Snakes in Sydney: Which Ones You'll See and What to Do

Sydney has venomous snakes in its suburbs, harmless pythons in its bushland and one small snake that is often mistaken for a baby brown. Councils across the city give the same first rule: treat every snake as potentially venomous and keep your distance.^[6]

The snakes Sydney residents see most

Red-bellied black snakes and eastern brown snakes are the two most common species seen in Sydney Olympic Park’s parklands, and the red-bellied black is the one encountered most often there.^[1] Camden Council lists the same two as the common venomous snakes in its area.^[5]

Four snakes Sydney residents ask about

Red-bellied black snake

Pseudechis porphyriacus

• Venomous
• Shiny black back with bright red sides
• Near creeks and swamps, sometimes swimming pools
• Usually placid and tries to avoid people

Source [2]

Eastern brown snake

Pseudonaja textilis

• Highly venomous
• Light tan to nearly black
• Cream to orange belly with blotches

Source [9]

Diamond python

Morelia spilota spilota

• Non-venomous, but can give a painful bite
• Lives in Sydney's larger bushland areas and national parks
• Slow-moving and mostly active at night
• Occasionally found in roofs and rafters

Source [4]

Golden-crowned snake

Cacophis squamulosus

• Mildly venomous
• Often mistaken for a baby brown snake on the Northern Beaches
• Treat it like any other snake and keep your distance

Source [3]

Red-bellied black snakes, water and pools

Red-bellied black snakes live near creeks and swamps and sometimes turn up in swimming pools. They usually shelter under rocks and logs, sometimes bask in garden beds, and eat rats, mice, frogs, lizards and other snakes — including eastern brown snakes.^[2] Sydney Olympic Park notes that males travel more in spring, and that the species is shy and generally freezes or flees when it meets people.^[1]

It is venomous and its bite can be dangerous, so call an ambulance if anyone is bitten.^[2]

A python in the roof

Diamond pythons live in Sydney’s larger bushland areas and national parks. They are slow-moving and mostly active at night, so they often go unnoticed, and they are occasionally found in roofs and rafters.^[4]

The Australian Museum says a diamond python in your roof won’t cause any damage, and it can help control rats. Pythons are non-venomous but can give a painful bite, and their teeth can break off in the wound.^[4] Leave it alone; if you want it moved, call WIRES or a licensed snake handler.^[7]

Golden-crowned snake or baby brown?

On the Northern Beaches, the mildly venomous golden-crowned snake is often mistaken for a baby brown snake.^[3] You don’t need to tell them apart to stay safe: both get the same response — keep your distance and let it move on.

If there’s a snake in your yard

1. Keep people and pets away and watch it from a safe distance.^[8]
2. Give it time. Snakes are normally only passing through a yard and usually move on within a few hours.^[7]
3. Don’t try to catch or kill it.^[6]
4. If it’s still there after a few hours, call WIRES or a licensed local snake handler for advice.^[8]

If there’s a snake in the house

Move everyone, including pets, into other rooms and keep them there. If it’s safe, close the doors to the room the snake is in and put towels along the bottom of the doors. Don’t approach it or try to contain it yourself — call WIRES or a licensed snake handler.^[8]

Who to call in Sydney

Numbers are from WIRES and Northern Beaches Council.^{[7, 3]} Camden Council notes that only licensed snake collectors can remove snakes from private property.^[5]

What NSW law says

All native snakes and other reptiles are protected throughout NSW under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Harming, killing or capturing them without a licence or approval is a serious offence.^[6]

Make your yard less attractive to snakes

• Keep the lawn mowed and garden beds free of overgrowth.^[5]
• Clear rubbish and debris where snakes can shelter.^{[5, 8]}
• Control rats and mice, which snakes hunt.^[5]