Permit Types/Information

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Snake Catchers Permit

Venomous snakes present a considerable risk to public safety. The majority of snakes that come into conflict with people in residential areas are Eastern Brown Snakes, which are highly venomous, have an aggressive disposition and are difficult to handle. Red-bellied Black Snakes are the next most commonly encountered snakes in the Adelaide region. In addition Copperheads, Western Browns and Tiger Snakes are frequently encountered in regional centres.

A number of private snake catching services have evolved in South Australia which capture and remove venomous snakes from situations where they threaten public safety. These services allow the community to avoid potentially dangerous encounters with snakes. As part of the service other non-venomous reptiles are occasionally removed when causing concern to people. (Check the yellow pages of the telephone directory for snake catching services)

Snake Catching Permits (50Kb PDF) may be issued to suitably trained persons, groups of businesses engaged in capturing, translocating or taking into captivity reptiles.

A Snake Catching Permits is issued pursuant to Section 53(1)(d) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. It enables a person to:

locate, capture and translocate a reptile causing anxiety or danger to a member of the public;
locate, capture and take into captivity an Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis that is causing anxiety or danger to a member of the public

Snake Catching Permits may be subject to a number of conditions such as:

Any venomous snakes indigenous to Adelaide and environs collected under this permit shall be -
(a) translocated to the wild within 48 hours of collection. Translocation of reptiles captured on snake catching call outs is limited to a maximum of 2 kms. Snakes are not to be released in close proximity of dwellings: or
(b) retained for onward transmission to the South Australian Museum, to be held for 48 hours only, unless specific approval to the contrary is given, or
(c ) retained for onward transmission to the holder of a permit to take protected animals. Clearance must be sought from Fauna Permit Unit for snakes held more than five days.
For common reptiles such as Blue Tongue Lizards and Bearded Dragons, they are to be released within their normal range within 48 hours of collection.
For species of reptiles not indigenous to Adelaide and its environs the permit holder is required to contact the Fauna Permit Unit forthwith on telephone number (61 8) 8124 4972 or pager number (61 8) 8273 5319 and seek instructions regarding disposal. Permission to retain these animals will not normally be given.
The permit holder shall provide for and keep any captured venomous snake in a lockable container or a container within a lockable room. The permit holder shall restrict access to snakes to persons under the permit holder's direct supervision and/or persons holding an appropriately endorsed permit.
A snake catcher may keep on a permanent basis any Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis collected under this permit and may,
Trade the animal to any person with suitable authority to keep such a reptile, or
Destroy the animal if it is not suitable for keeping providing a Specialist Permit (50Kb PDF), with appropriate endorsements is held.
Each reptile taken must be recorded in the permit holder’s keep and sell protected animals record book.
NOTE that the requirement for permit holders to keep animals for a minimum of 6 months is waived in the case of wild caught Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis that are to be traded.
Our Fauna Permit Unit accepts no responsibility in respect of any accidents which may occur through the actions of the permit holder or any other person involved in the capture, holding, consignment or release of any venomous snake.
Prior to disposal of any other species of reptiles captured and not previously mentioned in this permit, contact Fauna Permit Unit on telephone (61 8) 8124 4972.

Venomous Reptiles

Section 54(2) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 states that "It is lawful for any person without any permit or other authority under this Act, to kill any poisonous reptile that -

(a) has attacked, is attacking or is likely to attack, any person;
(b) is in dangerous proximity to any person;
(c ) is, or has been, in such proximity to a person as to cause reasonable anxiety to that person.

Keeping Venomous Snakes Policy

Background

Eastern Brown (common brown) Snake Pseudonaja textilis

In 1987 following extensive public consultation the Wildlife Regulations 1990 were amended to enable the implementation of a species based permit system. This involved the preparation of two schedules which listed animals, which could be readily kept based on their status (both in captivity and in the wild) and ease of keeping (animal welfare). As a consequence, the keeping of the majority of venomous snakes requires a person to hold a Specialist Permit (50Kb PDF).

