Snake catcher and mum-of-two Courtenay Brown – who deals with up to 10 callouts a day – says the thing she fears most in her dangerous job are not the reptiles
A mum-of-two who risks her life catching some of the world’s deadliest reptiles says the worst part of the job isn’t the snakes – but the men she encounters while working alone.
Courtenay Brown became a licensed snake catcher after ditching her corporate career to do something more meaningful. The 40-year-old, who is married and has two daughters aged 12 and 14, has been trapping the slippery creatures for the past three years – with up to 10 callouts a day during summer.
Just one lapse in concentration could result in a bite but Courtenay takes this risk on the chin. She’s often more focused on the safety concerns of stepping into a stranger’s home as a woman.
She explained: “People are often shocked when I tell them my job, which is often followed by the question, ‘Why’?,” I think people probably think of catching venomous snakes as a man’s job.
“Being a female, safety is always in the back of my mind when I head out to someone’s house. Most people are lovely but I do get men calling me, asking me to come out to some sketchy places so I have to always have my wits about me.
“Putting my work on social media leaves me open to a lot of criticism, inappropriate comments, innuendo and trolling. People are always shocked when I tell them my job – they look at me like I’m crazy.
“I think women do this job so well, and leave the ego out of it. I get a lot of men telling me how to do my job even when they have no experience themselves. Some suggest I’m doing my job for attention. I usually explain there are much easier ways these days to get attention than risking your life every day.”
Courtenay, who hails from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, has always held a love for animals and finds snakes “fascinating” – but understands why others don’t.
She said: “Before having kids, I went to university and worked in corporate jobs but never found them fulfilling. I started seeing snakes everywhere and would love to go out walking at night and look for them, to learn about the local species.
“With my two daughters getting older, I had a bit more time to get back into work but I decided I wanted to do something meaningful, not necessarily just for money. Every job is different, which is part of the reason I love what I do. I thrive on adventure and adrenaline.
“Snakes get into all sorts of places but they’re just looking for a safe place to hide food, water or a mate. I’ve moved them from car engines, roof spaces, schools, kitchens, garages, wardrobes, under fridges, chicken coops and retail shops.
“From the beginning of spring until the end of Autumn, it’s quite warm so there are a lot of snakes moving around and often through people’s properties, which is when many people panic.”
Courtenay had to complete a venomous snake handling course, first aid training and species identification before securing a permit.
The species she relocates most often are carpet pythons. She said: “Carpet pythons are quite large in size, so they are quite visible when they move through people’s properties, which can cause panic.
“I try to educate people that they will usually move along by themselves, and they are not venomous, so there’s not a huge risk. But when there are kids, pets, and fear involved, it can be hard to convince people.
“I also catch highly venomous snakes like eastern browns and red-bellied black snakes, which are usually a lot faster moving and get the adrenaline going. Snakes have a pretty unfair reputation as aggressive animals, which they’re not.
“I don’t expect everyone to love them but I would love people to understand and respect them, as they are important to the ecosystem.”
When catching a venomous snake, the mum uses a tailing technique.
This involves “safely picking the snake up by the tail, using a hook to keep them at a distance and putting them straight into the bag”.
It requires complete focus on the reptile’s body language.
She said: “One lapse in concentration can lead to a bite.
“I have been bitten by a few non-venomous snakes but I always know what I’m dealing with, so even that doesn’t scare me. nI will find a suitable habitat within a certain range, and release them back to the bush.
“It’s very unlikely they will ever return to the same house. During summer, the workload can become relentless – I can get up to 10 calls a day.
“Working by myself, this can be very demanding, as I usually need to be at a property immediately before the snake disappears. It means that wherever I go, I have to be ready at any time to take a job.”
While many fear the reptiles, Courtenay isn’t scared by them at all.
She said: “They are predictable animals and only bite as a last defence. My favourite part [of the job] is getting to work up close with these beautiful animals.
“They really are misunderstood calm creatures, so I love that I can help people see them in a different way and reduce fear.”