THE ADVOCATE (Burnie, Australia) 07 January 06 Racquel 'handles' emergency

Photo at URL below: Solo: Racquel Thow, 11, daughter of snake handler Michael Thow, recently went out on her own to retrieve this blue tongue lizard. (Tony Cross)

An 11-year-old Ulverstone girl, keen to follow dad into snake handling, did her first solo job on Thursday.

Racquel Thow was called to catch a blue tongue lizard that was devouring baby guinea pigs in a house in Jetty Street, Ulverstone.

Dad Michael Thow, who runs a snake handling business, was in Devonport when the SOS call came through. At the time Racquel was at her nan's house, a few doors from where the blue tongue was on the rampage, so she went to deal with it.

She was back at nan's within 10 minutes after a quick and professional job.

"When he came out in the open I put my hand down really fast and grabbed him by the neck," Racquel said.

"Then I stood up and put my other hand under him so he'd be comfortable and feel supported."

She said she was not really scared.

"I knew they could bite but I knew if I held it the right way it wouldn't get me."

Racquel took along a snake stick just in case and was prepared to call in Parks and Wildlife if a snake had turned up.

It was Racquel who involved the family in the snake-handling business when she took them to a meeting of the North-West Reptile and Creepy Crawlies Club.

She returned with a baby blue tongue lizard and the family's fate was sealed.

The captured lizard turned out to be a pregnant female and will live out its days with the Thows.
Racquel 'handles' emergency

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