Aussies warned as warmer weather prompts 'crazy influx' of snake sightings

Snake season in Australia has well and truly begun with warmer weather encouraging the reptiles to become more agile, and with that comes a warning for Aussies to stay alert — particularly around their homes.

While the elongated reptiles are "defensive creatures" that "aren't aggressive", according to snake catcher Courtenay Brown, being aware of what to do when you see one is vital, especially when it comes to venomous red-bellies or brown snakes.

Brown, known as That Snake Lady, and based in Queensland, said that warmer-than-usual weather from mid-August meant an influx of sightings and callouts to homes.

"It just went crazy straight away," she told Yahoo News Australia. "It has been a couple of callouts every day for a few weeks. So that's quite a lot for me."

While pythons are often around all year long, especially in Queensland, lately there have been "a lot of red-bellies hanging around".

"It's the time of year they're looking for a mate and so they're moving around," often finding their way into gardens and homes, she said. And while many locals have learned to co-exist with the reptiles, "there's a lot of people moving from interstate", and often they don't quite understand what to do when they spot a snake.

"They get very scared as soon as they see one and they want it gone, which doesn't necessarily have to happen all the time," she said.

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Stuart McKenzie, of Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 agreed the end of August saw a "massive influx" of callouts due to warmer-than-usual weather, with more and more snakes being spotted in homes and businesses throughout the area.

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"The season always starts mid to late August, but that last week of August was one of the busiest seven days that we've ever had. It was ridiculous," he told Yahoo. He explained, the red-bellies and the brown snakes usually kick off mid to late September.

Last week, workers at a Bridgestone service centre got the shock of their lives after seeing a red-bellied black snake slither across the desk inside their office. "It was definitely not what you expect to see on top of your desk, that's for sure," McKenzie said.

He and his team were called out to rescue the snake which had made its way indoors.

"The manager just came in to start working from the desk and noticed something moving on top, and realised that it was a reasonable size red-eye black snake," he explained. "They all stood back and did a good job to watch it for us. We had it out and really, it's very complicated."

Both McKenzie and Brown advised against ever interfering with snakes, which is "illegal" and "obviously silly," McKenzie said. "It needs to be left to the professionals".

"We definitely always recommend a bit of common sense when it comes to snakes," he added. "If you see a snake, keep a safe distance. You can give it a chance to move on itself if it's outside, obviously if it's inside, you definitely need a professional to come and relocate it."

Tips on maintaining a snake-free environment at home

According to Brown, there are a few things Aussies should be mindful of ahead of snake season, and to "make sure your home or your yard is not an inviting space for them" as snakes like to hide in small spaces.

• Keep your yard tidy: Pack up any building materials that might be lying around.

• Maintain grass: Cut your grass and keep it short throughout the warmer months.

• Remove anything that can attract vermin: This includes any pet food left outside. Snakes will come looking for vermin.

• Keep small pets inside: Snakes can target small animals so keep them inside or secure them so that snakes can't get into their enclosures.

• Keep doors shut: This will help them stay outside and not enter your home.

"Most of the time, if it's not an inviting space, they'll just keep moving through the yard and they won't need to be relocated," Brown said.

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