Australian Snake Catcher Removes 'Fat' Goanna Lizard From Chicken Coop

A snake catcher in Queensland, Australia, stressed the importance of making sure chicken coops are secure after he captured a goanna that he said got “fat” eating hens’ eggs.

Footage posted by Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 on August 19 shows catcher Stuart McKenzie corral and capture the goanna, also known as a lace monitor, from the backyard of a Queensland residence – his second goanna catch in two days.

“We don’t catch big goannas all that often. However these two troublemakers had to go, as they were scaring the family’s chooks and eating all the eggs,” McKenzie said on Facebook.

“It is so important that anyone out there with a chicken coop needs to make sure that it is both snake- and goanna-proof. It is only a matter of time before a snake or goanna finds your chicken coop and tries to get in for an easy feed,” McKenzie said.

In the video, the catchers note that the goanna has feasted so much, it struggles to climb a tree after its release. Credit: Stuart McKenzie via Storyful