Snake Safety Services and Advice

About Black Snake Productions

Black Snake Productions provides professional snake safety training, wildlife safety and awareness training, snakebite first aid, wildlife management and workplace consultancy for organisations throughout Victoria and across Australia.

Founded in 2006 by Michael Alexander, Black Snake Productions was created with a simple goal: to improve people's understanding of Australian wildlife while promoting both workplace safety and wildlife conservation.

Twenty years later, Michael, Ebony and our experienced team of wildlife educators continue to provide practical, engaging and industry-focused training for councils, government agencies, utilities, environmental organisations, construction companies, land managers and outdoor workplaces.

Based in the Yarra Valley, Victoria, Black Snake Productions operates a private wildlife facility housing more than 300 native animals, including reptiles, marsupials, birds, invertebrates and some of Australia's most venomous snakes and spiders.

Practical Training That People Remember

With more than 25 years of wildlife education and venomous snake experience, our training focuses on practical knowledge employees can actually use in the workplace.

We don't believe workplace training should be death by PowerPoint.

Our sessions combine professional instruction, real-life workplace scenarios, practical demonstrations, live wildlife and hands-on activities to help staff understand snake behaviour, wildlife hazards, risk reduction, emergency response and snakebite first aid.

Our Services

Black Snake Productions provides:

2-Hour Snake Safety & Awareness Training
4-Hour Wildlife Safety & Awareness Training
Snakebite first aid and practical bandaging
Workplace toolbox talks
Venomous snake demonstrations
Snake removal and relocation
Workplace snake and wildlife risk assessments
Wildlife consultancy and safety reports
Snake Relocation & Handling Courses
Fauna Spotter Catcher Training
Fauna Spotter Catcher and wildlife management services
Wildlife relocation and management
Snake safety PPE, first aid bandages and kits

Why Choose Black Snake Productions?

More than 25 years' experience working with and educating about Australian wildlife
More than 20 years specialising in venomous snake handling and training
Accredited TAE Trainer
Accredited First Aider
Accredited Fauna Spotter Catcher
Experienced zookeeper and venomous snake handler
White Card qualified
Fully licensed wildlife professionals
$20 million Public Liability Insurance
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Practical, workplace-focused training
Live venomous snake demonstrations conducted safely in an approved enclosure
Training tailored to your workplace, location and local wildlife risks

Most importantly, we put the time and effort into every session to ensure staff leave with practical knowledge, greater confidence and a better understanding of how to prevent wildlife incidents and respond safely when they occur.
Snake Safety. Wildlife Safety. Practical Training.

From snake awareness and snakebite first aid through to comprehensive wildlife safety training, snake relocation, fauna management and workplace wildlife risk assessment, Black Snake Productions provides professional training and support for organisations working around Australian wildlife.

Practical. Professional. Memorable.

Who We Work With

Snake Awareness Talks

Row of reptile display enclosures at a snake awareness talk

Black Snake Productions’ Venomous Snake Awareness presentation focuses on snake safety and first aid training. Through a combination of live venomous snake displays and the most up-to-date knowledge, we will ensure that all attendees leave with a practical understanding of how to calmly and effectively deal with potentially life-threatening situations should they arise.

This is all done using PowerPoint and physical teaching aids, printed resources such as booklets that the participants retain after the course.

Each session runs for an hour with a maximum of 25 participants, the ideal group is between 10-20 people

We cover first aid with the group demonstrating PIT (pressure and immobilisation technique) as well as showing the local species of venomous snake found in the region in safe and enclosed displays.

(This session is recommended for schools, community groups and information sessions, for employee safety training please refer to our Snake and Spider safety seminars.)

Spider and snake envenomation
Group first aid training for snake and spider bites
Emergency response procedures
Local snake and spider identification and behaviour
WHS (OH&S)
Snake species
Snake displays

Get a Quote

Wildlife Safety Training

Wildlife safety seminar

Understanding the potential risks associated with wildlife is an essential tool in the workplace. In an industry where the workplace is largely outdoors or there is frequent contact with wildlife and tracts of remnant habitats, there will be a need for suitable training. The wildlife safety and awareness course is a well-thought-out, ecological and ethically sound approach to handling the various issues that may become present in the work environment and to staff. Wildlife covered in this course includes feral and native mammals including marsupials, snakes, lizards, birds and venomous invertebrates This course is taught using a combination of theory, real-life situations, case studies and hands-on training techniques. Live venomous snakes are displayed in our government-approved snake pit while a select range of other animals are demonstrated to show potential risks. This program is an extended version of our snake safety talks and incorporates other potentially harmful indigenous wildlife. Employees attending this safety seminar will over four hours attain a better understanding of local dangerous wildlife species. This safety talk covers a range of topics including the following:

