Snake catcher’s passionate rant after factory worker broke the law and killed a harmless keelback

‘When will people learn?’: Snake catcher slams factory employee for stomping on the head of a harmless reptile that slithered into his workplace

  • Snake catcher Stuart McKenzie criticised the man who killed the snake
  • Mr McKenzie, from the Sunshine Coast, said the man put colleagues in danger
  • He outlined what people should do if they see a snake outside or their homes 

A snake catcher has condemned a factory worker who stomped on the head of a harmless keelback after it passed through his workplace.

Stuart McKenzie, owner of The Snake Catcher 24/7 on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, outlined the dangers the man put himself and his colleagues in.  

Mr McKenzie said the worker was lucky that the keelback snake was not poisonous. 

Stuart McKenzie (pictured) has condemned a factory worker who stomped on the head of a harmless keelback after it passed through his workplace

‘He put himself and his fellow staff members in a more dangerous position by trying to kill the snake,’ Mr McKenzie said in a Facebook post.

‘The snake was minding his own business and was just passing through and wasn’t going to hurt anyone.’

Mr McKenzie said the man was lucky the snake he killed was a harmless keelback. 

‘If this had [have] been an Eastern Brown snake, he probably would have been bitten and would be in a hospital right now,’ he said.

WHAT ARE KEELBACK SNAKES? 

They are most famous for their ability to safely eat cane toads. 

A small, non-venomous snake. 

Rarely exceeds 75-80cm in length. 

Can be found in coastal areas, usually close to a creek or swamp.

They mainly eat frogs, but also eat fish and small animals.

The snake catcher also addressed concerns people may have if they encounter a snake and told them how they should handle the situation.

‘I regularly hear people say that if there was a snake on their property, they would kill it to protect their family. You are in fact doing the opposite,’ he said.

‘If you want to protect your family, walk away from the snake and take everyone inside and call a snake catcher or wait for the snake to move on.’

Mr McKenzie said that if the snake is inside a person’s home, they should keep a safe distance and call a snake catcher. 

‘Snakes will NOT chase you, Give them some distance and respect and you won’t have any drama with them,’ he said.

McKenzie said the purpose of his rant was to educate people about snakes while telling those who encounter them to contact professionals (Pictured: The dead keelback)

McKenzie said the purpose of his rant was to educate people about snakes while telling those who encounter them to contact professionals (Pictured: The dead keelback)

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