If there's a snake at your home or property in South Turramurra, call 1300 599 938. Stay a safe distance, move pets clear of the area, and keep your eyes on the snake from a safe spot. The single most useful thing you can do before we arrive is maintain visual contact - a snake that's been watched continuously is far easier to locate. A snake that's disappeared will often reappear, but if we arrive and can't find it, we will need to leave. You don't need to take a photo or identify the species, just watch where it goes.
Call Sydney Snake Catcher on 1300 599 938
If you've found a snake on your South Turramurra property, call 1300 599 938. We're usually on site within around thirty minutes depending on traffic and access, and we operate twenty-four hours across South Turramurra and the wider Ku-ring-gai LGA.
South Turramurra sits on the western side of the Turramurra ridge, with the Lane Cove River and Lane Cove National Park forming the western and southern boundaries. The Lane Cove River frontage and the connecting bushland produce a more riverine character than the suburbs further east, with the gully country dropping away to the river and the riparian corridor running close to many of the established streets.
Large blocks with deep established gardens, sandstone retaining walls, terraced terrain and a mix of mid-century, 1970s and modern housing. Pool density is high. The combination of Lane Cove River frontage, sandstone country, mature gardens and pool density produces a Diamond Python-led callout profile, with strong Red-belly and Golden-crowned Snake populations, Green Tree Snakes through the gardens, and Eastern Water Dragons along the river and pool surrounds.
Diamond Python. A major species in our South Turramurra work given the Lane Cove National Park frontage. Non-venomous, but large, adults reach two to three metres and they're powerfully built. The bushland exposure, mature gardens and tiled-roof homes sustain a strong resident Python population, and roof cavities are a major job category. Pythons follow rodents and possums into the roof and settle in. We also find them on warm sandstone 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 South Turramurra work. Particularly common given the Lane Cove River frontage, the riparian corridor and the wet gully drainages. 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. Venomous, but generally far less defensive than Browns. They will move away if given the chance.
Golden-crowned Snake. Common in South Turramurra, although most residents never see one. Small, nocturnal, with a pale crown 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 South Turramurra 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 South Turramurra, 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 Water Dragon. Present in South Turramurra given the Lane Cove River frontage. Large native dragon lizards with grey-olive scales, distinctive dark banding and a long flattened tail. Often basking on sandstone outcrops, around pool surrounds, on decks or along the river bank. Frequently called in as snake sightings because of the size and the way they sit motionless before bolting. They're harmless, beneficial, and protected. Most sightings don't require relocation, the dragon moves on. We attend when one has settled somewhere it can't be left, or where it's distressed and trapped.
Blue-tongued Lizard. Not a snake, but the reptile we are called for almost as often. 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.
The species mix in South Turramurra makes more sense once you know what each one is following. Diamond Pythons follow rats, mice and possums, which is why they end up in roof cavities. Red-bellied Black Snakes follow frogs and moisture, which is why they concentrate along the Lane Cove River and the wet gully drainages. 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 Water Dragons follow the river corridor and sandstone basking sites.
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 Lane Cove National Park.
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 the Lane Cove River or the gully drainages.
For Golden-crowned Snakes: under pot plants and raised tubs, in garden edging, under sandstone blocks and rockeries, in 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 Water Dragons: on sandstone outcrops, around pool surrounds, on decks, along fences facing the river, in pool fence corners and on warm driveways.
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 on a Lane Cove-edge street, a Diamond Python is one of the more likely explanations. Possums and rats are the others. We can tell the difference on site.
If a snake is inside the house, this is an emergency. Leave the room, close the door behind you, and call 1300 599 938.
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.
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 the river. Manage frog activity where it has concentrated against the house, without killing the frogs, they're protected.
For Golden-crowned Snakes, lift pot plants and raised tubs off the ground where you can, clear leaf litter from sheltered corners, and tidy garden edging.
How quickly can a snake catcher get to South Turramurra?
We're usually on site in South Turramurra within around thirty minutes, depending on traffic and access. Sydney Snake Catcher operates twenty-four hours a day across the suburb and the wider Ku-ring-gai LGA. Call 1300 599 938.
Did I do something wrong to have a snake on my property?
No. Snakes move through every suburb on the North Shore. 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.
What snakes are most common in South Turramurra?
Diamond Pythons are a major species in our South Turramurra work given the Lane Cove National Park frontage. Red-bellied Black Snakes are particularly common too, given the Lane Cove River and the wet gully drainages. Golden-crowned Snakes are common in the sandstone country and deep established gardens, though most residents never see one. Eastern Water Dragons turn up along the river and around pool surrounds.
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 South Turramurra 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.
Are snakes protected in New South Wales?
Yes. All native snakes, plus Eastern Water Dragons and Blue-tongued Lizards, 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 South Turramurra and the wider Ku-ring-gai LGA.
