Snake Catcher Longueville

Why Longueville Gets the Snake Activity It Does

Longueville is a small residential peninsula extending into the Lane Cove River south of Lane Cove village, with significant river frontage on three sides. The suburb is predominantly established residential in federation, inter-war and mid-century character housing on substantial blocks, mature canopy, sandstone retaining walls everywhere, and the river corridor wrapping the eastern, southern and western sides.

Longueville's peninsula geography and the sandstone-foreshore character produce heavy Diamond Python and Water Dragon activity. Red-belly calls are regular along the river and around pool surrounds. The mature established gardens and the leaf litter against the sandstone walls also generate Golden-crowned Snake calls.

Diamond Python is the species we attend most often in Longueville, with Red-bellied Black Snake the next most common, particularly along the Lane Cove River corridor and around pool pump housings. Green Tree Snakes and Golden-crowned Snakes are both regularly encountered given the sandstone retaining walls, the mature canopy and the moister microhabitats around established houses. Blue-tongues are the single most-called reptile in the suburb overall. Eastern Water Dragons are prominent along the Lane Cove River frontage and around pool surrounds on river-adjacent blocks. Eastern Browns are uncommon in this country but occasionally occur.

The Reptiles We Attend in Longueville

Diamond Python. The species we attend most often in Longueville. Non-venomous, but large, adults reach two to three metres and they're powerfully built. Black scales with yellow or cream rosette patterns. Diamond Pythons follow rodents and possums, which is why they end up in roof cavities, in mature gardens, on warm sandstone walls and along fence lines facing reserve or river corridor. They rely on camouflage rather than speed and usually stay still when you find them. Where it's safe to leave them in place, we encourage that, they're beneficial, keeping rodent numbers down. Where relocation is needed, their size and strength means it should be done by a trained handler. If you see one, step back and call 1300 599 938.

Red-bellied Black Snake. A major species in our Longueville work, particularly along the Lane Cove River corridor, the creek and gully systems threading down toward the river, and the wetter parts of foreshore-edge blocks. Glossy black with a red or pink underside, adults typically one and a half to two metres. Red-bellies follow frogs, so frog activity after rain and through the warmer months brings them through. They concentrate around pool surrounds and pool pump housings, ponds, water features, damp thick garden beds along boundary fences, and frog-active gully systems. Venomous, but considerably less defensive than Browns. They will move away if given space and only bite when cornered or grabbed.

Green Tree Snake. A common species in Longueville, properly attended here, not a tail-end inclusion. Slender, fast-moving, bright green or olive (sometimes grey or nearly black, with a yellow underside). Completely harmless and non-venomous. Excellent climbers with sharp eyesight. We get regular Green Tree Snake calls from Longueville given the river corridor, the mature canopy, the established gardens with old trees and dense planting, the pergolas, the fence lines and the connecting bushland. They feed on skinks, geckos and small frogs, and they're often spotted high up, moving along fence tops, eaves and pergola beams.

Golden-crowned Snake. A common species in Longueville, properly attended here, not a tail-end inclusion. Small (typically under sixty centimetres), nocturnal, with dark brown or olive body and a distinctive pale crown marking. Mildly venomous, but bites from this species are not considered dangerous to humans. Golden-crowned Snakes are right at home in the sandstone retaining walls, deep leaf litter, damp shaded garden corners and moister microhabitats that characterise the established Lower North Shore. They feed on small skinks and frogs and shelter under rocks, garden edging, in damp leaf litter and behind heritage sandstone. We get regular Golden-crowned calls through the warmer months.

Blue-tongued Lizard. Not a snake, but among the most-called reptiles in Longueville. Large, slow-moving native skinks that get mistaken for snakes constantly because of their size and the way they flatten their bodies when threatened. They flash a bright blue tongue, hiss, and look dangerous, but they're harmless, beneficial, and good for a garden. They eat snails, slugs and insects, and tend to settle in garages, sheds, garden beds, rockeries and under outdoor furniture. If you've called a snake catcher because there's a large reptile in the shed, there's a real chance it's a Bluey, and the simplest way to find out is to send through a photo.

Eastern Water Dragon. A prominent species in Longueville given the Lane Cove River corridor and the harbour foreshore exposure. Large native dragon lizards with grey-olive scales, distinctive dark banding and a long flattened tail. Often basking on river rocks, on sandstone outcrops along the foreshore, around pool surrounds on river or harbour-adjacent blocks, on decks facing the water and on warm driveways. Frequently called in as snake sightings because of the size and the way they sit motionless before bolting. Harmless, beneficial, protected. Most sightings don't require relocation. We attend when one has settled somewhere it can't be left, or where it's distressed and trapped.

