If you have a snake on your property in Hornsby, call Snake Catcher Hornsby on 1300 599 938. We have catchers based nearby and are typically on site within 30 minutes. We operate 24 hours a day across Hornsby and the wider Hornsby LGA.
While you wait, move pets and children clear of the area, keep a safe distance and do not attempt to handle or trap the snake yourself. The single most useful thing you can do before we arrive is keep your eyes on the snake from a safe distance. A snake watched continuously is straightforward to locate and remove. A snake that disappears may reappear, but if we arrive and cannot find it, we will need to leave without being able to help. You do not need to photograph it or identify the species. Just watch where it goes.
We also service surrounding suburbs including Waitara, Asquith, Mount Colah, Thornleigh and Normanhurst.
Call Snake Catcher Hornsby on 1300 599 938 any time for snake removal in Hornsby and surrounding suburbs.
Why Hornsby Gets the Snake Activity It Does
Hornsby is the administrative and commercial centre of the Hornsby LGA and one of the most bushland-exposed suburbs in metropolitan Sydney. The suburb sits hard against Berowra Valley National Park to the west and north, with Old Mans Valley running through the heart of the suburb and the connecting reserves and gully systems extending out to Asquith, Mount Colah and Hornsby Heights. The bushland exposure is substantial and continuous. The terrain is steep, gully-cut and sandstone country, with deep terraced gardens, sandstone outcrops and the older brick and weatherboard housing that defines the established residential streets.
The housing stock spans almost everything. Older Federation and mid-century homes on large blocks with mature canopy through the established residential streets. Newer infill housing and townhouse complexes around the station and town centre. High-density apartment complexes along the railway line and through the Hornsby CBD. The combination of bushland exposure, sandstone country, mature gardens and town-centre density produces a varied and reliable callout profile.
The Reptiles We Attend in Hornsby
Diamond Python. A major species in our Hornsby work, particularly on streets backing onto Berowra Valley National Park or the connecting reserves. Non-venomous, but large, adults reach two to three metres and they're powerfully built. The bushland exposure, mature gardens and older tiled-roof homes sustain a resident Python population, and roof cavities are a major job category. Pythons follow rodents into the roof and settle in. We also find them stretched across warm retaining walls, curled behind shrubs, on sandstone steps, in pergolas, along gutters and on warm driveways. They rely on camouflage rather than speed and usually stay still when you find them. If you hear soft movement in the ceiling or see one anywhere on the property, call 1300 599 938.
Red-bellied Black Snake. A substantial proportion of our Hornsby work. Common along Old Mans Valley, the gully drainages running through Berowra Valley National Park and the wetter sections of the suburb. They follow frogs, so frog activity (particularly after rain and through the warmer months) tends to bring them through. Pool pump housings come up consistently on the residential streets. Venomous, but generally far less defensive than Browns. They will move away if given the chance.
Golden-crowned Snake. Common in Hornsby, although most residents never see one. Small, nocturnal, with a pale crown-like marking across the head and a pink belly. During the day they shelter under sandstone blocks, loose bark, timber sleepers, pot plants, garden edging and leaf litter. The sandstone country and deep established gardens of Hornsby give them ideal habitat. Venomous, but the bite causes only local symptoms in most cases and is not regarded as dangerous to adults, still warrants professional handling.
Green Tree Snake. Common in Hornsby, particularly in mature gardens, along fences, in pergolas and around roof lines. Slender, bright green or olive, fast-moving, completely harmless. They feed on skinks, geckos and small frogs and are excellent climbers, which is why they sometimes turn up at elevated parts of the property.
Eastern Brown Snake. Less common in Hornsby than the species above, but present, particularly on the drier blocks and around properties with rodent activity, chicken coops or accumulated yard storage. Highly venomous. Step back, keep a visual from a safe distance, and call us on 1300 599 938.
Blue-tongued Lizard. Not a snake, but the reptile we are called for almost as often. Blue-tongues are large, slow-moving native skinks that get mistaken for snakes because of their size and the way they flatten their bodies when threatened. They are harmless, beneficial, and good for a garden, they eat snails, slugs and insects.
Which Species Follows What
The species mix in Hornsby makes more sense once you know what each one is following. Diamond Pythons follow rats and mice, which is why they end up in roof cavities. Red-bellied Black Snakes follow frogs and moisture, which is why they concentrate along Old Mans Valley, the gully drainages and around pool pump housings. Golden-crowned Snakes follow small lizards and skinks under leaf litter and sandstone. Green Tree Snakes follow skinks and geckos through gardens and along fence lines. Eastern Browns follow rodents through the drier blocks.
