Snake nearby? Stay calm and follow these steps
Keep the yard quiet and the snake visible
Outdoor sightings often happen while gardening, mowing, playing, using the pool or letting pets outside. Stop activity in that part of the yard and bring children and animals indoors.
Do not hose the snake, throw objects, chase it with a tool or send a dog after it. If you can watch from several metres away without blocking its path, note whether it moves beneath a deck, shed, retaining wall or pool equipment.
Places a snake may use for cover
Garden beds, rock walls, stored timber, compost areas, outdoor furniture, long grass, chicken coops, water features, drains and fence lines can all provide temporary shelter or access.
A sighting does not prove that a property has a nest or multiple snakes. The animal may be passing through in search of warmth, shelter, water or prey.
Lawns and paths
Open ground where a snake could be stepped on during play, mowing or garden work.
Pool surrounds
Pool pumps, paving, equipment enclosures, drains and nearby garden beds.
Retaining walls
Rock gaps, timber edges and planted slopes offering concealed movement.
Garden storage
Firewood, pots, compost, outdoor furniture and materials stored close to the ground.
What to do outside
Do not follow the snake into dense cover. A last known location is more useful than a risky search.
- Bring children, visitors and pets inside.
- Stop mowing, gardening, pool maintenance or nearby work.
- Watch from a safe position without surrounding the snake.
- Note the exact cover or opening it enters.
- Call Harley and describe the yard, access and last movement.
After the immediate situation
Once the call-out has been resolved, reduce avoidable hiding places by keeping stored materials raised, sealing rodent food, managing rubbish and checking door gaps. Property maintenance reduces some risks but cannot make an outdoor space snake-proof.
Never reach into a hole, rock gap, pool box or thick plant growth to confirm that the snake has gone.
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.