1
Move away
Bring children and pets indoors or into a closed room. Give the snake several metres of space and avoid sudden movement.
Local snake removal · available 24/7
Snake Catcher Cheltenham
A snake at your Cheltenham home, workplace or property needs calm, professional handling. Keep people and pets well back, maintain a safe view if possible, and call Snakes in the City for snake capture and removal.
✓ Experienced local snake catcher✓ Homes, schools and commercial properties✓ Clear safety guidance while help is arranged
What to do when you see a snake in Cheltenham
Create distance first. Do not identify, corner, touch, trap or kill the snake. Never put yourself between it and an escape route.
2
Watch safely
If it is safe, watch from behind a closed window, fence or other secure position. Note its last-known location without chasing it.
3
Call Snakes in the City
Provide the address, access instructions, where the snake was last seen and whether it is indoors, outside, injured or trapped.
Suspected snakebite: call 000 immediately
Keep the person still, apply a pressure immobilisation bandage if available, and wait for an ambulance. Do not wash the bite, cut or suck the wound, use a tight tourniquet, or try to catch the snake.
Why snakes may turn up around Cheltenham
Hornsby Shire contains extensive bushland, wetlands and creeks. Most local catchments drain toward the lower Hawkesbury River, while the southern part of the Shire drains toward the Lane Cove River and Sydney Harbour. Sandstone slopes, gullies, established gardens and reserve boundaries create very different access and shelter conditions from one property to the next.
Within Cheltenham, conditions vary from street to street. Property layout, nearby open space, drainage, vegetation, construction activity and prey are more useful indicators than the suburb name alone.
A snake may be passing through rather than living on the property. Water, prey, warmth and temporary shelter matter more than suburb boundaries.
Places to check without putting yourself at risk
Do not search by reaching into concealed spaces. These are details to report to the catcher from a safe position.
Around buildings
- gaps under doors, gates and sheds
- garage edges, laundries and utility areas
- openings around pipes or wall penetrations
Gardens and yards
- dense groundcover and fence lines
- rock walls, pots and retaining structures
- pool equipment, compost and garden storage
Stored materials
- timber, roofing and building supplies
- pallets, machinery and stacked equipment
- areas showing rodent or frog activity
Meet Harley and see regional snake habitat
These first-hand Snakes in the City photographs help identify the person attending and illustrate snakes and habitat relevant to the wider region. Species cannot be confirmed from a description alone; keep a safe distance and call for advice.
Snakes that may occur in Hornsby Shire and the northern bushland suburbs
This is regional context, not a promise that either species occurs on every Cheltenham property. Never rely on colour alone: age, lighting and natural variation make quick identification unreliable.
Diamond python
May occur in Sydney bushland environments. Although non-venomous, it is a protected wild animal and can defend itself if handled.
Red-bellied black snake
May use creek lines and wetter gullies. Maintain distance and never enter dense vegetation to confirm an identification.
Making a Cheltenham property less attractive to snakes
No garden design can guarantee a snake-free property. The practical goal is to reduce concealed shelter and the food sources that attract prey.
- maintain grass and garden edges so the ground is visible
- raise stored timber and materials where practical
- seal appropriate building gaps with pest-proof materials
- control rodents and clean spilled pet, bird or poultry feed
- trim dense vegetation away from commonly used doors and paths
- wear enclosed footwear and gloves around concealed outdoor areas
Urgent medical and veterinary contacts for the region
These verified contacts are included for safety, not as endorsements. A human snakebite is always a 000 emergency; do not drive the patient to hospital yourself unless emergency services direct you.
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital
Palmerston Road, Hornsby NSW 2077
Hospital information: (02) 9477 9123
Suspected snakebite: call 000, not the hospital switchboard.
North Shore Veterinary Specialist and Emergency Centre
63 Herbert Street, Artarmon NSW 2064
24/7 veterinary option: (02) 9436 4884
Keep pets away from the snake and call the veterinary team for transport advice.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly should I call after seeing a snake?
Call while you still know where it is, provided you can do so safely. A snake can disappear into vegetation, a roof space or stored material quickly.
Should I send a photograph?
Only take a photograph from a safe distance using zoom and a physical barrier. Never move closer or block the snake to get a clearer image.
Can I shut the snake in a room?
If it is already inside a room and you can close the door without going near it, do so and place a towel along the door gap. Do not re-enter.
Does a tidy yard stop every snake?
No. Maintenance can reduce cover and prey activity, but snakes can still pass through well-kept Cheltenham properties.
What should I tell the catcher?
Give the exact address, safest access point, last-known position, whether the snake is indoors or outside, and any nearby pets, people or site hazards.
More snake safety information
Removal services
Regional service area
Safety guidance
Local and nearby snake-catcher guides
These links connect Cheltenham with nearby service pages.
Snake Catcher Beecroft
View local safety, property and contact information for Beecroft.
Snake Catcher Pennant Hills
View local safety, property and contact information for Pennant Hills.
Snake Catcher North Epping
View local safety, property and contact information for North Epping.
Need a snake catcher in Cheltenham?
Keep your distance and call Snakes in the City. If anyone may have been bitten, call 000 immediately.