Understanding the Importance of Call-Out Fees


A Small Contribution That Makes a Big Difference

When a snake shows up where it isn’t welcome, it’s easy to feel panicked and desperate for a quick solution. That’s where professional snake catchers like us step in—to protect both you and the snake. But what many don’t see is the effort, expertise, and costs that go into making these rescues possible.

The call-out fee isn’t just a charge; it’s a vital part of keeping this essential service running while ensuring the safety of people and wildlife alike.

The cost of a call-out varies depending on the location and nature of the service required. Residential call-outs are priced based on the distance we need to travel and the complexity of the relocation. Commercial properties may incur higher fees due to the additional time and expertise often required in larger or more complex environments.

For roof inspections, where accessing confined or elevated spaces is necessary, there is a fixed fee of $150. These costs ensure we can cover the time, travel, and equipment needed to provide safe and professional service for every call-out.

Why We Charge a Call-Out Fee for Snake Relocation

At Snakefella Reptile Removals, our mission goes beyond simply removing snakes from properties. It’s about fostering a greater understanding, promoting respect for wildlife, and ensuring a safe and harmonious coexistence between people and the reptiles that play a crucial role in our ecosystems. Every call-out isn’t just an opportunity to relocate a snake; it’s a chance to educate, alleviate fears, and advocate for the essential role snakes play in maintaining the balance of our natural environment.

While we’re deeply passionate about what we do and committed to providing a high level of service, being a professional snake catcher involves significant costs, risks, and challenges. Unfortunately, we often face frustration or even verbal abuse when discussing the necessity of our call-out fees. We’d like to provide clarity on why these fees are not just important, but essential to ensuring the safety and well-being of both the community and wildlife.

What Your Fee Supports

The fees we charge aren’t just for the physical task of relocating a snake—they help cover the operational, safety, and logistical costs that allow us to do our work. Here’s a breakdown of what your fee goes towards:

Ongoing Training: We are required to stay up-to-date with safety standards and wildlife care protocols, including certifications in First Aid, CPR, working at heights, confined spaces, and handling venomous reptiles. This ongoing training ensures we can manage any situation safely and effectively.

Insurance: We carry comprehensive liability insurance that protects both you and us in case of accidents during a call-out. This includes coverage for potential damage to property, injuries to individuals, or harm to the snake. Without insurance, our work would be impossible.

Fuel Costs: We serve a wide area, from Yabulu to Alligator Creek and beyond. This means we frequently need to refuel our vehicle, which can cost $150 or more per tank—sometimes multiple times a week. Fuel costs are a significant part of keeping our service running and ensuring we can reach you when you need us.

Specialised Equipment: The safety of both the people we serve and the snakes we relocate is paramount. To do this, we use specialised equipment like snake hooks, protective clothing, and relocation bags. These tools, while essential, are costly to maintain and replace.

Behind-the-Scenes Costs: Like any business, we have a range of operational costs. These include veterinary bills (for snakes that require medical attention), website maintenance, business registrations, and trademark protections, all of which ensure our services are legitimate and sustainable.

Time and Travel: As full-time professionals, we spend much of our time travelling to and from call-outs, sometimes covering long distances. The time involved is not just in the moment of relocation but includes travel, administrative work, and follow-up care.

For full-time catchers, these fees also help cover everyday essentials—things like rent, utilities, food, and vehicle maintenance. In addition, the fees help provide a buffer for the quieter times of the year when snake activity slows, and business may dip.

A Labour of Love and Responsibility

Snake relocation isn’t just a job for us; it’s a responsibility. Our work is essential in ensuring the survival and safety of both humans and snakes. We aren’t just removing snakes from properties—we are making sure they are safely and properly relocated to suitable habitats where they can thrive.

Each snake we relocate, from the most venomous species to the harmless pythons, plays a key role in the ecosystem, controlling rodent populations and maintaining ecological balance. Every call-out is an opportunity to contribute to the preservation of these vital species.

Once we remove a snake, we don’t simply leave it in the first available patch of land. We ensure that the snake is relocated to a scientifically appropriate location, far enough from human habitation, so both the snake and the local ecosystem can continue to flourish.

Why We Can’t Always Offer Free Services

While we do our best to accommodate those who are in genuine need, the reality of running a business—especially one with the specific and often dangerous nature of snake relocation—means we cannot always offer free services. The costs of doing this work are substantial, and though we do offer free or discounted call-outs where possible, we rely on the call-out fees to keep the service running.

When a snake reappears after an initial relocation, we often return free of charge. Additionally, any profits made after covering essential costs go directly toward supporting our wildlife rescue and conservation initiatives, ensuring that we can continue our broader mission of wildlife protection.

Changing Perceptions

Every time we respond to a call-out, we make it our mission to educate the community about the value of snakes, their behaviour, and how to safely coexist with them. It’s not just about removing snakes; it’s about reshaping the way people view these misunderstood creatures.

We understand that some may not see the value in our work, but when we face verbal abuse or degrading comments regarding our fees, it diminishes the importance of the work we do. We’re not here to make money—we’re here to protect lives and ensure the survival of species that are often seen as a threat, but are, in fact, an essential part of our ecosystem.

Until government or council funding is available to support the work we do, we rely on your support to continue offering these vital services. Every call-out you pay for ensures that we can keep doing what we do best—safeguarding both people and wildlife.

Thank You for Your Support

We want to express our deepest gratitude to all those who understand and support our mission. By valuing what we do and helping to fund our services, you are directly contributing to wildlife conservation, education, and the well-being of both our local communities and the reptiles we work tirelessly to protect.

Your support enables us to continue creating a safer, more respectful relationship between people and wildlife. Thank you for recognising the value of our work and for partnering with us to help foster a harmonious coexistence with the natural world.