Close-up of an eastern brown snake with its mouth open in a defensive display

Basic species identification and behaviour
The risk they pose to individuals and the work environment
Injuries, illness or envenomation they can cause
First aid for Venomous animal bites and stings
Legislation regarding introduced and native species
Creating a safe work environment
Wildlife care and basic rescue
Action and Re-action (What to do & What NOT to do)
Proactive and Emergency avoidance tactics and techniques

Snake Handling Courses

Instructor handling a snake in a training pit while workers in hi-vis watch

In collaboration with our partners SSSAFE (www.sssafe.com.au), Black Snake Productions is now offering Venomous Snake Removal and Handling courses Australia-wide. This accredited course is Australia’s safest snake-handling course in the industry and has been designed by one of the country’s leading experts in venomous snake handling, restraint and removal.

The program is designed to properly prepare you to perform safely and competently in the Snake Catcher role. The skills and knowledge of our instructor will assist you no matter what your level of experience.

Our key focus areas are:

Safety first, capture, handling, restraint, housing and relocation of venomous snakes in ‘real life’ scenarios
Risk management strategies, particularly how to recognise the Site Specific Risks posed by venomous snakes and anticipate problems before they arise.

This course is for Workplaces only.

Fauna Spotter Catcher and Wildlife Management

Black Snake productions staff are accredited and qualified handlers of Australian wildlife, with a zoo of over 300 native animals from species such as birds of prey, kangaroos, fruit bats, venomous snakes, goannas and more we can safely and professionally remove and relocate animals from worksites and projects. With full PPE, White cards and years of experience working alongside industry we can provide a low risk management for fauna control on site.

We can provide reports and risk reporting for all jobs.

Close-up of a red-bellied black snake showing its red flank scales

Snake and Reptile Removal

Black Snake Productions offers 24-hour snake and reptile removal and relocation. With over 20 years of experience in handling some of the world’s most venomous snakes, we can quickly attend your property day and night to locate and remove any dangerous or problematic reptile.

We service the Yarra Ranges and Eastern suburbs and pricing depends on location and time of attendance.

If you see a snake:

Call us A.S.A.P. on 0432143228 to describe the snake, its location and activities (we will be on our way as soon as you call)

Keep a constant eye on the snake until we arrive and try not to let it out of your sight while keeping a safe distance.

Keep children and pets away from the animal and never antagonize it

Wildlife Consultancy and Workplace Reports

Venomous snake raised in a striking posture with its mouth open

Black Snake Productions can also offer full and comprehensive safety reports, wildlife consultancy, removal and relocation for workplaces, shires, schools and work sites.

Workplace assessments will help address issues such as snakes and dangerous animals within the workplace and removal of these animals, potential man-made habitats and solutions as well as a comprehensive report. Reports will underline the potential problems, danger from snakes and other wildlife species as well as protection of wildlife, recommendations and guidelines for future issues. We can provide JSA’s and Risk matrixes for the work site, safe working procedure reports as well as full training in dealing with the snakes or other problem wildlife on the work site.

Some areas we specialise in include:

Venomous snake risk evaluations for workplaces
Wildlife relocation projects
Wildlife removal (spotter-catcher)
Problem wildlife on worksites
Wildlife capture and handling for scientific research
Providing wildlife for photo shoots, documentaries and film
Wildlife conservation talks and advice
Venomous snake displays
Toolbox talks
Snake bite first aid training

Snakes and Reptiles Around Melbourne

Tiger Snake

The very common tiger snake gets its name from the dark bands around the body and the yellow or cream belly, some tigers may not have bands and can be a uniform colour. Tiger snakes are the 4th most venomous snake in the world. Tiger snakes have diamond-shaped heads and can grow up to 1.5 meters. They are very active snakes and can be aggressive. Found most commonly along the Yarra and other waterways, the tiger snake lives in most habitats and eats birds, rodents, reptiles, frogs, fish and other prey.

