Snake nearby? Stay calm and follow these steps
Control the room before the snake disappears
Indoor call-outs can involve laundries, bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens, hallways, storage rooms, roof spaces and garages connected to the house. The immediate priority is to stop people or pets entering the area.
If you can close a door without moving toward the snake, do so calmly. Never put yourself between the animal and an exit, and do not attempt to sweep, pin, box or carry it outside.
Why searching a room can make matters worse
A snake may move behind a washing machine, beneath furniture, under low shelving or into a dark storage gap. Pulling items apart can place hands and feet close to an animal you can no longer see.
Note the last position, leave the room undisturbed and explain the layout to Harley. No catcher can guarantee that a snake which has left or hidden can be located, but clear information improves the assessment.
Living areas
Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, hallways and spaces beneath low furniture.
Laundries
Behind washing machines, near drains, beneath cabinets and beside external doors.
Roof spaces
Rafters and ceiling voids that should never be entered to conduct a search.
Attached garages
Vehicles, shelving, boxes and internal doorways connecting storage with the home.
Safe first steps indoors
Limit movement around the room and keep the snake’s likely path clear. Improvised capture equipment is not safe.
- Move everyone, including pets, out of the room.
- Close the door only if you can do so without approaching the snake.
- Do not move furniture, appliances, boxes or stored items.
- Watch through a safe doorway or window if possible.
- Call Harley and describe the room and last known location.
Do not turn the house into a search area
If the snake is no longer visible, keep the affected room closed and avoid walking through adjoining storage areas. Tell Harley about open doors, wall gaps, floor-level cupboards and other possible routes.
If there is a suspected bite, stop the search entirely and call Triple Zero (000). Keep the person still and follow the emergency operator’s instructions.
Professional reptile capture and relocation
NSW catch-and-release work requires the appropriate wildlife licence. Harley operates under NSW General Licence MWL000102655, uses specialist handling equipment and focuses on safe, lawful and humane relocation.
A call-out cannot guarantee capture if the animal has already left or cannot be located. Harley will give straightforward advice based on the site and last known position.
Professional, licensed and realistic
Harley operates under NSW General Licence MWL000102655 and uses appropriate equipment for safe capture, containment and humane relocation. If a snake has already left or cannot be located, capture cannot be guaranteed; Harley will provide practical advice based on the site and last known position.