Snakes are ectothermic, which means they maintain their body heat by absorbing heat from an external source. A snake’s activity levels are generally determined by the surrounding air and ground temperatures. Snakes become relatively inactive during cooler months and go into a torpor until spring. Spring is typically when you will see the most snake activity as they come out to bask on warm surfaces (asphalt, concrete and rocks). Snakes during spring tend to be very active, looking to build reserves after the winter torpor. They will also actively look for mating partners as breeding season lasts for long periods during spring.
Snakes are usually inactive during really hot days and seek refuge for most of the day to avoid overheating.
This webpage will highlight some tips that can help you discourage snakes from your property. It will also provide some safety tips on avoiding and dealing with snakes on your property.
- Keep gardens and grass maintained.
- Keep wood piles or wood storage away from the house and within a secure shed.
- Cover the bottom of doors with weather stripping and keep sheds tidy.
- Managing building materials around your property, and do not leave corrugated iron or panels on the ground. Always store upright.
- Pick up food scraps to limit the attractiveness to mice and rats, the preferred food source of snakes.
- Ensure that compost bins are closed and turned regularly to avoid rat and mice interest, and a snake habitat.
- Take extra precaution when clearing out aviaries and chicken coops, as they provide ideal snake habitats.
- Remain calm
- Never attempt to catch or kill a snake! They will defend themselves if they feel threatened.
- Move slowly to a safe distance and alert others in the area.
- Keep children and pets away from snakes and remove them from the yard.
- If the snake is inside your home, lock it away and call a licensed snake catcher to remove it from the property.
- If it cannot be locked away, do your best to watch the snake from a safe distance to help ensure the snake catcher is able to retrieve and remove the snake from your premises.
- For information on your nearest snake catcher, please refer to the NSW Government’s Environment and Heritage reptile handlers list.
It is important to treat all snake bites as potentially dangerous. If someone has been bitten dial 000 immediately.
The first aid for a suspected or confirmed snake bite is to use a pressure bandage with immobilisation around the bite area.
Snakes are a protected species under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, and it is illegal to capture, harm disturb or kill them. Reports of people wilfully destroying a protected species will be investigated accordingly.
If you concerned about snakes on your property, remember that most snakes are likely to be passing through and will leave your property in time. Only licenced snake catchers can remove snakes from private properties.
