Some years back, Chris Williams — one of our senior catchers — retrieved a large female Red-bellied Black Snake from a Seven Hills property. While he was holding the snake, it regurgitated four adult striped marsh frogs (Limnodynastes peronii). Two of the four were still alive. One of them hopped away, which told us it was probably the last frog the snake had taken before the catch — and that by that point in the meal, the snake had given up on injecting venom and was simply swallowing prey alive. The frog that hopped off was free, but we suspect, given the porous skin of frogs and the time it had spent inside the snake, that the stomach acid would have had an irreversible effect on its skin. We never found out for certain.
The story is a useful one for Seven Hills specifically, because it tells you almost everything you need to know about the suburb’s snake population in a single anecdote. Seven Hills is red-belly country. Almost exclusively. The reason is the watercourses — natural creek lines and drainage corridors threading through the suburb that support a healthy population of frogs, particularly striped marsh frogs, which in turn support red-bellies. Eastern Browns turn up occasionally, but in Seven Hills the snake you are most likely to see is a Red-bellied Black.
If you have spotted a snake in Seven Hills, call Sydney Snake Catcher on 1300 599 938. We are the original and longest-running snake catching business of its kind in NSW, licensed, insured, and available every day of the year.
If you see a snake in Seven Hills:
You do not need to take a photo. You do not need to identify the snake. You do not need to follow it or get close. But if you can, try to keep a visual on the snake from a safe distance. If it disappears into cover, keep watching the spot where you last saw it — snakes will often reappear within minutes once the area goes quiet. Knowing where the snake last was makes our job much faster when we arrive. We stay on the phone with you, explain everything clearly, and guide you through the process from the moment you call.
The natural watercourses running through Seven Hills are the defining feature of the suburb’s snake population. Toongabbie Creek, Lalor Creek and their tributaries thread through the area, and the surrounding drainage corridors and reserves connect them into a wider waterway network reaching well beyond the suburb. These creek lines support permanent moisture, dense bankside vegetation and — critically — substantial populations of frogs.
The striped marsh frog (Limnodynastes peronii) is one of the more common species in the Seven Hills creek system. They are widespread, vocal, and prolific in damp suburban environments. They are also a primary prey item for Red-bellied Black Snakes. Wherever you have striped marsh frogs in numbers, you have red-bellies in numbers.
That is why the snake you are overwhelmingly most likely to encounter in Seven Hills is a red-belly. They follow the water, they follow the frogs, and they move out from the creek corridors into adjoining properties — particularly properties with pools, ponds, fish bowls, thick garden beds, or any feature that holds moisture.
Red-bellied Black Snake — almost all of them. This is overwhelmingly the species we catch in Seven Hills. They use the creek lines and drainage corridors as movement routes, and they will settle into any property that gives them frog and rodent activity, water, and undisturbed shelter. Pool pump housings are a particularly common find. Garden beds with thick mulch are another. Venomous, but generally far less defensive than browns. They will move away if given the chance.
Eastern Brown Snake. Possible, but uncommon in Seven Hills compared to most of the Blacktown LGA. When we do catch browns here, it is generally on the drier margins — properties further from the creek lines, the older industrial blocks, or the boundary streets running into adjoining suburbs. Highly venomous if encountered. Step back, keep a visual from a safe distance, and call us.
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 beetles. We will attend, identify the animal on site, and where appropriate either leave it where it is or relocate it to a safer part of the property.
The pattern is consistent across the suburb. Pool pump housings — almost always the first place to check. Pools and pool surrounds, particularly properties with a frog-friendly garden nearby. Garden beds with thick mulch, dense plantings, and water features. Under decks, verandahs and outdoor seating, especially anything close to a shaded damp corner. Along fences backing onto Toongabbie Creek, Lalor Creek or the connecting drainage corridors. Around stormwater pits and easements. Inside sheds and laundries where a snake has followed a frog in through a gap under the door. Around chicken coops, aviaries and outdoor pet bowls if water is left out.
Properties whose backyards face the creek line or sit on a drainage easement see the most activity by a clear margin.
The standard hardware-store reptile deterrents — powders, sprays, ultrasonic devices — do not work. Skip them. What actually works in Seven Hills specifically is anything that reduces the frog and water-feature appeal of the property. That doesn’t mean killing the frogs — they are beneficial wildlife and a sign of a healthy local creek system. But it does mean managing the conditions that make your particular property attractive. Keep pool pump housings tidy and free of cover. Thin out heavy garden beds along the boundary fence, particularly the side facing the creek. Keep grass short along the fence line. Don’t leave pet water bowls full overnight. Seal gaps under sheds, decks and pool pump enclosures. Reduce rodent activity around the property — red-bellies will take small mammals too, not just frogs.
A snake inside a Seven Hills home is an emergency. Red-bellies will follow frogs anywhere the frogs go, and that includes into garages, laundries and bathrooms if a damp gap gives them access. They can enter through open doors, gaps under garage rollers, plumbing penetrations or cracks beneath external doors. We attend snake-inside-the-house jobs across Seven Hills regularly through the warmer months. We respond as quickly as we can, locate the snake, remove it safely, and check the house is secure before we leave.
Sydney Snake Catcher is the original and longest-running snake catching business of its kind in NSW. We operate the largest network of qualified snake catchers in the state — when you call, the catcher closest to you is dispatched. Our senior catchers, including Chris Williams, are regularly in Seven Hills and the surrounding corridor.
We work calmly, without panic, and without making anyone feel judged about the state of their property. Red-bellies turn up in Seven Hills because the creek system delivers them. That’s the landscape, not the housekeeping. We explain what we are doing, what species we are dealing with, why the snake is on the property, and what — if anything — can be done to make it less likely to happen again.
If you see movement, hear rustling, or notice your pet fixated on one area of the yard, call 1300 599 938 immediately.
What snake is most common in Seven Hills? The Red-bellied Black Snake, by a very clear margin. Seven Hills is almost exclusively red-belly country. The natural watercourses running through the suburb — Toongabbie Creek, Lalor Creek and connecting drainage lines — support strong frog populations, and red-bellies follow the frogs.
Are there Eastern Brown Snakes in Seven Hills? Yes, but not in significant numbers compared to most of the Blacktown LGA. When we do catch browns in Seven Hills, it is generally on the drier margins away from the creek lines. The dominant species here is the red-belly.
What do red-bellied black snakes eat in Seven Hills? Predominantly frogs. The striped marsh frog (Limnodynastes peronii) is one of the most common prey items in this suburb. Red-bellies will also take other frog species, small lizards, small mammals and occasionally other snakes. We once retrieved a Seven Hills red-belly that regurgitated four adult striped marsh frogs while being handled — two of which were still alive at the time.
Why do I keep finding red-bellies near my pool? Pools offer water. Pool pump housings offer warmth and dark, undisturbed shelter. The surrounding garden often has frog and small-mammal activity. It is the single most common combination we attend in Seven Hills. The pump housing and the garden beds immediately around it are the first places to check.
How quickly can a snake catcher get to Seven Hills? We operate the largest network of snake catchers in NSW and dispatch the catcher closest to you. Seven Hills sits within our core service area and we have catchers in the corridor regularly. Response times vary with traffic and existing jobs, and we prioritise active sightings.
Sydney Snake Catcher — 1300 599 938 Licensed, insured, and on call 24/7 across Seven Hills and the wider Blacktown LGA.
Nearby Suburbs We Service: Toongabbie, Lalor Park, Kings Langley, Blacktown
