Courtenay Brown, a licensed snake catcher and mother of two, says the most dangerous part of her job is not the venomous reptiles but the men she encounters while working alone. The 40-year-old from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, has been catching snakes for three years, handling up to 10 callouts a day during summer.
Safety concerns beyond the snakes
Brown, who left a corporate career to pursue something more meaningful, says she is often more focused on safety when entering a stranger's home as a woman. She explained: "People are often shocked when I tell them my job, which is often followed by the question, 'Why'? I think people probably think of catching venomous snakes as a man's job."
"Being a female, safety is always in the back of my mind when I head out to someone's house. Most people are lovely but I do get men calling me, asking me to come out to some sketchy places so I have to always have my wits about me."
Criticism and trolling online
Brown says putting her work on social media exposes her to criticism, inappropriate comments, innuendo, and trolling. She added: "I think women do this job so well, and leave the ego out of it. I get a lot of men telling me how to do my job even when they have no experience themselves. Some suggest I'm doing my job for attention. I usually explain there are much easier ways these days to get attention than risking your life every day."
From corporate to catching snakes
Brown, who has always loved animals and finds snakes "fascinating", decided to change careers after feeling unfulfilled in corporate jobs. She said: "Before having kids, I went to university and worked in corporate jobs but never found them fulfilling. I started seeing snakes everywhere and would love to go out walking at night and look for them, to learn about the local species."
With her daughters aged 12 and 14, she found more time to work and wanted to do something meaningful. She said: "Every job is different, which is part of the reason I love what I do. I thrive on adventure and adrenaline."
Venomous species and safety techniques
Brown completed a venomous snake handling course, first aid training, and species identification before securing a permit. She relocates carpet pythons most often, noting they are large and visible, causing panic. She also catches highly venomous snakes like eastern browns and red-bellied black snakes.
When catching venomous snakes, she uses a tailing technique, which involves "safely picking the snake up by the tail, using a hook to keep them at a distance and putting them straight into the bag". She said: "One lapse in concentration can lead to a bite."
Despite the risks, Brown says snakes are "predictable animals and only bite as a last defence". She said: "They really are misunderstood calm creatures, so I love that I can help people see them in a different way and reduce fear."
