big, heavy and strong it is - you get the shakes once you’ve bagged it.”
Mr Glaser said the snake was so large it appeared not to be threatened by the presence of people.
“When they get this big, they get quite cocky, not afraid of anything,” he said.
“(The home owner) was watching it go into a rat hole, (to) pull out a rat which it swallowed.
“(It) then checked out several other holes all while it was being watched from two metres away.”
Mr Glaser said the snake was requested for a toxicology study at a Brisbane university, its length placing it as one of the largest in the state.
“The Brisbane Museum has the maximum size for an eastern brown at 2.2 metres, though this could be on the conservative side,” he said.
“We have been contacted by a (Brisbane) university that is studying eastern browns.
“They will keep the snake for six months to milk its venom and study how it has grown this big. They will then look for a safe place to release it.”
Mr Glaser said although the snake was the biggest he had seen, it was likely there were more in the area.
“I caught snakes that were slightly smaller during my time in Kingaroy. There is always a chance you could get another one,” he said.
“I doubt it would be closer to town, they are noticed too easily or get run over by cars.
“When they get big like this they are less agile, they cruise like carpet snakes.”
The find follows on from a record eastern brown catch on the Sunshine Coast last month, the 2.05 metre snake taking the title of largest found in the coastal region.