It doesn't really surprise us anymore when we hear that something dangerous has turned up in an Australian home – if you live in the land down under, chances are you've encountered your fair share of critters that could potentially do you in. But when that something is incubating a clutch of venomous young? We're listening ...

That's what happened to one Adelaide resident who found a highly venomous eastern brown snake hiding under her fridge. Of course, most of the time, even the deadliest snakes won't bother you unless provoked. (That said, I share Indiana Jones's irrational fear of anything slithery – so I can understand her instinct to scream.) 

To evict her unwanted guest, the woman turned to professional snake handler Rolly Burrell of Snake Catchers Adelaide, who seemed pretty nonchalant about the whole situation. “I’ve been doing this for 40 years," he told The Guardian. "When you’re doing 300 snakes a month you tend to get a little bit blasé.” These are easy words from a man far braver than I.

The homeowner did the right thing by not attempting to remove the snake herself, and it's a good thing she called in the pros. Not long after the snake was removed, it laid a clutch of 15 eggs, containing 15 equally venomous baby snakes. 

"This is just what she would have done in the wild," says Burrell. "They find a nice, safe place to lay." After being given some mice and water to help her recuperate, the brown snake was released safely back where she belongs – far away from any household appliances.

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Top header image: Tom Tarrant, Flickr