Where We Find Reptiles on Hornsby Properties
For Diamond Pythons: roof cavities are the standout, particularly on older homes with tiled roofs and small gaps under the eaves. Also on sandstone retaining walls, in pergolas and outdoor entertainment areas, along gutters, curled behind thick shrubs, on sunny driveways and along fence lines facing Berowra Valley National Park or the connecting reserves.
For Red-bellied Black Snakes: pool pump housings, pool surrounds and water features, garden beds with thick mulch against boundary fences, under decks and verandahs in shaded damp corners, along fences backing onto Old Mans Valley, the gully drainages or the wetter sections of the national park.
For Golden-crowned Snakes: under sandstone blocks, around rockeries and leaf litter, beneath timber piles, paths and outdoor tiles, around damp sheltered corners of the garden.
For Green Tree Snakes: along fences, through pergolas, around roof lines, in mature shrubs and along garden edges.
For Eastern Browns: garages, sheds with accumulated yard storage, around hot water systems, along long boundary fences, around chicken coops and outdoor pet bowls.
What to Do If You See a Snake in Hornsby
Step back. Bring children and pets indoors. If possible, keep a visual on the snake from a safe distance. Don't try to move it, contain it, photograph it from up close or identify the species. Call 1300 599 938. We'll talk you through what to do until we arrive.
If you hear movement in the roof through the warmer months and you live in Hornsby, a Diamond Python is one of the more likely explanations, particularly on streets backing onto Berowra Valley National Park or any of the larger bushland reserves. Possums and rats are the other possibilities. We can tell the difference on site.
Snake Bite First Aid
A snake bite is a medical emergency. Treat every bite as if it's venomous, even if the snake looked harmless. Symptoms can take time to appear, and that's exactly why fast action matters.
If someone is bitten:
Australian antivenom is highly effective when administered promptly. Time matters.
What Actually Reduces Reptile Activity on a Hornsby Property
Deterrent products sold at hardware stores, powders, sprays, ultrasonic devices, are not effective. Don't waste money on them.
For Diamond Pythons specifically, reducing rodent activity in the roof is the single most useful thing. Pythons follow rats. If a Python turns up in the ceiling, the rats got there first. Seal roof entry points where you can, keep the roof clear of stored items that draw rodents, and address roof rodent activity through proper rodent control.
For Red-bellied Black Snakes, keep pool pump housings clear and unappealing as shelter. Thin out heavy garden beds along boundary fences, particularly the side facing reserve or gully line. Manage frog activity where it has concentrated against the house, without killing the frogs, they're protected.
For Eastern Browns, reducing rodent activity is the most effective measure. Tidy sheds and outdoor storage. Seal gaps under structures. Keep grass short along boundary fences.
How quickly can a snake catcher get to Hornsby?
We're usually on site in Hornsby within around thirty minutes, depending on traffic and access. Sydney Snake Catcher operates twenty-four hours a day across the suburb and the wider Hornsby LGA. Call 1300 599 938.
What snakes are most common in Hornsby?
Diamond Pythons are a major species in our Hornsby work, particularly in roof cavities and on streets backing onto Berowra Valley National Park and the connecting reserves. Red-bellied Black Snakes are a substantial proportion of the work too, concentrated along Old Mans Valley and around pool pump housings. Golden-crowned Snakes are common in the sandstone country and deep gardens, though most residents never see one.
Should I try to remove the snake myself?
No. All native snakes in New South Wales are protected wildlife, and several species commonly encountered around Hornsby are venomous. The vast majority of snakebite hospital admissions involve someone trying to catch, kill or move a snake themselves. Step back, keep a visual from a safe distance, and call 1300 599 938.
What should I do while I'm waiting for the snake catcher?
Step back, bring children and pets indoors, and keep a visual on the snake from a safe distance if you can. Don't try to contain it, photograph it from up close or identify the species. If it slips into cover, watch the spot where you last saw it. Snakes often reappear within minutes once the area goes quiet.
Are snakes protected in New South Wales?
Yes. All native snakes are protected under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. They must be handled and relocated by licensed catchers. Sydney Snake Catcher operates under licence MWL103807.
Sydney Snake Catcher 1300 599 938. Licensed, insured, on call 24/7 across Hornsby and the wider Hornsby LGA.
