If you find a snake on your Umina Beach property, call The Snake Catchers on 1300 599 938. We will dispatch a qualified local catcher who lives and works on the Central Coast and covers Umina Beach and surrounding suburbs. Most jobs are attended within around 30 minutes.
While you wait, keep everyone clear, maintain a safe distance and do not attempt to catch or move the snake.
The most useful thing you can do is keep watching where it goes. A snake that remains visible is much easier to locate and remove. If it disappears, remember exactly where you last saw it. There is no need to identify the species or approach it for a photograph.
Umina Beach sits on the southern side of the Brisbane Water peninsula, with ocean frontage, established residential streets and Mount Ettalong rising to the west. These different parts of the suburb produce different reptile activity.
Diamond Pythons are regularly found in roof cavities throughout Umina Beach. Lace Monitors occur more often around Mount Ettalong, where bushland connects directly with residential streets. Red-bellied Black Snakes follow frogs and moisture through the suburb’s creek and drainage systems.
All native snakes and Lace Monitors are protected under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. They should be handled only by an appropriately licensed wildlife handler.
Call The Snake Catchers on 1300 599 938 for snake removal in Umina Beach and surrounding suburbs.
Diamond Pythons are the snakes we attend most often in Umina Beach, followed by Red-bellied Black Snakes. Green Tree Snakes and Golden-crowned Snakes are also regularly encountered. Eastern Blue-tongued Lizards are among the reptiles most frequently reported, while Eastern Water Dragons and Lace Monitors occur around suitable habitat. Eastern Brown Snakes are less common but occasionally appear.
The Snake Catchers operates a network of qualified, licensed catchers across New South Wales. The catcher attending your Umina Beach call lives and works on the Central Coast. Call 1300 599 938 to connect with them.
Diamond Pythons are large, non-venomous snakes with black scales and yellow or cream markings. Adults commonly reach between two and three metres.
They follow rats and possums into roof cavities, established gardens and areas around sandstone walls. Where it is safe for one to remain, our catcher may recommend leaving it alone because Diamond Pythons help control rodents. If relocation is necessary, call 1300 599 938.
Red-bellied Black Snakes are glossy black with red or pink colouring underneath. Adults generally reach between one and a half and two metres.
They follow frogs and moisture through drainage lines, creek corridors, pool areas, ponds and damp gardens. They are venomous but will generally move away when given enough space.
Green Tree Snakes are slender, fast-moving and excellent climbers. They may be green, olive, grey or almost black, usually with a yellow underside.
They are completely non-venomous and move through trees, shrubs, pergolas and fence lines while hunting skinks, geckos and frogs.
Golden-crowned Snakes are small, nocturnal snakes generally measuring less than 60 centimetres. They have dark bodies with distinctive pale markings across the head.
They are mildly venomous, but their bites are not considered dangerous to humans. They shelter beneath rocks, pavers, garden edging and damp leaf litter.
Eastern Blue-tongued Lizards are large native skinks commonly mistaken for snakes. When frightened, they may flatten their bodies, hiss and display their bright blue tongues.
They are non-venomous and beneficial, feeding on snails, slugs and insects. Most outdoor sightings require no action.
Eastern Water Dragons are large native lizards found around freshwater drainage, creek lines, ponds, pools and suitable basking areas.
Their size and long tails mean they are often reported as snakes. They are non-venomous, and most can be left alone unless injured or trapped.
Lace Monitors are large native goannas found around bushland-edge properties. Adults can exceed two metres, including the tail.
They generally move away when given enough room but can deliver a serious defensive bite or scratch if cornered. Do not feed or attempt to catch one.
Eastern Brown Snakes are less common around Umina Beach but may occur on drier, more open properties.
They are fast-moving and highly venomous. If you see one, step back, watch where it goes from a safe distance and call 1300 599 938.
Different reptiles use different parts of a property:
Common shelter and movement areas include:
Never reach into a concealed space when a snake may be present.
Step back and watch where the snake goes from a safe position. Do not attempt to catch, move or contain it. There is no need to approach it for a photograph or try to identify the species.
