Fatal Surprise: What a Family Found in Their Shoe Pile Will Shock You!

As Australians, we're no strangers to the unique wildlife that shares our beautiful country. From the bounding kangaroos to the laughing kookaburras, our fauna is as diverse as it is remarkable. However, not all encounters with native creatures are quite so endearing, especially when they involve some of the world's most venomous snakes right on our doorstep—or in this case, in our shoes!

Imagine the shock of a Sunshine Coast family when they discovered a highly venomous red-bellied black snake taking up residence in their pile of shoes left outside their home in Burnside. The 1.3-metre-long serpent had made itself quite comfortable in a sandal, basking in the sun by the front door. It's enough to make anyone think twice about leaving their footwear outdoors!


Daniel Busstra, a professional from Snake Catcher Dan, was promptly called to the scene to safely remove the slithery squatter. Upon arrival, he found the snake had cleverly concealed itself among the shoes. 'When I got there it was hiding in the shoes,' he recounted to Daily Mail Australia. 'Then when I tried to get it out it tried to hide from me and move back into the pile of shoes again.'


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A Sunshine Coast family discovered a red-bellied black snake in a shoe pile outside their Burnside home. Credit: Shutterstock



With skill and care, Mr. Busstra managed to maneuver the snake out of the shoe and away from the pile, ensuring the safety of the family. This wasn't the first time the family had encountered snakes; living near a freshwater creek, they had seen many reptiles slither onto their property.


Mr. Busstra took the opportunity to educate, explaining that snakes are inherently shy creatures that seek hiding spots to feel secure. A pile of shoes, it turns out, is an inviting hideaway for a snake seeking shelter. He also noted that while snakes are less active in winter, they are still around, and it's important to remain vigilant.

The advice from the experts is clear: if you encounter a snake on your property, maintain a safe distance and call a professional. 'If you have pets or small kids and don't like the idea of the snake being there, keep your eyes on it and call a professional snake catcher to come and handle it,' Mr. Busstra advised. He strongly cautioned against attempting to deal with the snake personally, as most snake bites occur when people try to catch or kill them.

Thankfully, despite their fearsome reputation and potent venom, there has never been a recorded death from a red-bellied black snake in Australia. But this doesn't mean we should be complacent. It's a timely reminder to keep our living spaces tidy and to be mindful of where we leave items such as shoes, which can inadvertently become hiding spots for wildlife.


Key Takeaways
  • A Sunshine Coast family discovered a 1.3-metre red-bellied black snake in a shoe pile outside their Burnside home.
  • Snake Catcher Dan was summoned to remove the venomous snake, which was hiding and attempting to stay concealed.
  • The family, familiar with snakes due to their proximity to a freshwater creek, was advised by the snake catcher that shoes left outside can become attractive hiding spots for snakes.
  • The snake catcher urged that anyone who finds a snake keep a safe distance and call a professional, highlighting that most snake bite victims are those attempting to interact with the creatures.

So, dear members of the Seniors Discount Club, let's take this story as a lesson to be more cautious about where we leave our belongings. And remember, if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, it's always best to leave wildlife handling to the professionals. Have you had any close encounters with Australia's wildlife? Share your stories in the comments below—we'd love to hear how you handled your unexpected visitors!
 
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Snakes have been around far longer than humans. It's their land! H sapiens are mere invaders and kill more of them than they kill of us.

I think snakes have occupied Australia for at least 99 million years. That's how long Australia has been around; snakes evolved between 143 and 167 million years ago according to Dr Google. Australia was around at that time but only won its independence from Gondwana 99 million years ago. The odd bit is that NZ only freed itself from Australia's snake-raddled clutches 88 million years ago. Snakes therefore had maybe 81 million years to settle in NZ, but didn't want to. WHY? It's a nice country for snakes, clean water, warm, ground-dwelling birds and their eggs for tucker.................no mongooses...............
 
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Reactions: Taurusgirl
In South Australia we need to be on alert for brown snakes. There are others but the browns dig hiding holes and surprise you when they come out.
 
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Reactions: Ezzy
never leave shoes, rubber boots etc outsized . ON our Horse stud we had a cupboard outside they went in along with beanies and jackets. Was always kept locked. Still checked inside.
 
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We have never left our shoes outside. I don't wear hard soled shoes, neither does hubby.
I don't demand people take off their shoes, unless they are likely to damage the timber. As far as cleaning goes, if I can clean it, I clean it.
I have always been aware of creepy crawlies going into shoes if you leave them outside. Also, I have heard of notorious shoe bandits casing various front porches looking for name brands. They'd be poorly disappointed at my place. There was also a case of shoe loving doggies making off with what considered a tasty chew shoe.
Finding a snake in the shoe would be enough to give one a stroke. Don't take a risk.
 
Red bellied black snakes are not the deadliest snakes reported in this story, they are mild and only really dangerous if they are protectin new born. They can be handled if care is taken to remove them!
 

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