Jonno from ERD
Very Well-Known Member
G'day guys,
Here's some photo's from the course we ran in late November. The course was a great success (despite everything conspiring against us on Saturday morning!), with everyone having a ball, but most importantly learning how to safely identify, capture and relocate real venomous snakes.
They started of doing the boring theory stuff, like learning how to differentiate between different families, genera and species, basic elapid biology, rules and regulations, first aid and how to use their equipment. Everyone passed both of their exams with flying colours.
After the theory component, they began to learn how to handle. All the snakes we used were unmodified real venomous snakes, with varying temprements. We started with the calm species, like Colletts, Red Bellies and some of our quiet Eastern Browns. They used these animals to hone their hook control skills, which they picked up very quickly.
Once they were confident with the quiet animals, we moved onto some more flighty and difficult species like Western Brown Snakes, Mulga Snakes, Inland Taipans and less quiet Eastern Browns. This particular group were remarkably fast learners, with Sharna and I having to step in only a couple of times.
The next step was learning how to control a snake when all the odds are in the snakes favour - outside, in the heat! Again, everyone coped really well and we moved on to the hardest part - conducting a simulated snake call-out. We "trashed" two rooms, offering the snakes ample hidey holes, and generally tried to make the catch as hard as possible for all involved. Unfortunately, at one stage a very famous Mulga Snake found a hidden hole in a urinal and ***r old Jonno had to go and play fetch! The hole is now blocked up...
At the end of the day, everyone commented on just how easy and safe the methods are that we teach, and the only disappointment was that it wasn't as exciting and dangerous as they thought it would be.
Here's some photo's from the day...
Wrasse eyeing off a Red Belly Black Snake.
nvenm8 practicing his hook and bag skills with a Collett Snake.
Earthling practicing his hook skills on an Inland Taipan, while Dodie handles what looks to be the infamous "Invisible Snake".
The group. In this photo is Dodie, Earthling, philmcd, nutta, Ozzie Python and nvenm8.
This is Colin, a non APS member. During one of the many First Aid drills, it became apparent that he had been bitten on the face. Luckily Wrasse was there to bandage him up! (Note - This is just a joke, nobody has ever been bitten at an ERD run venomous snake handling course!)
If anyone is interested in participating in one of our courses, we have a few spots available next weekend (Dec 22/23) and we'll also be running one in March. PM me or give me a call for more info.
Cheers
Jonno
Here's some photo's from the course we ran in late November. The course was a great success (despite everything conspiring against us on Saturday morning!), with everyone having a ball, but most importantly learning how to safely identify, capture and relocate real venomous snakes.
They started of doing the boring theory stuff, like learning how to differentiate between different families, genera and species, basic elapid biology, rules and regulations, first aid and how to use their equipment. Everyone passed both of their exams with flying colours.
After the theory component, they began to learn how to handle. All the snakes we used were unmodified real venomous snakes, with varying temprements. We started with the calm species, like Colletts, Red Bellies and some of our quiet Eastern Browns. They used these animals to hone their hook control skills, which they picked up very quickly.
Once they were confident with the quiet animals, we moved onto some more flighty and difficult species like Western Brown Snakes, Mulga Snakes, Inland Taipans and less quiet Eastern Browns. This particular group were remarkably fast learners, with Sharna and I having to step in only a couple of times.
The next step was learning how to control a snake when all the odds are in the snakes favour - outside, in the heat! Again, everyone coped really well and we moved on to the hardest part - conducting a simulated snake call-out. We "trashed" two rooms, offering the snakes ample hidey holes, and generally tried to make the catch as hard as possible for all involved. Unfortunately, at one stage a very famous Mulga Snake found a hidden hole in a urinal and ***r old Jonno had to go and play fetch! The hole is now blocked up...
At the end of the day, everyone commented on just how easy and safe the methods are that we teach, and the only disappointment was that it wasn't as exciting and dangerous as they thought it would be.
Here's some photo's from the day...
Wrasse eyeing off a Red Belly Black Snake.
nvenm8 practicing his hook and bag skills with a Collett Snake.
Earthling practicing his hook skills on an Inland Taipan, while Dodie handles what looks to be the infamous "Invisible Snake".
The group. In this photo is Dodie, Earthling, philmcd, nutta, Ozzie Python and nvenm8.
This is Colin, a non APS member. During one of the many First Aid drills, it became apparent that he had been bitten on the face. Luckily Wrasse was there to bandage him up! (Note - This is just a joke, nobody has ever been bitten at an ERD run venomous snake handling course!)
If anyone is interested in participating in one of our courses, we have a few spots available next weekend (Dec 22/23) and we'll also be running one in March. PM me or give me a call for more info.
Cheers
Jonno
I'm keen to get the Victorian relocators paperwork (whatever it's called) as I'm sure my surrounding areas go nuts with snakes coming into domestic situations.
