Living in Sydney, especially out west in areas like Penrith, Blacktown, Richmond, and the Hawkesbury, means sharing your backyard with some of Australia’s most iconic (and dangerous) wildlife. Snakes are part of life here, and most of the time, they’d rather avoid you just as much as you’d like to avoid them.
But every now and then, one turns up somewhere it shouldn’t. And when that happens, most people freeze up and don’t know what to do. Should you wait and see if it leaves on its own? Try to move it yourself? Google what species it is?
The short answer: call a licensed snake catcher. Here’s when and why.
1. You’ve Spotted a Snake on Your Property
This one seems obvious, but plenty of people talk themselves out of calling because the snake looks small, or it’s “just sitting there,” or they assume it’ll move on by nightfall.
Don’t bet on it. When a snake finds shelter, warmth, or a food source near your home, it may not leave on its own.
More importantly, it is hard to tell a venomous snake from a non-venomous one without training. Some of the most dangerous snakes in the world are common across Western Sydney and Hawkesbury, such as Eastern Brown Snakes.
If you encounter a snake, maintain your distance and call a professional. That’s the safest move every time.
2. A Snake Has Entered Your Home, Garage, or Shed
A snake on the lawn is one thing. A snake inside your garage, laundry, roof space, or worst case, somewhere inside the house, is a completely different situation.
Enclosed spaces are dangerous for two reasons. Firstly, the snake has fewer escape options, that means it’s more likely to feel cornered and act defensively. Second, you don’t know where exactly it’s gone, and that makes every step you take a risk.
This is an emergency. Stop moving through the affected area, keep children and pets out, and call Medusa Snake Catcher immediately, we respond fast, and our team is available 24/7.
3. You Have Kids, Pets, or Livestock at Home
It is alarming to have any snake sighting, especially with young kids or pets.
Dogs, in particular, are at serious risk; they’re naturally curious and will approach a snake out of instinct. Cats are the same. A bite from an Eastern Brown or a Tiger Snake can kill a dog within hours if left untreated.
For people with chickens, rabbits, or small livestock, the stakes are even higher. Snakes are drawn to these animals as a food source, especially eggs. If you’ve spotted snakes near your coop or animal enclosures more than once, that’s not a coincidence.
Don’t wait for an incident to happen. Call us, get the snake removed, and ask about snake-proofing solutions for your property. Prevention is always better than the alternative.
4. You Can’t Tell What Species It Is
It is common to misidentify snakes. Especially with added factors such as lighting, distance, stress, and the snake’s behaviour, all affect what you’re seeing.
A Red-Bellied Black Snake looks very different to an Eastern Brown in most photos, but in your backyard at dusk, with your heart pounding, they can be surprisingly hard to tell apart. And a python, while harmless to humans, can still give a nasty bite and cause injury.
If you’re not 100% certain what you’re looking at, that’s reason enough to call. A licensed snake catcher will identify the species accurately, handle it appropriately, and relocate it safely.
5. The Snake Has Disappeared, But You Know It’s Nearby
Sometimes people spot a snake, it slips under the deck or behind the shed, and then it’s gone. No visible snake, problem solved, right?
Not quite. A snake that’s found a comfortable hiding spot on your property may well still be there, resting and waiting for the temperature or conditions to suit it. Signs to watch for include:
- Shed skin in the garden, under decking, or near the shed
- Your dog or cat acting unusually, sniffing, pawing, or fixated on a specific spot
- Rodent activity on the property (rodents attract snakes)
- A second sighting in the same area within days
If any of these are present, a property inspection is a smart call. We’ll check the spots snakes typically hide and give you a clear picture of whether you have an ongoing issue and what to do about it.
6. You’re About to Do Yard Work, Renovations, or Landscaping
Spring is when most people tackle overgrown gardens, clear out the shed, or start renovating. It’s also when the snake encounters a spike sharply.
Long grass, piles of timber, building materials, thick garden beds, and undisturbed areas under decking are all prime snake habitat. Disturbing these spots without checking first is how most snake bites happen, not from wandering through the bush, but from reaching into something in the backyard.
Before you start any major yard or property work, especially near bushland, creek lines, or open farmland, it’s worth booking a maintenance inspection. We’ll walk the property with you, flag any high-risk areas, and make sure you can get stuck into the work safely.
7. It’s Peak Snake Season
Snakes are cold-blooded, which means they’re most active when temperatures are warm. In Sydney and the surrounding regions, snake season typically runs from September through to March or April, peaking in the hotter summer months.
During this period, snakes are moving more frequently, searching for food, water, and mates. That’s when they’re most likely to wander onto residential properties, especially those bordering bushland or near creeks and rivers.
If you’re in a high-risk area and you haven’t had a property inspection in a while, the start of snake season is a good time to book one.
What Not to Do When You Find a Snake
Just as important as knowing when to call is knowing what not to do before help arrives:
- Don’t try to catch or move the snake yourself, even if you think you know the species
- Don’t try to kill it, it’s illegal to kill native wildlife in NSW, and it dramatically increases your chance of being bitten
- Don’t block its escape route, a snake that feels trapped is far more likely to strike
- Don’t assume it will leave on its own, sometimes they do, often they don’t
- Don’t let kids or pets near the area, even a dead snake can trigger a bite reflex
Keep calm, keep others away, watch where the snake goes if it moves, and call us.
Why Locals Trust Medusa Snake Catcher Sydney
Medusa Snake Catcher is a local, licensed, and fully insured snake removal service covering Western Sydney and the Hawkesbury, including Penrith, Blacktown, Richmond, Windsor, and surrounding areas.
We handle every job with the same approach: get there fast, handle the snake safely, and leave you with the knowledge and confidence to manage your property long after we’ve packed up. That means:
- 24/7 emergency response: day, night, weekends, public holidays
- Fast callout times across our service area
- Safe, humane capture and relocation to suitable bushland
- Detailed inspection reports and practical prevention advice
- Snake-proofing solutions for homes, sheds, chicken coops, and commercial properties
When in doubt, call.
There’s no such thing as an unnecessary call when a snake is involved. If you spot a snake anywhere near your home, family, or animals, give Medusa Snake Catcher a call. We’re here around the clock, and we’ll get to you quickly.