Following three separate incidents during 1988 concerning taipan bites a series of meetings was held with individuals experienced in the keeping of venomous snakes and representatives from relevant organisations to develop a policy on the keeping of venomous snakes. From the recommendations of these meetings the Department’s policy was formulated. This policy addresses:

safetyto permit holders handling snakes, and any other person who have access to these snakes;
welfare of the animals;
cost to the community for hospital treatment of people suffering from snake bites from captive animals.

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The policy was revised in 1995 after consultation with the Fauna Consultative Committee (previously called the Consultative Committee for the Keeping and Trading in Native Fauna), the SA Herpetological Group, SA Museum and various private keepers.

See Standard Operating Procedure (50Kb PDF).

Pre-requisites

Applicantsmust be over 18 years of age. Consideration will be given to applicants over 15 years where their legal guardian provides a letter supporting the application.

The applicant must supply two written references from people who can attest to the applicants ability, knowledge and experience in the handling of venomous snakes. These referees must hold or have Specialist Permits authorising the keeping of venomous snakes and be experienced in the husbandry of these animals.

Applicants must have undertaken a specific course concerning snake bite prevention and first aid (given by a qualified person) or equivalent.

Permit Endorsements

For Specialist Permits (50Kb PDF) there is a graded system based on the applicants experience in both husbandry and handling of those venomous snakes. These endorsements are:

Endorsement 1 - Easily kept and reasonably placid or non dangerous snakes namely Red-bellied Black Snake Pseudechis porphyriacus and Collett’s Snake Pseudechis colletti.

Endorsement 2 - Very difficult to keep and or extremely venomous namely all venomous snakes excluding Taipans Oxyuranus scutellatus, Inland Taipans Oxyuranus microtepidotus and Rough-scaled Snake Tropidechis carinatus.

Endorsement 3 - Venomous snakes including Taipans Oxyuranus scutellatus, Inland Taipans Oxyuranus microtepidotus and Rough-scaled Snake Tropidechis carinatus.

Upgrading Permit Endorsements

Endorsement of permits would normally commence with the lowest category. Endorsement to the next level is subject to further application after experience in the husbandry and keeping venomous snakes has been gained.

A minimum of 12 months keeping of endorsed one species is required prior to upgrading to endorsed two species.
A minimum of 12 months keeping of endorsed two species is required prior to upgrading to endorsed three species.

Facilities for Keeping Venomous Snakes

Permit holders must ensure that they:

address all animal welfare considerations in respect of keeping snakes in captivity;
prevent the escape of snakes out of an enclosed environment.

Permit holders should ensure that they minimise the possibility of snake bite either to the permit holder or any other person. They should provide first aid equipment for the treatment of snake bite on site where venomous snakes are being held.

Security and Access

A minimum requirement of all persons keeping venomous snakes will be that these animals shall be kept in either lockable, sealed containers or in containers within a lockable and sealed room which prevents both unauthorised entry and/or tampering with cages and the escape of snakes.

Where snakes are kept in containers it is a good idea to make the room as snake-proof as possible to reduce the possibility of accidental escape.

Access to venomous snakes must be limited to persons under the supervision of the permit holder or to persons holding permits with the same endorsement.

Applications

Applications are to be made in writing on a specialist application form.
Applicants must address the pre-requisites for obtaining a permit.

Inspections

Premises will be inspected by us (or our representative) to evaluate suitability prior to any permit being granted. Photographs/plans/specifications of enclosures/room/premises may be required.

Public Consultation re Endorsements

Species may be re-categorised within endorsements groups by:

Interested people putting forward proposal(s) outlining;
- Husbandry requirements
- Venomous nature
Proposals will be circulated to the Fauna Consultative Committee, the South Australian Museum and the South Australian Herpetology Group for comment.
If there is a rational case for change, reclassification will occur.

Venomous Policy dated August 1995

(All prices stated in the above Permits are GST exempt unless othewise stated).

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