‘Working with Snakes’ is a compendium of Geoff Coombe’s life-long passion to help people understand snakes and has culminated his knowledge in this ‘legacy’ book.
For many decades Geoff has been actively involved in public displays, community snake awareness sessions and training courses throughout Australia and overseas.
This Manual thoroughly explores the numerous facets about working with snakes, primarily the venomous species of Australia. It is relevant to a young enthusiast wanting to gain a better understanding of our snakes, all the way to seasoned snake handlers interested in expanding their repertoire.
Unlike other books about our snakes, this Manual is aimed at snakes in disturbed environments around Australian cities and towns, rural properties, isolated mining camps and national parks. It gives details about catching methods and issues associated with translocating snakes, as well as the all-important understanding of snake bite first aid.
The Manual has a strong thread relating to snakes in New Zealand; a country devoid of terrestrial snakes but requiring specialist people having the knowledge and experience to catch them when they enter the country through various ports.
In addition you can gain a great understanding by exploring the biology and ecology of snakes, how they interact with humans, and how to identify and rectify potential hazards around the property.
Profusely illustrated with photos, diagrams and references, ‘Working with Snakes’ by Geoff Coombe is a valuable resource for anyone with interest in our snakes.
268 pages. Price $79 plus $13 postage.
Digital eBook available on
Living with Wildlife
After 30 years of presenting hundreds of talks, training courses, workshops and seminars to over 9000 people, Geoff Coombe has decided to retire on a “high note”. He will no longer be available for any events using live venomous snakes. However, he may still attend on occasions to help people understand his core philosophy of ‘living with snakes’, but without the use of live animals.
Government wildlife agencies in most Australian states and territories have called on Geoff to train their personnel, as have New Zealand government authorities.
Living with Wildlife partnered with Adelaide Snake Catchers to present at numerous training courses and public events each year like the Royal Adelaide Show, Adelaide Animal Expo and The World Environment Fair.
Enquiries about training courses or snake handling should be directed to your state or territory wildlife agency, internet searches or Facebook for more information.
About Geoff Coombe
Geoff Coombe, the principal of Living with Wildlife, has been actively involved with reptiles since the mid-1960s. He has had practical experience with venomous snakes since 1971 in both field environments and captive situations.
On 12 June 2023, he was recognised in the King’s Birthday Australian Honours with A Medal in the Order of Australia.
Geoff’s qualifications include:
- Founding committee member of South Australian Herpetology Group, established in 1971.
- In 1986 he co-founded Adelaide Snake Catchers with Rudy Della-Flora – believed to be the first non-profit community reptile removal & advisory service in Australia.
- In 1988 he was one of the prime movers in initiating the venomous snake policies adopted by the South Australian Department for Environment & Heritage (National Parks & Wildlife).
- At the Second World Congress of Herpetology in Adelaide (1993/4) he chaired the Wildlife Educators’ Narama: the First Australian Expo of Reptiles & Amphibians.
- A faculty member of Clinical Toxinology Short Courses since their inception in 1997.
- He has been a member of the South Australian Herpetology Group (State), the Australian Society of Herpetologists (National), the International Society on Toxinology and the Society for the Study of Amphibians & Reptiles (International)
