WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A SNAKE AT YOUR HOME OR WORKPLACE

1. DO NOT try to capture or kill the snake. MOST snake bites happen when people try to catch or kill snakes.
2. Watch the snake from a safe distance, so that it can be removed quickly and efficiently. Snakes can be removed immediately if visual contact is maintained. If visual contact is lost, there can be no guarantee the snake can be found again.
3. Avoid as much movement as possible around the snake. Movement within the snakes line of sight can scare it into running and hiding.
   
4. Call your nearest Professional Snake Catcher as soon as possible for advice and assistance. If possible have one person watching the snake while another person contacts the Professional Snake Catcher.
5. If the snake moves to an area where it cannot be seen, monitor that area until the Snake Catcher arrive.
6. Notify the Snake Catcher if the snake has moved off the property or to an inaccessible area.
7. Children and pets should be kept out of the area until the snake is safely removed.

There are two primary species of snakes encountered in the Perth metro area. These are Dugites and Tiger Snakes. Both of these species are DANGEROUSLY VENOMOUS, which means envenomation is potentially fatal without medical assistance.
Some species of pythons are infrequently encountered, however these are usually just escaped pets. These species are NON-VENOMOUS.

Dugite/Spotted Brown Snake
(Pseudonaja affinis affinis)
DANGEROUSLY VENOMOUS

Dugites are a member of the Brown Snake family. These snakes are slender, fast moving and shy, becoming easily scared by human movement. Dugites display a range of colours which will change as the snake matures from baby to adult. Some dugites will also have irregular black scales along the body, which is where they derive their other name, the Spotted Brown Snake. Dugites can potentially reach 2 metres in length, however the average adult is only around 1.4 metres long. Newly hatched baby Dugites are often around the size of a pencil. These snakes are wide roaming and may be encountered over most of the Perth area.

Western Tiger Snake
(Notechis scutatus)
DANGEROUSLY VENOMOUS

A relatively short and robust snake, Western Tiger Snakes can reach a maximum length of 1.2 metres, but average only 0.9m as adults. This species has fairly constant colouration. Most have a dark top (usually black) and an orange/gold to bright yellow belly. The belly colour extends up the sides of the snake forming incomplete and often faded bands. Western Tiger Snakes are a wetland species that prefer to predate frogs. While many wetlands across Perth hold populations of Tiger Snakes, they tend not to venture far from the water body. Western Tiger Snakes have a reputation for being aggressive; however this is born form a misunderstanding of their behaviours. These snakes can become very one-track minded when scared and wanting to reach a secure hiding place, even to the extent that they sometimes move towards a person in order to reach a refuge just behind that person. This does not mean they are ‘attacking’. If the person were to move out of the way, the snake would continue towards the refuge.

South-west Carpet Python
(Morelia spilota imbricata)
NON-VENOMOUS

There are several species of Carpet Pythons found across Australia, however as the name alludes, this particular species is endemic to the South-west region of Western Australia, as well as a few offshore islands. This species was once found throughout the Perth region, however due to land clearing, road fatalities and the persecution of snakes by the public, they no longer naturally occur in the built-up Perth metro area. Any South-west Carpet Pythons found in this area are escaped pets or have been accidentally transported. These snakes are capable of growing up to 2.5m and over 5kg. Males of this species typically will not reach these larger sizes. These snakes are boldly patterned and have a range of colours, but most commonly having a green or cream background with a dark blotch. While South-west Carpet Pythons are primarily arboreal, the larger females will spend most of their time on the ground once their weight can no longer be supported by small branches. By this point, most predators no longer pose a threat to these large snakes. Being a python, this species is non-venomous. Their mouth contains around 100 needle sharp re-curved teeth, which are arranged into 6 rows. When defending themselves, these snakes will bite and let go. Pythons will only will hold on if they think what they are biting is food, in which case they will also coil around and constrict whatever it is they are biting.

Stimson's Python
(Antaresia stimsoni)
NON-VENOMOUS

This species does not naturally occur in the coastal Perth Metro area, however as the most commonly kept pet snake species in WA, escapees are sometimes encountered. Wild Stimson's Pythons can be found in the Darling Range, but are scarce in these areas.  Stimson's Pythons are known for having a relatively placid nature. They can grow up to 1.5m, but most adults only average 1.1m. In the wild this species is primarily terrestrial, hiding under rocks and down other animals burrows. When in urban areas Stimson's Pythons will often climb around houses in search of food.