Ranger Rob - Murray District Licenced Snake Catcher

16/04/2025

Some excellent advice from over east on handling a snake encounter.

Remember! They’re more scared of you than you are of them - so if you’re in the open, let them move on safely - you’re much larger so they want to escape.

DRSABCD…basic first aid. Let’s follow:

D: danger. Make sure it’s safe for you and a patient.
R:response. Are they awake?
S: send for help - call 000.
A: airway - make sure their mouth and nose aren’t blocked and they can breathe.
B: breathing….are they breathing? Look, listen and feel their chest for ten seconds.
C: CPR. If they’re not awake and not breathing, this is the lifesaving essential. While a course is best to learn it, 000 operators will talk you through too. Hand on the centre of the chest, other hand on top. Lean over the patient, keep your arms straight and use your body weight to push down their chest to about a third of the chest depth.

Don’t worry about breaking ribs - it’s not pleasant but it’s the least of their worries right now.

Push for 30 compressions then deliver 2 rescue breaths if you are willing - if not willing to undertake the breathing, just keep pumping at a rate of 100 compressions a minute. Get bystanders involved - you’ll tire out fast.
D: defibrillator. Grab an AED if one is handy - preferably send someone for it. 000 may be able to tell you where the nearest one is.

Keep going. CPR & defibrillation are the best bet if someone’s not breathing.

Stay safe!

07/02/2025

You’d be justified in having a bit of shock finding all these fellas in your yard!!!

Fortunately I’ve only ever had to wrangle one snake at once.

Red belly black snakes are an eastern states speciality, none locally, but they are venomous. Pretty timid snake though.

Apologies to those couple of calls I’ve had in the past two weeks that I didn’t get to - I’ve had a hectic run at work lately and was asleep at the time, but as always, I’ll do my best to help so keep my number handy - or refer to the Murray Shire website if you can’t raise me/I don’t respond in ten minutes.

Stay safe and snake wise!

More than 100 venomous snakes have been captured in a backyard in Sydney's west in what snake catchers said was their biggest find ever.

13/12/2024

Hi folks, my apologies to those I’ve missed lately, I’ve had a lot on at work and just haven’t had the time for this side gig of mine (which, as always, is free).

Letting you know though I’ll be around over the holidays including Christmas Day and Boxing Day, though I’ll be out of town for lunch on Christmas so don’t hesitate to call.

I sure hope you don’t need me but I’m here. 0461 513 886 is the magic number!

Stay safe and remember to brush up on your snake first aid, I have a post about it below.

Thankyou for your support during 2024 and Merry Christmas!

01/11/2024

There’s been a sudden spike in demand for my help in the past 24-48 hours, I suspect because of the onset of sudden hot weather & snakes being active.

I want to apologise to those whose calls I have not been able to return - I have done my best to attend to those I could in order of call & my time is limited as a volunteer.

If you do not get hold of me or get a fast answer from me, please refer to the Shire of Murray webpage for other snake catchers or search for Mandurah, Peel & other key terms.

Thankyou for your understanding. 😊

01/11/2024

I understand there was a concern raised about my handling of the dugite I relocated on Wednesday - that I was “too rough” and “using the snake for a photo opportunity”.

Several points.

I am always open to feedback. No one is perfect. But before becoming sarcastic or abusive towards me, please bear in mind this is a VOLUNTEER service I provide out of my own free time and wishes to support my local community. Criticism for the sake of being clever and not actually providing FEEDBACK is unhelpful. If you are going to snipe at me, tells what I’ve done wrong. This is NOT MY FULL TIME JOB. I have no doubt there are more skilled snake catchers than me out there. If you wish to educate me, feel free. Don’t just have a go.

Secondly, I do not use animals for “photo opportunities”. Previously, Parks & Wildlife/DCBA WA required a licence (which I held) and reporting/identification of snakes removed.

This is, granted, no longer a requirement but I still inform my local parks office of what I have caught and where, where it has been taken and a photo to confirm ID, in case I am wrong about breed. Again, while I am informed, I am no expert.

I also like to use these photos to educate the community on what certain snakes will look like, etc.

Once again. I do not charge a cent for my services. I trained as a remote mines snake catcher in 2011 and have continued ad-hoc since, and decided to set up this service for my local community. I re-train every three years with different providers to get feedback and practice. All out of my own pocket.

I do the best I believe I can and I do this out of a wish to help both my town and the animal. I actively fight for snake welfare and awareness so they are not destroyed or harmed, nor do I seek to do this myself.

Again, constructive feedback is always welcome. I can always learn. But please don’t come in here being obnoxious for the sake of looking clever.

30/10/2024

Successful day out in North Pinjarra today!

I had a call in the early afternoon for a snake in a side yard that had made itself known to the resident when her pups were outside (they are safe and well). A good probe around revealed it had left the yard - most likely spooked.

That’s the trick, they move on fast.

But I had barely got halfway home when I got a call from the literal house across the road for a snake in the BEDROOM, not what anyone wants!

Shot back over and I was able to capture this “teenage” dugite, feisty little fella behind the recliner, much to my caller’s relief.

Whether he was the same one as my first call or not isn’t sure but it shows they are around and getting active now.

Remember, I’m around, a volunteer service and (depending on my work) I’ll do my best to attend - so give me a call. (If I don’t answer, I’ll be at work, asleep or out of town - otherwise I’ll call back in minutes.)

