BAYSIDE BULLETIN (Redland, Australia) 28 September 09 Slippery snake speed hump saved (Dani Volke)

Members of the Watson family at Wellington Point received a "fun" start to their school holidays, when their local garbage collector knocked on the front door with a two-metre long carpet snake.

JJ Richards truck driver Tim MacMahon was interrupted during his general garbage collecting duties in Laurence Court when he almost drove over the python.

"I got out of the truck to move it off the road, but I didn't have a bag to put him in before taking him to a wildlife carer, so I knocked on the nearest door," Tim said.

Adele Watson said she was quite surprised to see the snake when she answered the door.

"The truck was outside for ages. He said, 'I don't want to alarm you' and I saw the snake in his arms and said 'oh, my gosh' and called the kids for a look.

"He wanted a pillow slip to put it in until he called his boss to take it to a wildlife person, but before he did that we took some photos with him and the kids holding the snake."

Nine-year-old Dakota Watson, who attends Wellington Point Primary School said the snake felt slimy.

"It was also rough. I have felt a snake before but only at the zoo. I was a little bit scared, but I had the best school holidays ever," Dakota said.

Reptile expert from the Queensland Museum, Andrew Amey said the scientific name for the python was Morelia spilota.

"It is common in the Redlands and throughout continental Australia (except southern Victoria and the arid centre and west). It is non-venomous but is capable of lacerating bites, possessing several rows of fine, sharp teeth," Andrew said.

"Snakes of this species feed mainly on warm-blooded prey such as rats, birds, flying foxes and possums and they are often discovered living peacefully in the roof cavities of Brisbane houses and sheds, helping to keep down the number of rats."

Adele said if it wasn't for the "wildlife warrior" who came to the rescue, if she had seen the snake herself she would have locked the kids inside and waited for her husband to come home.

"I might have to call JJ Richards next time we see a snake," Adele said with a laugh.

Redlands professional snake catcher Tony Morrison said people should not kill snakes if they saw them.

"That's when most of the attacks happen and it's safer to call a professional," Tony said.

"Snakes are adapted to live in and around houses and having a clean yard doesn't always mean they won't be there.

"Call a professional and get their opinion especially if there are kids and animals around."

Tony said there were 22 different varieties of snakes in the Redlands; 18 of them venomous.

"These include carpet snakes and tree snakes which are not venomous, brown snakes and red-bellied black snakes, which are venomous. It is extremely common for them to come out this time of year."

Redlands Wildlife Care Network can be contacted on 3383 4031 for snakes found near or in your home or snake handlers in the Redlands include Tony Morrison on 0417 609 462.
Slippery snake speed hump saved

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