Snakes in Brisbane: Common Backyard Species and What to Do

Brisbane has many snake species. Some are dangerously venomous, some are harmless to people, and several look alike. That is why the first rule from Queensland’s own guide is simple: never approach a snake, and never assume it is non-venomous.^[1]

Snakes you’re most likely to see

Carpet pythons, common tree snakes, yellow-faced whip snakes and white-crowned snakes are all found throughout Brisbane. The white-crowned snake is one of the city’s most common snakes, including in the inner city, and often turns up in compost heaps and damp gardens.^[1]

Four snakes Brisbane residents ask about

Carpet python

Morelia spilota

• Non-venomous
• Pale blotches edged in black, with yellow spots
• Found throughout Brisbane, even the city centre
• Mainly active at night

Source [1]

Common tree snake

Dendrelaphis punctulata

• Very slender; colour varies a lot
• Shows bright blue skin between scales when disturbed
• Cream, yellow or light blue underside
• Found throughout Brisbane, active by day

Source [1]

Eastern brown snake

Pseudonaja textilis

• Highly venomous
• Light tan to nearly black; cream to orange belly with blotches
• Uncommon in settled Brisbane, more common in bushland and rural areas
• Rears up in an S-shape when provoked

Source [1]

Red-bellied black snake

Pseudechis porphyriacus

• Venomous
• Shiny black above, red (sometimes pink or white) belly
• Now mostly in cooler areas north and south of the city
• Usually near water

Source [1]

Others you may come across:

All descriptions are from the Queensland Government’s guide to south-east Queensland snakes.^[1] Individuals of one species can vary a lot, and the guide itself warns that some snakes are hard to identify.^[1]

Look-alikes that cause confusion

• Eastern small-eyed snake and red-bellied black snake. Both are black above. The small-eyed snake’s pink belly doesn’t reach up its sides, and its eyes are tiny. Red-bellied black snakes are now mostly found in cooler areas north and south of the city.^[1]
• Keelback and rough-scaled snake. The keelback, which eats frogs including cane toads, closely resembles the venomous rough-scaled snake. Telling them apart relies on a small scale on the side of the head, so treat both with caution.^[1]
• Legless lizards. These are often mistaken for snakes. They have ear openings, broad tongues and small flaps where hind legs would be.^[1]

Keelback or rough-scaled snake?

Keelback

Tropidonophis mairii

• Grey-green to brown with darker flecked cross-bands
• Strongly keeled scales
• Has a loreal scale on the side of the head, which separates it from the rough-scaled snake
• Creeks, rivers and marshes; eats frogs, including cane toads

Source [1]

Photo to come

Rough-scaled snake

Tropidechis carinatus

• Venomous, potentially dangerous
• Olive to grey above with black flecks; greenish-grey belly
• Raised keels on its scales
• More common in Brisbane's hinterland, such as the D'Aguilar Range, often near water

Source [1]

If there’s a snake in your yard

1. Back away to a safe distance and let the snake move on. Don’t panic.^[2]
2. Bring children and pets inside and keep an eye on where the snake goes.
3. Don’t try to catch, move or kill it. Most snake bites happen when people try to capture or kill snakes.^[2]
4. If it stays, call a licensed snake catcher. Brisbane City Council’s advice is to contact a snake catcher rather than the council.^{[4, 3]}

If there’s a snake in the house

Close the internal doors to keep it in one area, open the external doors, and give it a chance to leave.^[2] If it doesn’t go, call a licensed snake catcher. Keep their number saved if a snake could get into your home.^[3]

Snake catchers relocate snakes to a safe place, but another snake from nearby may move in. Snake-proofing the house is the longer-term fix.^[3]

What Queensland law says

Snakes are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. It is an offence to kill, injure or take snakes from the wild.^[2] Brisbane City Council notes that all native species have legal protection under the same Act.^[4]

Make your yard less attractive to snakes

Queensland’s advice focuses on removing shelter and the rodents snakes hunt:^[2]

• Keep the lawn short, and put garden beds away from the house.
• Stack timber neatly so rodents and snakes can’t hide in it.
• Keep food scraps in closed compost bins.
• Screen doors and windows, and block gaps where a snake could get in.
• Tidy the yard during the colder months, when snakes are less active.
• Wear gloves, long pants and covered shoes when gardening.