Snakes

What to do if you find a snake in your house

If you do come across a snake in your house then please close all the other doors that lead into the rest of the house and if there is a gap under the door block that off too using towels jammed firmly under it blocking the whole space as snakes can slide through very small gaps. If there is a door that leads outside then leave it wide open and keep watch to see if the snake leaves.

On hot days snakes will often go into houses looking for a cool place to rest during the hottest part of the day. Even though they need warmth to feed and digest food they do not actually like it too hot as they can die quite quickly if stuck in direct sun for too long. In really hot weather some prefer to move about on warm nights instead of during the day.

If you have a snake in your garden

Keep your dogs and children indoors and keep an eye on the snake to see if it leaves your area. Keep a safe distance away from the snake and watch where it goes.

Highly venomous snakes are considered lethal or potentially lethal to humans and first aid should be administered immediately if bitten.

The Red-bellied Black Snake is easily identifiable by its black color and pinkish-red underbelly. It’s the most common venomous snake in gardens and its bite can be lethal. It prefers swampy, wet areas near ponds, dams, or frog habitats, often sheltering in thick grass, logs, burrows, or under rocks. No human deaths have been recorded from its bite.

The Eastern Brown Snake is another highly venomous often seen in the Hunter region during spring to autumn. Even little brown snakes are very poisonous. It can be found across a wide range of habitats but seem to prefer open landscapes and more abundant in rural areas. It is known to be more alert and defensive than the Red-bellied Black Snake so it is more likely to strike.

The Common Death Adder ambushes prey by lying motionless in leaf litter, sand, or gravel, using a worm-like tail lure. Highly venomous, it generally avoids biting unless touched. Unlike other snakes, it often remains stationary when humans approach, increasing the risk to unsuspecting bushwalkers.

Mildly venomous snakes are venomous but not considered dangerous to humans. They’re bites will cause symptoms like pain, swelling and headaches. Every snake bite should be treated as if the snake were venomous though. See our first aid tips.

Yellow-faced Whip Snake grows to about 80-100 cms. It is very long and thin, with a small white patch in front of and behind its eyes and it moves very quickly.

Marsh Snakes grow to about 50 cm, are olive-brown with creamy white stripes on their upper lip and behind the eye. They are often found in damp gardens, hiding under timber, iron sheets, or thick vegetation.

The Red-naped Snake, with a red patch on its head, grows to about 45 cm. Although venomous, it is harmless to humans and prefers dry woodlands, coastal forests, heaths, tussock grasslands, and shrublands, avoiding wet areas like rainforests.

The Golden-crowned Snake, with a yellowish crown-shaped mark on its head, is brown to grey above and pink below. It prefers deep forests or sandstone areas, sheltering under stones, logs, and leaf litter by day and feeding at night.

Non-venomous snakes do not produce venom and do not present any danger to humans. They can still bite or strike though if threatened.

The Diamond Python features small cream diamonds, sometimes forming rosettes. If you find one on a tree or fence, leave it alone unless it’s in danger. Harmless, they help control mice and rats but usually move on quickly.

The Brown Tree Snake is similar but has very large brown bulgy eyes and a very narrow neck and has more pattern on their body scales.