Queensland family call in snake catchers after spotting a giant python in the back yard

Daily Mail

23 Aug, 2017 01:36 AM3 mins to read

Sunshine Snake Spotters posted another photo showing the reptile, a coastal carpet python, circled, top right. Photo / via Facebook

This looks like a perfectly normal back garden, with a lawn, a small patio and a green climber tumbling over a faded wooden fence - but all is not as it seems.

Somewhere, lurking in this Queensland yard is a giant python - but can you spot it?

Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers were summoned to deal with the reptile this week, and posted an image of the garden on Facebook with a caption asking users to work out the animal's location, the Daily Mail reported.

This led to a stream of different guesses from followers of the page, who were also asked to identify the species of the snake, but many people got it wrong.

Sunshine Snake Spotters asked: 'Alright guys it's time for another spot the snake, top points for the species too!'

Martin McAvaney suggested: "To the right of the catcher's bag and gear at the bottom of picture."

Amanda Bazley Forster guessed: "Black snake curled up on the straw in the blue bucket thing."

Mandy Lees posited: "Curled up, bottom left, it's a python or carpet snake."

While plenty of people joked the animal was the black hose line, Mary Ann Pattinson suggested: "Down by the silver pole carpet snake."

The Sunshine Snake Spotters posted another photo showing the reptile, a coastal carpet python, circled, top right. Photo / via Facebook

Ultimately though, they were all wrong - the animal is actually camouflaged against the greenery in the top right of the picture, as the photo shows below.

The animal is a coastal carpet python, a non-venomous variety which usually grows to around seven feet and preys mainly on rodents, birds and frogs.

Lockie, from Sunshine Snake Catchers, wrote on Facebook: "Well as most of you guessed, the snake was on the fence in the back right hand corner of the photo. The snake is a Coastal Carpet Python."

He zoomed in to the image to show the snake wrapped around the climbers.

Tim Pulis managed to correctly identify the location of the reptile, writing: "Top right corner in the bush. He's a biggen!"

The snake catchers said sightings of coastal carpet pythons had been 'extremely common' in the last few weeks. Photo / via Facebook

Other Facebook users reacted to the spotting of such a large snake in someone's garden.

Kay Uziel wrote: "That is one hefty snake, it's been well fed - I hope not on the small domesticated pets." Christine Turrell said: "Oh gosh that's too big."

The snake catchers said sightings of coastal carpet pythons, which are often found hidden in roofs and wall cavities, as 'extremely common' in the past few weeks.

COASTAL CARPET PYTHON
• Usually seven feet, but can grow up to ten
• From the northeastern coast of Australia and New Guinea
• Found in all habitats from rainforests to dry woodland and urban areas
• Likes to hide among deep vegetation or in roof and wall cavities
• Feeds on reptiles and frogs but prefers warm-blooded prey
• Bites are not venomous but can cause deep cuts
• Females can lay up to 35 eggs