Especially if they’re in your house!!

22/09/2024

With the warm weather coming in quick, there’s been plenty of snake sightings around Perth already and the Peel.

I meant to get this to you all sooner but I’m tied up with work this long weekend unfortunately so I’m unable to help with removals but if you check out the Shire of Murray website, they’ll have some alternatives - and I’m planning to network with other local snake catchers so we can recommend each other if one of us is busy.

Remember to stay safe and avoid the long winter grass!

I’ll be back on deck from Wednesday afternoon.

Have a great long weekend folks 😊

08/09/2024

Snake season is back already as the weather warms up and our friends come out of hiding.

Remember, I’m here to help you so give me a call if you have a snake. But please do keep eyes on it - there’s limited point in me helping if you lose track of it, unless it’s in your house.

Today’s discussion…how to handle a snake bite.

It’s important to know that snakes will only bite as a last resort. We are much bigger than them. They see us as a predator and want to escape - they won’t chase you!

But bites do happen.

So if you are bitten…

Stay still. The less you move, the less the venom can circulate.

It’s a common myth that snake venom enters the blood. In fact, it will be injected into the lymphatic system and only move through the body with muscle movement so staying still is CRUCIAL.

Next, take an elastic bandage. Bandage around the bite site, several times, then firmly wind the bandage FROM the bite as high up the bitten limb as possible.

If you have a second bandage and run out of the first, resume where you left off, up to groin or armpit.

Don’t wind so tight it cuts off circulation - that will hurt and not help. Remember, the venom is not in the blood.

What we’re doing is applying compression to stop movement of the venom through the muscle.

Now the limb is compressed, apply immobilisation. Splint a cardboard splint, a stick, a piece of wood to the limb to keep it stable, still and from flexing.

Finally, call 000 and get an ambulance. Don’t get in the car and drive, don’t have someone take you - call the professionals to come to you.

If you’d like to see more, check out this video!

Do you know how to treat a snake bite? 🐍We show you how to treat one, when you have first-aid equipment, and what to do when you don't. Snake bites can be d...

21/04/2024

For a long, hot and dry summer, it’s been a surprisingly quiet snake catching season. I did expect a few to be on the move after the Waroona bushfire but, no.

So, to tips for autumn.

Snakes activity at this time of year is slowing down. You’re simply not going to see them out and about as much as they take cover for winter. Juvenile snakes will be well on their way to grown now and moving along to their own territory.

But still - be careful around the house and shed. This time I’m not talking about long grass and cooler areas, but instead quiet areas of shelter such as wood piles, undisturbed junk piles, disused cars and similar where a snake is likely to bunker down.

To add to this, if you’re travelling to the north of the state for a winter getaway, remember that the dry season is arriving and they are the exact opposite up there so tread carefully!

As always, feel free to give me a call anytime and if I can, I’ll assist.

Stay safe and remember, snakes don’t want to hurt you. They want to AVOID you. Going after them with a shovel is not only illegal but the most common way to be bitten. Let me handle it. 👍

26/02/2024

Catch of the day!

This fella is a juvenile dugite. Highly venomous and native to south west Western Australia.

Though he’s venomous, he wasn’t keen on a fight and tried to hide from me - bear in mind this is what snakes will generally do as they see US as full size predators.

When I finally caught him at a local Pinjarra business, he did try to have a go at my catching pole - understandable - but was safely released into state forest where he promptly took cover.

Even though he’s small, be wary of the juveniles as they can’t control their venom output and will strike with full venom, whereas an adult snake may conserve their venom and “dry bite” - ie, a bite without envenomation.

19/01/2024

Something popping up in Coolup…

Had a call out the road tonight for a large dugite/brown and some juveniles.

They were in a prime breeding position - under a shed with plenty of gaps and wild rabbits everywhere.

Unfortunately on this occasion, I couldn’t catch the snake - a helpful reminder that when you spot one, please keep eyes on it where possible (and safe) - while of course keeping your distance.

Once snakes establish a safe area like this with plenty of food, it’s a prime area to breed unfortunately.

I came out right on dusk tonight with mixed thoughts - s/he could be out hunting or could’ve taken shelter already for the night. Looks like it’s the latter.

May not reappear for a few days as snakes don’t need to feed daily - so I’ll be back in a few days to try again. As often is the case in snake catching, it might take a few goes for right time, right place.

We are well and truly into peak season now, so keep my number handy and don’t hesitate to call - if I’m not at work or out of town, I’ll be there as soon as I can.

15/01/2024

With bushfires active all around the state at the moment, particularly in the Gingin & Wanneroo areas, even if you’re not in the warning zones, now is the time to be alert for travelling snakes.

Like any animal, snakes will move fast to escape a bushfire. They’ve been part of our continent for thousands of years and know what to do.

Couple that with the excessive heat and humidity lately and you’re more likely to see a snake taking cover in your house or shed. They are cold blooded reptiles and can’t cool themselves - they need to seek artificial shade.

Right now with this heat, snakes won’t be too focused on eating. They don’t need to. They’ll be focused on taking cover.

Be particularly careful around pools, dams and water sources. Snakes are excellent swimmers and what’s a better way to cool down fast than a swim. Before your kids hop in the pool, take a moment to check the filters for any visitors.

As always, find a snake in the Murray region where you don’t want it, give me a call and if I’m available, I’ll come right over - free of charge as always.