A Queensland construction worker had the surprise of his life this week after finding a 1.3 metre venomous snake curled in his work boot, a day out from winter.
The incident occurred Wednesday, in Hodgson Vale south of Toowoomba, and caused the tradie to “just about jump through the roof”.
Reptile handler Gunter Glaser, from Darling Downs Snake Catchers, was called to the home to remove the snake.
In video supplied to 9news.com.au Glaser is seen grabbing the snake’s tail and pulling, revealing centimetre after centimetre of the snake’s scaly body.
Glaser said the tradie was lucky to have spotted the scales.
“He’s lucky he saw it, sometimes it’s a little one and you don’t see it until you put your foot in and feel it,” he said.
“He had left his work boots outside and the next morning he went to put on the boots and that’s when he found it.
“I told him to always bring your shoes inside.”
The snake was an eastern brown, Australia’s second most venomous reptile and the most deadly.
If left untreated a bite from an eastern brown is extremely dangerous, for if envenomation occurs it’s capable of killing in as little as 30 minutes.
The incident comes as snake season, which traditionally runs from September to April, draws to a close.
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Glaser said the snake was either seeking warmth, or had been startled and has chosen the boots as a safe place to hide.
“It’s hard to tell,” he said.
“The snake was very cold.
“Normally they just curl up in a regular spot over winter but you do sometimes get some that explore a bit further.”
Glaser released the snake into nearby bushland.
The snake catcher said he’s been surprised by the number of callouts he’s still receiving so late in the year.
”I’ve had calls three days in a row this week, which is unexpected for this time of year,” he said.
“The callouts were for a spotted black, a carpet python and an eastern brown.
“It’s not unusual, but to have nothing for a week or two but then three in a row is a bit surprising.
“You get used to doing nothing and then get dragged away.”
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