Dayboro and Samford Valley

Dayboro and Samford Valley consist primarily of a rural/urban woodland landscape that is typical of suburbs found in well-established north western suburbs of the Brisbane City Council region and the south west corner of the Pine Rivers area. Other similar suburbs include Cedar Creek, Samsonvale, Armstrong Creek, Samford, Closeburn, Clear Mountain and Camp Mountain. These areas are highly favored by snakes with the local snake catcher reporting both high frequency and high species diversity. With local natural features such as the banks of the South Pine River, Lake Samsonvale, Stony Creek, Cedar Creek, and Samford Creek, along with the bushland areas of D’Aguilar national Park and Brisbane Forest Park these natural assets present diverse habitat types on the doorstep of the many streets, parks and gardens indicative of this mainly rural landscape.

Although Carpet Pythons dominate the snakes captured by the snake catcher servicing calls for this area other species are also common entrants into homes and gardens. The Carpet Python is the largest of all snakes found and is by far the most frequently seen species. Its large size and obvious success in the rural/urban environment make it an efficient predator of rodents, possums, small pets and caged birds. The Common Tree Snakes is also often seen moving quickly through vegetation and is regularly encountered once they have entered homes. Their ability to utilise terrestrial and arboreal localities sees them a common home invader via open doors or windows. Keelback snakes are also a regular within properties in close proximity to moist environments.

The highly venomous Eastern Brown Snake thrives in the open landscape of these suburbs with specimens in excess of 1800mm captured in Dayboro Close Mountain, Dayboro and Samsonvale. A specialist feeder on introduced rodents it is a fast moving hunter taking advantage of the many opportunites afforded to it by the rural landscape. Other venomous species include the Yellow-faced Whip Snake and White Crowned Snake which are also captured and relocated regularly by the local snake catcher. The Eastern Small-eyed Snake is another significantly venomous species that is only intermittently encountered. A number of other smaller more inconspicuous species also call The Gap home with the removal of Dwarf Crowned Snakes and Golden Crowned Snakes an occasional request.

Of note for this area is the many supposed Taipan sightings. This species has been previously recorded occurring in the area however actual specimens are not only very rare but many of these sightings are quite dated. It is our experience that the many homes attended by a snake catcher to remove snakes where residents have suspected a Taipan have turned out to be either an Eastern Brown Snake or a Common Tree Snake. Having serviced and attended calls for the area for over two decades the local snake catcher reports no confirmed sightings and no captures of this highly alert species.

A full inventory of snakes species relocated from homes over the past 20 years by the snake catcher for Dayboro and Samford Valley is provided below.

• Carpet Python; The most commonly encountered snake by residents of most Brisbane suburbs.
• Common Tree Snake: Often enters homes, an agile climber often removed by snake catchers.
• Eastern Brown Snake: Occasionally encountered in more open streets and gardens.
• Red-bellied Black Snake: Only occasionally encountered but usually near creeks and moister localities.
• Brown Tree Snake: a nocturnal species that often enters homes via open windows after dark.
• Yellow-faced Whip Snake: a common species that can occur in reasonable numbers even in a single area.
• White Crowned Snake: a common snake in most gardens however quite cryptic.
• Golden Crowned Snake: occasionally seen at night.
• Dwarf Crowned Snake: highly cryptic and rarely seen.
• Keelback Snake: common around watercourses and riparian areas.
• Eastern Small-eyed Snake: a venomous species often found near natural woodland areas.
• Marsh Snake: usually associated with riparian areas.
• Spotted Python: very infrequently encountered but recorded adjacent to bushland areas.