WHEN faced with a venomous snake in the middle of a busy shopping district, you need to know someone you can call. Fortunately for the businesses of Wingham a local reptile lover is on hand to save the day. Andrew James Nowlan has been coming to the rescue for the past eight years and he loves every minute of a high risk capture.
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His latest call out was to Isabella Street on Thursday when a red belly black snake was spotted in the lane between Bent on Life and Ashlea Road Boutique. Turning up on his pushbike, Andy came equipped with a simple snake hook and a pillowcase. The snake had made a hasty retreat underneath Ashlea Road and Andy went in after it. “It was really hot down there,” said Andy who found the snake difficult to catch “it nearly bit me twice,” he said.
But Andy did manage to catch the snake that measured a mighty five and a half feet in length. Andy later released the snake into a more appropriate setting in wild bushland. He said he feels better knowing the reptile is now safer.
Andy’s rise to fame started last year when he caught a king brown snake that measured more than six feet in length. The snake had been spotted on the cafe strip near Coffee on Isabella and again tapping on the glass of Bent on Food.
“He’s amazing,” said Wendy Brown of Bent on Life. “He came within five minutes of us calling yesterday. We have to think about the seniors around here and it’s good to know we can call him anytime.”
Andy has a snake handler’s certificate but is not a registered business. He offers his snake catching services for free simply because he loves reptiles and wants to help keep both people and snakes safe.
If you see a snake and don’t know who else to call, Andy may just come to the rescue. His number is 0434 677 366.
Andy will either release captured snakes into bushland or donates them to the CSIRO as requested to help make anti-venom.