Horrified Queensland family find red-bellied snake in Christmas tree

With all their twinkling lights and shimmering tinsel, you could be forgiven for thinking your Christmas tree is alive and moving.

But for one shocked Queensland household, it actually was.

The Mount Coolum residents had to call in a professional snake catcher after they spotted a red-bellied reptile slithering through their tree.

Arriving on the scene, Stuart McKenzie from The Snake Catcher 24/7, filmed the extraction and posted it on his Facebook page.

He starts by poking around the Christmas tree with a long hook before the slippery sucker snakes behind the TV unit and into a printer – all while the residents stand up on the kitchen table.

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Red-bellied black snakes are among the most venomous in Australia, and any bites require immediate attention.

However, their reputation as dangerous animals has generally been exaggerated, and they’re usually quite docile in nature.

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