Tiger snake with pale banding on red soil

Map showing the distribution of the tiger snake across Victoria

Red Belly Black Snake

A very easily identified snake, the red belly is always a jet glossy black with pink to red scales towards the belly (giving it the name). It can reach up to two (2) meters in length but is often smaller. Mostly found around Gippsland and towards Yea the red belly is not often found around the suburbs of Melbourne. Its habitat includes marshy swampy areas, near waterways and bushland. They feed mostly on frogs.

Red-bellied black snake flicking its tongue

Red-bellied black snake resting on green foliage

Map showing the distribution of the red-bellied black snake across Victoria

Eastern Brown Snake

The eastern brown is the 2nd most venomous snake in the world, extremely aggressive, fast and easily upset, the brown is the one snake to avoid at all costs. This snake should always be removed if seen. Found in drier areas such as west and north, kangaroo ground and other areas it is an active hunter preying on rodents and reptiles. Never approach the brown snake and keep pets away as it will defend itself.

Eastern brown snake coiled on leaf litter

Map showing the distribution of the eastern brown snake across Victoria

Lowland Copperhead Snake

A pale brown, reddish brown, dark brown to black, these snakes can be distinguished from brown or black snakes by their pale face and light-coloured lips. These snakes prefer a cooler climate and can be found in colder regions of Melbourne, especially in forested areas, the Yarra Valley, the Dandenong etc. The copperhead is one of the most common snakes around Melbourne and feeds on frogs and lizards. Not as venomous as the brown or Tiger but still regarded as dangerous. At Black Snake Productions, we call the copperhead snake “The red belly of the Yarra Valley” as so many people mistake this snake for the red belly black snake which is not found in the Yarra Valley or Metropolitan region.

Close-up of a lowland copperhead snake showing its orange-red lower scales

Map showing the distribution of the lowland copperhead across Victoria

White-Lipped Snake

This species is identified by the white stripe running along the upper lip. They come in red, dark green and grey. They have a distinct beautiful salmon-coloured belly. This snake is diurnal and is normally found in thick grass forest covering and found mostly around the eastern parts of Melbourne. They feed mostly on small lizards and only grow to a maximum length of 50cm or usually smaller.

White-lipped snake coiled on sandy ground

Map showing the distribution of the white-lipped snake across Victoria

Small-Eyed Snake

The small-eyed snake is a black or grey coloured snake with a white belly. It has very small eyes and grows up to 45cm or less. This is a nocturnal species and is very shy. It resides in the areas of eastern Victoria from just west of Melbourne to Mallacoota in the far east, it is not found down towards Wilsons Prom or Philip Island. This species is regarded as dangerous.

Small-eyed snake with dark glossy scales on a rock

Map showing the distribution of the small-eyed snake across eastern Victoria

Little Whip Snake

The little whip snake is found throughout Southwestern, Central and Northeastern Victoria, it is often found under a volcanic rock up in the northern suburbs of Melbourne and can be often confused with a juvenile brown snake. It is not considered dangerous, however, it is known that one man has died from a bite due to a unique reaction.

Little whip snake moving across bare soil

Map showing the distribution of the little whip snake across Victoria

Blue Tongue Lizards

Blue tongue lizards are commonly found in backyards around Melbourne and Australia, they eat pests such as snails, slugs and other invertebrates while also feeding on dandelion flowers and other plant matter. They are one of the best pet reptiles for children to start of with and are almost always good to handle but it is illegal to remove them from the wild. Blue tongues are often killed by people thinking they are snakes, it is illegal to kill any wildlife in any situation.

Eastern blue-tongue lizard with dark banding resting on mulch

Blotched blue-tongue lizard on grass and soil

Map showing the distribution of the blue-tongue lizard across Victoria

Lace Monitor

Lace monitors, Lacey’s or tree monitors are found in the outer suburbs around bushland areas although they may be found in the inner suburbs as escaped pets or displaced reptiles. They feed on any small animal dead or alive that they can swallow as well as larger carrion and birds and reptile eggs. Lace monitors can grow quite large and if handling is attempted can cause serious injury.

Close-up of a lace monitor resting on a log

Map showing the distribution of the lace monitor across Victoria

Snake Safety for Workplaces and Communities