Snakes the change Matt needed in life

MATT Hagan was born in Canberra and came from “a family of public servants”.

He decided early on “that was not what I wanted to do in life”.

The owner of Cairns Snake Catcher, the business he started four years ago, completed a science degree at the University of Tasmania and majored in aquaculture after leaving high school.

“I was doing crocodile farming before starting the snakecatcher business and aquaculture for government,” Mr Hagan said.

“In Vietnam I worked with a fish hatchery, I did a bit of work in South Australia in the tuna industry and in Broome with turtle farms.”

Cairns Snake Catcher is based at Trinity Beach and is a fully insured and licensed reptile removal service which aims to protect customers, property and the snake.

Mr Hagan said most of the calls he received were, obviously, from people with a fear of the reptiles.

“A lot of people who have grown up in Cairns know snakes are a natural part of the environment and aren’t too worried,” he said.

“Generally, those who call us have a fear of the animals and the potential dangers to their kids.

“Often it’s an education process, it is not just catching the snake, it is telling people what kind of snake it is, how common they are, what the risks are.

“Most of the snakes which get around Cairns are tree snakes and pythons and aren’t dangerous.”

Mr Hagan said, while the job was “not for everyone”, he confessed candidates often had to be better at dealing with people than handling snakes.

“You need a fairly broad skill set,” he said. “I love living in Cairns, I love the people and the biodiversity.”