Snake catchers at war: Turf dispute erupts in Adelaide South Australia

A veteran snake catcher has criticized his competitors for a dirty tricks campaign targeting him in what he says has become a “nasty industry”.

Rolly Burrell runs his prominent Snake Catchers Adelaide business in the southern parts of Adelaide, the Hills and Fleurieu areas of South Australia.

But the 50-year-old industry stalwart said he is at the end of his strength after alleging his business has been inundated with multiple hoax calls made by rivals.

Burrell told Daily Mail Australia that competitors have been undermining his business with relentless hoax calls for the last six years.

He said the conduct was “enough to drive you crazy” and added that his clients have told him that his rivals have it against him.

Veteran snake catcher Roger Atkinson (pictured) has criticized his younger, inexperienced competitors for standing out and “trash talking” on social media.

Mr. Burrell’s company, which also does wildlife training and removal, has built a strong clientele over 40 years, including winning large government and mining contracts.

“It’s because we’re so big that they like to throw shit at us, it’s a nasty industry and I’d be happy to get out of it,” Burrell said.

Burrell said his tires had been stabbed twice in the last two years and he had been putting up with prank calls “every other night.”

“Someone will call saying they have an anaconda in their pants going after their wives – it’s been going on for the past year, the year before and the year before,” he said.

He has also been called to vacant lots in the middle of the night.

Nowadays he just ignores the midnight calls.

Roger Atkinson is another veteran in the area who has run his company Ace Snake Catchers for the last 30 years, covering the northern Adelaide, Hills and Barossa areas of the state.

The self-confessed Hulk Hogan lookalike has criticized his younger, inexperienced competitors for standing out and “trash talking” on social media.

Mr Burrell (pictured, in action) said ‘it’s a nasty industry and I’ll be happy to get out of it’

“It’s all about putting it on Facebook and looking cool,” Atkinson said.

He said he was one of three snake charmers serving Adelaide until online newbies, whom he said think they “know it all”, flooded the market claiming to be experts.

“It’s all about putting it on Facebook and looking good,” Atkinson told Daily Mail Australia.

“We all have to start somewhere, but they think they know everything and that a normal person would believe what they say.

‘Well, I’ve been doing it for 30 years and I don’t know everything.’

The 72-year-old, who has never been bitten by a snake, said he had to do eight weeks of intensive training when he started.

‘But now anyone who wants to do the course has only two days of training.’

Meanwhile, Burrell said police were not contacted about the tire incidents.