Killarney Vale backs onto the southern shore of Tuggerah Lake, sitting between Berkeley Vale and Long Jetty. Older homes on the flats, big trees, lake frontage and wetland right along the northern edge. That combination is exactly what keeps reptiles active in this suburb year round.
Found a snake on your property? Call The Snake Catchers on 1300 599 938. We'll send a licensed catcher who lives on the Central Coast and knows this stretch of the lake well. Usually there within 30 minutes.
Keep back and don't try to catch it or move it yourself. Best thing you can do is keep an eye on it. If you're watching it the whole time, we can find it fast. If it slips off before we get there, it might still be close by, but it's a lot harder to track down. No need for a photo, no need to know what it is, just don't lose the spot.
Diamond python. Top of the list for call outs in Killarney Vale. Doesn't have venom but it's a solid unit, adults hit two to three metres, black with cream or yellow blotches. With the lake on one side and mature gardens through the suburb, pythons move through roof spaces, sandstone and fence lines chasing rats and possums. If it's not causing a problem, we'll often leave it where it is.
Red bellied black snake. Second most common. Glossy black, red or pink underneath, usually one and a half to two metres. Follows frogs and water, so the wetland edges and creek lines feeding into Tuggerah Lake are prime territory. Venomous but not looking for a fight, it'll clear off if you give it room.
Green tree snake. Regular around here. Bright green, sometimes darker, fast and a good climber. Completely harmless. Lives off skinks and small frogs, usually up in trees, fences or pergolas.
Golden crowned snake. Small, under 60cm, comes out at night. Mildly venomous but not a real danger to people. Sticks to damp, shaded spots, under leaf litter and garden edging.
Eastern water dragon. Common along the lake foreshore. Big lizard, grey olive with dark banding, often basking on rocks or a warm deck. Gets mistaken for a snake all the time because of its size, but it's harmless and protected.
Every reptile on this list is protected under NSW law. Only a licensed handler can legally catch or move one, snake or lizard.
Step back, keep your distance, and don't try to identify or handle it yourself. Keep watching where it is or where it went. Then call 1300 599 938 and we'll get someone to you.
Call The Snake Catchers on 1300 599 938 any time for snake removal in Killarney Vale and the surrounding suburbs.
If you find a snake on your property in Killarney Vale, call The Snake Catchers on 1300 599 938. The catcher who comes out lives and works on the Central Coast, so they know the local species, the seasons and the area itself, not someone driving up from Sydney.
Diamond python. This is the reptile we get called out for most in Killarney Vale. It's not venomous, but it's a big animal, adults grow two to three metres and are strong. Black with cream or yellow markings. The Central Coast is ideal python country, sandstone, bushland, warm tiled roofs and big old trees all suit them. They follow rats and possums, which is how they end up in roof spaces, on warm sandstone, in gardens and along fences near reserve land. They tend to stay still and rely on blending in rather than moving fast. If it's safe to leave one where it is, we usually will, they help keep rodent numbers down. If it needs to be moved, that's a job for a trained handler given the size.
Red bellied black snake. Another major species here. Glossy black with a red or pink underside, usually one and a half to two metres long. These follow frogs, so they show up more after rain and through the warmer months, around the Tuggerah Lake foreshore, drainage lines, creeks, pool areas, ponds and damp garden beds. They're venomous but far less defensive than a brown snake. Given space, they'll move off, and they only bite if cornered or grabbed.
Green tree snake. A common, completely harmless snake around Killarney Vale. Bright green or olive, sometimes darker, slender and fast, with excellent eyesight and climbing ability. You'll usually spot them up in trees, on fences or pergolas, hunting skinks, geckos and small frogs.
Golden crowned snake. Small, under 60cm, and only active at night. It has a pale marking on its head, hence the name. Mildly venomous, but not considered dangerous to people. Likes sandstone, retaining walls and damp leaf litter, and feeds on small skinks and frogs.
Blue tongue lizard. Not a snake, but one of the reptiles we're called about most in Killarney Vale, because it's big, hisses and flattens itself when it feels threatened. Completely harmless and genuinely good to have around, it eats snails, slugs and insects. Usually found in garden beds, garages, sheds and under outdoor furniture. If there's a large reptile in your shed, there's a decent chance it's a bluey rather than a snake.