Call 1300 599 938. If the snake disappears, remember exactly where you last saw it and leave the surrounding area undisturbed.
If a Diamond Python is in the roof, do not enter the roof or attempt to pull it through an opening. Keep the area beneath the access clear and call for assistance.
If a snake enters the house, leave the room and close the door behind you if it is safe to do so. Do not move furniture trying to find it. Call 1300 599 938 immediately.
Treat every suspected snakebite as a medical emergency:
Snake-deterrent powders, sprays and ultrasonic devices are not effective.
For Diamond Pythons, reduce rat and possum activity in the roof and seal entry points where possible. For Red-bellied Black Snakes, keep pool-pump areas clear and manage dense, damp vegetation near the house.
Reducing heavy leaf litter and thick vegetation may also limit shelter for Green Tree Snakes and Golden-crowned Snakes. Eastern Blue-tongued Lizards are beneficial native animals and generally do not require removal.
Other useful measures include:
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the catcher actually be a Central Coast local?
Yes. The Snake Catchers dispatches to a network of qualified, licensed catchers across New South Wales. The catcher who attends your call in Umina Beach lives and works on the Central Coast.
How quickly will someone get to me in Umina Beach?
Response time depends on the catcher's location when the call comes through, but because they're local rather than driving up from Sydney, it's typically quick. Most Central Coast calls are attended within around thirty minutes, often sooner. We stay on the phone with you until the catcher arrives.
What's the most common snake in Umina Beach?
Diamond Python is the species we attend most often in Umina Beach, particularly in roof cavities and around mature gardens. Red-bellied Black Snake is the next most common, along creek lines and around pool surrounds. Green Tree Snakes and Golden-crowned Snakes are both regularly attended. Lace Monitors turn up across the bushland-edge and reserve-adjacent blocks, the Central Coast has one of the heaviest Lace Monitor populations in the state.
I'm near the water. What does that change?
Proximity to creek lines and ocean foreshore produces a particular reptile profile. Red-bellied Black Snake activity is heavier because the water concentrates frog populations. Eastern Water Dragons are common along the foreshore and around pool surrounds, and they're often called in as snake sightings before residents realise what they are. Diamond Python movement is also heavier along the water-adjacent bushland.
Is a Python in the roof normal on the Central Coast?
Yes, it's a regular feature of life here. Diamond Pythons follow rats and possums into roof cavities, particularly in older tiled-roof homes and on bushland-edge blocks. Our catcher attends Python-in-roof calls year-round. The work is straightforward when done by a trained handler and the python is unharmed in the process.
Did I do something wrong to have a snake on my property?
No. Snakes move through every suburb on the Central Coast. Your property isn't the reason, it's just on the route. Snake sightings aren't a sign of an unclean property, they just mean the local environment provides food, water, warmth and shelter.
Does one snake mean more are nearby?
No. Snakes don't travel in pairs, don't form groups, and don't nest in suburban yards. One sighting almost always means one snake.
How do I tell a Diamond Python from a Red-belly?
Diamond Pythons are larger and heavier, with a distinctive yellow or cream rosette pattern on a black background, and they tend to stay still when you find them. Red-bellies are slimmer, glossy black with a red or pink underside, and they move away when approached. Send through a photo from a safe distance and the catcher can usually identify the species before they arrive.
Should I try to remove the snake myself?
No. All native snakes in New South Wales are protected wildlife, and several species in Umina Beach are venomous, including the Eastern Brown, which is clinically the most dangerous land snake in Australia. Diamond Pythons aren't venomous but they're large and powerful and they bite when handled. The vast majority of snakebite hospital admissions involve someone trying to catch, kill or move a snake themselves. Step back, keep a visual, and call 1300 599 938.
Are snakes protected in New South Wales?
Yes. All native snakes, plus Blue-tongued Lizards, Eastern Water Dragons and Lace Monitors, are protected under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. They must be handled and relocated by licensed catchers. Every The Snake Catchers catcher holds a current NSW reptile keeper or biodiversity licence.
The Snake Catchers 1300 599 938. A network of forty-seven qualified, licensed local snake catchers across NSW. On call 24/7 across Umina Beach and the wider Central Coast.
