Snake Catcher St Ives

St Ives properties often have deep gardens and pool surrounds. Avoid clearing leaf litter or moving pool equipment after the animal is no longer visible.

When calling from St Ives, explain whether the animal is indoors or outside, whether it remains visible, and whether children, pets, customers, livestock or workers are nearby. Harley can then assess the immediate risk and the safest access.

The local mix of Ku-ring-gai Chase influence, large gardens, bushland reserves, schools, pools and leaf litter means Harley may need directions to a side gate, common area or outbuilding rather than only a street address.

Steep gardens, bushland boundaries and layered decks can make following a snake unsafe; remain on stable ground and report its direction instead.

• Ku-ring-gai Chase influence: Tell Harley whether Ku-ring-gai Chase influence is open, enclosed, elevated or difficult to access from the street.
• large gardens: Use large gardens as a landmark when explaining the last known position; do not move closer to inspect it.
• bushland reserves: If the snake travels toward bushland reserves, note which side it entered and leave the area undisturbed.
• schools: Do not place hands, tools or cameras into gaps around schools; report only what you can see safely.
• pools: Where pools is shared, ask one person to control access and another to meet Harley.
• leaf litter: Pause gardening, storage or maintenance work around leaf litter after a sighting.

A sighting does not establish that there is a nest or more than one snake. Avoid assumptions about species, numbers or where the animal has gone; preserve the last reliable observation instead.

• Stop activity near Ku-ring-gai Chase influence and move away on a clear path.
• Keep pets restrained indoors and prevent access to large gardens.
• A safe zoomed photograph may help, but the location is more important than a close image.
• Leave sheds, wall gaps and vegetation undisturbed once the snake disappears.
• If someone may have been bitten, call Triple Zero (000) immediately and follow the operator’s instructions.

Harley’s approach to large Upper North Shore gardens and bush reserves is grounded in more than a decade of real call-outs and NSW General Licence MWL000102655.

The response is adjusted to the animal, the property layout and risks around Ku-ring-gai Chase influence rather than following a one-size-fits-all procedure.

If access around Ku-ring-gai Chase influence is unsafe or the animal has gone, Harley will explain the evidence, limitations and sensible precautions. Read about Harley’s training and experience or review the Greater Sydney snake-removal process.