Eastern water dragon. Common along the Tuggerah Lake foreshore. A large lizard with grey olive scales and dark banding, often basking on rocks, decks or driveways near the water. Frequently mistaken for a snake because of its size, but it's harmless and protected.
Eastern brown snake. Not common in Killarney Vale, the bushland, sandstone and waterfront setting here doesn't really suit them, but they do turn up occasionally, more often on the drier ground toward the western edges than near the lake. It's slender, fast moving, venomous, and considered the most dangerous land snake in Australia. If you do see one, keep your distance, keep a visual, and call us.
Every animal on this list is protected under NSW law. Snake or lizard, only a licensed catcher can legally handle or relocate them.
Pythons tend to turn up in roof cavities of older tiled roof homes, on warm sandstone, in thick garden beds, and along fences facing bushland. Red bellies favour pool pump areas, ponds, creek lines and damp garden beds, especially after rain. Green tree snakes stick to fences, pergolas and mature trees. Golden crowned snakes hide under sandstone caps, garden edging and deep leaf litter. Blue tongues are most often found in sheds and garages. Water dragons stay close to the lake, on rocks, decks and driveways.
Keep your distance and don't try to handle, trap or move it yourself. If you can, keep a visual on it from a safe spot. If it disappears into cover, remember exactly where it went, that's the single most helpful thing for the catcher when they arrive. You don't need a photo and you don't need to identify the species. Call 1300 599 938 and we'll stay on the phone with you.
If it's a python in the roof, there's no need to panic, it's not dangerous, just don't try to bring it down yourself.
If a snake gets inside the house, this can happen through open doors, gaps around pipes, vents or worn door seals. Leave the room, shut the door behind you, and call us straight away.
Call 000 immediately. Apply a firm pressure bandage, starting at the bite and working up the limb, then back down. Don't cut, wash or suck the bite. Keep the limb as still as possible, splint it if you can. Keep the person calm and still, movement spreads venom faster. Mark the bite site on the bandage with a pen if you have one. Don't try to identify, photograph or catch the snake. Stay with the person and wait for the ambulance.
Sprays, powders and ultrasonic devices sold at hardware stores don't work, save your money.
For pythons, reduce rats and possums getting into the roof, that's what draws them in. For red bellies, keep pool pump areas and damp garden beds tidy, and manage drainage lines near the house. For tree snakes and golden crowns, clearing leaf litter and thick planting near the house can cut down sightings, though neither is dangerous. Blue tongues aren't something to get rid of, they're worth keeping around.
General upkeep helps overall: mow regularly, clear leaf litter, trim plants back from walls and fences, keep sheds tidy, store timber off the ground, seal small gaps, and don't leave pet food out.
Call The Snake Catchers on 1300 599 938 any time for snake removal in Killarney Vale and the surrounding suburbs.
Will I actually get a local catcher? Yes. The catcher who turns up to your place lives and works on the Central Coast. They're licensed and they know the area. Call 1300 599 938 and you're talking to someone local.
How fast will someone get here? It depends where the catcher is when your call comes in. Most jobs are attended within the hour, often within half an hour. We stay on the phone with you the whole time.
What am I most likely to find in my yard? Diamond pythons top the list in Killarney Vale, especially in roof cavities and around established gardens. Red bellied black snakes come in second, mostly near the lake, the wetlands and the creeks feeding into them. Green tree snakes and golden crowned snakes are both regulars too. Lace monitors also turn up on the bushland edge and reserve adjacent blocks, the Central Coast has one of the biggest lace monitor populations in the state.
Is a python in the roof normal, or should I be worried? Normal. Pythons follow rats and possums into roof spaces, particularly in older tiled roof homes near bushland. We deal with roof pythons all year and a trained catcher gets them out without harming them.
Did I do something wrong to attract a snake? No. Snakes move through every suburb on the Coast. A sighting just means your place offers food, water, warmth or shelter, not that your yard's a mess.
If I saw one snake, are there more nearby? No. Snakes don't travel in groups and don't nest together in backyards. One sighting means one snake.
Are these animals protected? Yes. Native snakes, blue tongue lizards, water dragons and lace monitors are all protected under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Only a licensed catcher can legally handle or relocate them.
Call The Snake Catchers on 1300 599 938, on call across Killarney Vale and the wider Central Coast.
