Fire and Rescue NSW embarks on large ‘scale’ operation to train more snake catchers - Menai
Published: 17 Mar 2023 04:58pm
Four Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters have turned ‘snake charmers’, completing a special course to catch wayward reptiles finding their way into homes in Sydney’s south.
The On-Call (Retained) firefighters, from Menai and Bundeena FRNSW stations, have passed a two-day course run by the WIRES wildlife rescue organisation, to replace retiring ‘fireys’ who have taken their snake wrangling skills with them.
The ‘viper-active’ firefighters have put aside any ‘hiss-terical’ fear of snakes to protect their local communities where bush meets the suburbs.
It’s not uncommon for snakes in parts of the Sutherland Shire to find their way into homes and seek refuge under furniture.
“We back onto a bushland interface, so it’s a perfect location to have this snake wrangling capability,” Menai FRNSW Captain Brady Clarke said.
“We go all over the Shire, we’ve been to Cronulla, Engadine…we’ve been everywhere doing this,” Captain Clarke added.
“We joined this job to help people, that’s what we’re about and to be able to provide this extra level of support for people is fantastic.
“The number of snake calls we do is increasing every year because the public now knows Fire and Rescue has this capability.
“You’re very apprehensive when you first come up against a snake but when you’re doing it over and over and over again…it becomes second nature and you can certainly read the behaviour of the animal.”
FRNSW snake catchers augment the existing service provided by WIRES, working in conjunction with the organisation across the state. Media note: FRNSW footage of the snake catching training is available at: https://vimeo.com/808939468/55de26ddb1 [external link]
Updated: 17 Mar 2023 05:02pm
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Stations nearby
297 Menai Road, Menai NSW 2234
2 Moore Street, Sutherland NSW 2232
8 Preston Avenue, Engadine NSW 2233