Snakes
Snake Sightings
If you see a snake, please stay calm and keep your distance. Do not try to touch it, or try to contain it.
Snakes are very common particularly in summer and will regularly be seen around houses and yards. They are usually passing through and will be gone within a few hours. Keeping your lawn short and yard free of debris will reduce the likelihood of snakes in your yard.
Australian snakes are shy, reclusive animals that do not seek out humans. If given space they will usually move away quietly.
Snakes only bite in self-defence, typically when they feel threatened or cornered. If left alone, the risk of being bitten is very low. If you stay well away from the snake it presents no immediate danger.
Although many snakes are not venomous please keep people and pets away from snakes at all times.
If you have a snake in your house
If you find a snake in your house, please make sure all people and pets are moved into other rooms and kept away until the situation is resolved.
If you can safely do so, isolate the snake in the room you found it by closing the doors to the room and putting towels along the bottom of the doors.
Call WIRES or a licenced local snake handler for rescue advice and assistance.
Do not approach the snake or try to contain it yourself.
If you’ve found an injured snake
If you have found an injured or trapped snake, phone WIRES or your local wildlife rescue organisation immediately for rescue advice and assistance.
Keep an eye on the snake from a safe distance.
Keep all pets and people away until the situation is resolved.
Do not approach the snake or try to contain it yourself.
If you’ve found a snake in your yard
Snakes are normally only passing through a yard when they are sighted and they usually move on within a few hours.
If you see a healthy snake in your yard please keep all people and pets away and monitor it from a safe distance.
If you have concerns after a few hours, please call WIRES or a licenced local snake handler for advice.
Report a Rescue
For wildlife rescue assistance you must call 1300 094 737 or fill in the Report a Rescue form. All other forms of contact including Facebook are not monitored for rescues.