What is driving the surge in snake catching in Australia?

The expansion of urban areas and housing developments has put more people in close proximity to snake habitats, leading to a dramatic increase in the demand for snake removal services.

How many snakes are removed from properties in Queensland each year?

Researchers estimate that over 17,000 snakes are removed from properties in Queensland alone each year, a figure that barely scratches the surface of the nationwide problem.

What is the Australian Reptile Academy doing to address the snake removal issue?

The academy's instructors, Christina Zdenek and Chris Hay, are aiming to educate people on coexisting with snakes, rather than just removing them. They believe that with proper education, more people will learn to embrace the snakes in their neighborhoods, leading to fewer removals and a healthier balance between humans and nature.

Home / Environment / Australians Embrace Venomous Snake Handling as Removal Demand Soars

Australians Embrace Venomous Snake Handling as Removal Demand Soars

14 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Snake catching industry has grown tenfold in the last decade
Over 17,000 snakes removed from Queensland properties annually
Instructors aim to educate people to coexist with snakes, not just remove them

Australians Embrace Venomous Snake Handling as Removal Demand Soars

As of November 2025, Australia's snake catching industry has seen a dramatic surge, with the number of snake catchers growing tenfold over the past decade. In the Lockyer Valley west of Brisbane, the Australian Reptile Academy is running venomous snake handling courses, where participants are required to sign legal documents and learn to handle some of the world's most deadly snakes.