Tableland Snake Catchers

20/01/2026

Another of the wet season hunters is the Rough Scaled snake, Tropidechis carinatus, a dangerously venomous species. This one was photographed by Alan Sweet in October 2025, near Atherton. Rough Scaled snakes are normally found in the wetter, rainforest areas of the Atherton Tablelands, but also in wet Eucalypt forest near eater. One also features on our page title. They are most commonly seen at night, and being relatively small, at 70 cm they can be overlooked. They hunt frogs, skinks, birds and small mammals; either on the ground or in low vegetation. They have a reputation for being easily aroused, and are quick to become defensive, and strike repeatedly. Rough Scaled snakes have keeled scales, and are often confused with the non venomous Keel Back, Tropidonophis mairii.

18/01/2026

With the wet season in full swing there are heaps of puddles and lots of frogs out and active. While the frogs are active, frog eaters are busy making the best of it. This beautiful Red Bellied Black Snake, Pseudechis porphyriacus was doing just that when it was disturbed. In the video you can see movement in the water from it's heart beat and breathing.
Always be aware when you are working or Playing outdoors that other wildlife may be there just living it's best life.

09/01/2026

Just the sweetest thing! Thank you Jessica for sharing your photo of this little family from this week. Our followers may recall Back in September of 2025, there were multiple sightings of an Adult pair of Cassowaries on Sluice Creek road. They are now proud parents, so let's be a bit careful when using this road.

04/01/2026

Just sharing this as a positive idea to deter Wildlife from the roof. Using modern technology and innovation to provide wildlife damage mitigation can go a long way to resolve urban wildlife conflicts.

02/12/2025

During the warmer months most snakes like these Carpet Pythons and this Amethystine Python are busy hunting. They will follow the scent trails of rodents or other prey animals into some interesting places. It's important to make sure that we take a proactive approach to limiting food sources and hiding places for rodents.

08/10/2025

It's great to be featured by The Express Newspaper this week as we move into Spring. With the normal increase in snake activity at this time of year, we want people to be aware of these beautiful creatures and be prepared incase a chance encounter goes wrong. Thankyou to Konnor and Darryl from The Express newspaper for making it possible.

This week’s edition of The Express Newspaper is now available for online viewing.👏

Please follow this link www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au/online-edition

08/10/2025

It's always our goal to raise understanding and awareness of our local wildlife and for us especially our snake species. It's always interesting for us to see the difference in responses between photos of Venomous species, like this Eastern Brown Snake, Pseudonaja textilis, being defensive and harmless species like Carpet Pythons, Morelia spilota cheynei . Thanks to Konnor and Darryl from The Express newspaper for their hard work.

SOME of the deadliest snakes in the country are found in our region and with an increase in activity due to the return of the warm weather, it is important to stay snake safe.

04/10/2025

Thanks to Amanda Arbuckle for this video. This is an Adult Coastal Taipan, Oxyuranus scutellatus, a dangerously venomous species. This large adult was hunting through a passionfruit patch, it's a great piece of informative video showing the snake tongue flicking and head bobbing as it follows a scent trail. The way these snake move with their head raised above the ground is a key distinguishing behaviour. It once earnt them the name " Traveller Browns", before they were recognised as something quite different!

04/10/2025

Adult Eastern Brown Snakes, Pseudonaja textilis, are fast, active daytime hunters. On the Atherton Tablelands a large part of their diet is rats and mice. They hunt in a range of habitats, and are quite common in farming areas, cropped fields and open forest. In open grassland and paddocks they make use of the Burrows of their prey for shelter. Recently I observed the snake in the second photo using a rabbit warren as a shelter site. The Warren appeared to have been used by the rabbits until a day or two before. No doubt they moved out when the Brown Snake moved in.

04/10/2025

This beautiful Carpet Python is on the hunt for a rodent dinner. This is the classic hunting position for Carpet Pythons, Morelia spilota cheynei. Head down, watching a spot that it has pre measured. This one is ready and waiting for the rodents that live in the compost bin, feasting on the scraps. Eliminating the "free feed" buffet of rodents goes a long way to discourage snakes. Filling the holes under compost bins, concrete slabs and in rock retaining walls removes the hiding places for rodents and inturn snakes

01/10/2025

This series of photos shows a event rarely seen by anyone. These are adult Coastal Taipans, Oxyuranus scutellatus. A dangerously venomous species capable of a potentially fatal bite. These photos show a series of activities that occur during mating, and often this occurs under shelter or away from external interruptions. Mating snakes are quite vulnerable, as the mating event itself may take 4 to 8 hours, and means they are locked at their tails. In the first photo, the female Taipan has an obvious bulge from her midsection back, this is a food bulge. Females often show swelling to the rear third during ovulation, and is commonly seen in breeding female snakes. The other photos show the male laying on-top of the female, to align their cloaca for mating.

01/10/2025

Isn't it amazing how easy Carpet Pythons make climbing up a tree look. The Upland rainforest areas on a Atherton Tablelands are the home of these beautiful pythons.