Eastern Brown Snake. Uncommon in Longueville given the sandstone-foreshore character of the suburb, but occasionally encountered. When we do attend a Brown here, it tends to be on the drier western or northern edges where housing transitions toward more open ground, or around the more exposed industrial and commercial precincts. Slender, fast-moving, venomous, and clinically the most dangerous land snake in Australia. Browns are not the species this suburb is built around, but if you see one, step back, keep a visual, and call 1300 599 938.

Which Species Follows What

The species mix in Longueville follows habitat tightly. Diamond Pythons follow rats and possums into roof cavities, mature gardens and along sandstone walls. Red-bellies follow frogs and moisture, concentrating along drainage easements, creek and gully systems and around pool pump housings. Green Tree Snakes follow skinks and geckos through pergolas, fence lines and mature plantings. Golden-crowned Snakes follow small skinks and frogs through damp leaf litter and under sandstone retaining wall caps. Blue-tongues follow snails, slugs and insects through garden beds and shed corners. Eastern Water Dragons follow the river corridor and basking sites on river-adjacent properties.

Where We Find Reptiles on Longueville Properties

For Diamond Pythons: roof cavities of older tiled-roof homes (especially small gaps under the eaves and around the chimney), on warm sandstone retaining walls, curled behind thick shrubs, along fence lines facing reserve or river corridor, in the mature gardens of established homes, in garages and sheds adjacent to roof access points.

For Red-bellied Black Snakes: pool pump housings and pool surrounds, water features and ponds, drainage easements and creek corridors running down toward the river, thick damp garden beds along boundary fences, under decks and verandahs in shaded damp corners, frog-active areas after rain.

For Green Tree Snakes: along fences and fence tops, through pergolas, around roof lines and eaves, in mature shrubs and trees, along garden edges, around bird-feeding areas, in established gardens with old trees and dense planting.

For Golden-crowned Snakes: under sandstone retaining wall caps, in deep leaf litter against the house, under garden edging, stepping stones and pavers, in damp shaded corners behind thick planting, in heritage stone walls.

For Blue-tongues: garden beds, rockeries, behind shrubs near walls, under timber piles and leaf litter, garages and sheds (the single most common Bluey location), compost bins, under outdoor furniture.

For Eastern Water Dragons: along the Lane Cove River bank, on sandstone outcrops along the foreshore, around pool surrounds on river-adjacent blocks, on decks facing the water, on warm driveways, on retaining walls along the foreshore.

What to Do If You See a Snake in Longueville

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. You don't need to follow the snake, we use species behaviour, temperature, time of day and property layout to work out where it's likely gone and locate it from there.

If the snake is a Diamond Python in the roof cavity, you don't need to evacuate or panic. Pythons are non-venomous and slow. Keep the area below the roof access calm, don't try to bring the python down yourself, and call 1300 599 938.

If a snake is inside the house, this is an emergency. They get in through open sliding doors, garage gaps, holes around pipes, ventilation openings and worn door seals. Leave the room, close the door behind you, and call 1300 599 938.

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:

• Call 000 immediately.
• Keep the patient still and calm. Movement spreads venom through the lymphatic system.
• Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage firmly over the bite site, then bandage the entire limb from fingers or toes up to the armpit or groin.
• Splint the limb if you can, to prevent movement.
• Do not wash the bite. Venom residue on the skin helps hospital staff identify the species and choose the right antivenom.
• Do not try to catch, kill or photograph the snake from close range.
• Wait for paramedics, or get the patient to hospital as fast as is safely possible.

Australian antivenom is highly effective when administered promptly. Time matters.

What Actually Reduces Reptile Activity on a Longueville Property

Deterrent products sold at hardware stores, powders, sprays, ultrasonic devices, are not effective. Don't waste money on them.

For Diamond Pythons, the most useful thing is reducing rodent and possum activity in the roof cavity. Pythons follow rats and possums. Seal roof entry points where you can and address roof rodent activity through proper control. Don't try to remove a Python yourself, they're large and strong, and they bite when handled.

For Red-bellied Black Snakes, keep pool pump housings clear and unappealing as shelter. Manage drainage easements and creek corridors where they touch the property, thin out heavy damp garden beds along boundary fences, and manage frog activity where it has concentrated against the house, without killing the frogs, they're protected.

For Green Tree Snakes and Golden-crowned Snakes, these are smaller and harmless to mildly venomous species, and most people leave them alone once they understand what they're looking at. If they're in a position where they can't be left, we attend. Reduce deep leaf litter against the house and tidy heavy planting against sandstone walls if recurring sightings are an issue.

For Blue-tongues, they're not pests, they're beneficial. The goal isn't to reduce them, just to be aware they'll shelter in the shed, garage and garden beds.

Beyond species-specific measures: mow grass often, clear leaf litter, trim vegetation next to walls and fences, tidy sheds and garages, store timber off the ground, seal small gaps, secure outdoor pet food and reduce rodent activity.