A mammoth python found in a Sunshine Coast backyard is one of the longest ever caught by a young snake rescue couple.
The team from Snake Rescue Sunny Coast were called to a Nambour property last week to find a python measuring 3.1m and weighing 8.7kg.
Its length puts it equal first as the longest snake Ryan Fuller and fiance Dimity Maxfield have rescued, tying with a python that ate two chickens at a Ninderry property in November.
Speaking with Sunshine Coast News, the passionate snake catchers said that while it was “just another day on the job”, it was always a thrill to come across a snake that makes the record book.
“It’s exciting when it happens,” Mr Fuller said.
“When you see an animal that big it means it has been around for a while.
“Normally the pythons we pick up are on average 2m to 2.5m.”
Mr Fuller said the snake came just shy of being the heaviest they had rescued, with a python caught at Buderim in December 2020 holding the record at 9kg.
Ms Maxfield said it had been another busy summer season, with some species of snakes more prevalent than others.
“Every summer is a busy snake season but, for us, we’ve seen lots of pythons and lots of tree snakes lately,” she said.
Mr Fuller said this was due to the wet weather across the region.
“Depending on how the weather is really depends on what you are picking up,” he said.
“When there’s lots of rain you get the snakes that love the frogs, which are also out enjoying the rain.
“So that would be common tree snakes and red-bellied black snakes.”
But Mr Fuller said call-outs for pythons made up most of the work for the snake-catching duo, especially for those with small pets.
“Carpet pythons – statistically one in three houses have them – are around 65 per cent of what we pick up,” he said.
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“The majority are outside in people’s backyards.
“But if people leave their doors open they will go straight in, especially if it’s a hot day because they are trying to get out of the heat as well.
“People that have doggy doors, they do go through those as well.
“Something (similar to the size we caught the other day) can start taking small cats or small dogs, so there is that danger there for anyone that has pets that go outside.”
Originally from Tasmania, Mr Fuller and Ms Maxfield moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2019 to open their snake-catching and rescue business.
They are also passionate about snake and wildlife education.
“It’s always different, it’s always fun – there is no monotony in this job,” Mr Fuller said.
For more information visit Snake Rescue Sunny Coast.
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