A large brown snake was removed from beneath the front doorstep of a Minchinbury home today after choosing one of the most awkward hiding places imaginable.
The resident knew the snake was close to the entrance, but the solid step left very little room to see or reach it safely. Situations like this are a good reminder that snakes do not always remain in open gardens. A narrow, sheltered space beside a frequently used doorway can offer shade, cover and a place to remain undisturbed.
A difficult position beside the main entrance
The snake’s position made this a challenging call-out. The front door could not be treated as a normal access point while the animal remained underneath the step, and trying to flush it out or reach underneath by hand would have created unnecessary risk.
Harley Jones of Snakes in the City assessed the available space and kept the area controlled before beginning the removal. Harley operates under NSW General Licence MWL000102655 and provides one experienced point of contact for snake removals across Sydney.
Specialist equipment for a controlled removal
For this job, Harley used a professional wide-jaw snake-handling tool with a locking mechanism. The equipment allowed him to gain controlled contact with the snake while keeping his hands and body away from its head. After a careful and difficult extraction, the snake was secured, removed from the entrance and transported for humane relocation in a suitable area in accordance with wildlife requirements.
Why brown snakes must be treated seriously
Brown snakes are highly venomous. Colour alone is not a reliable way to identify a snake, so any unidentified snake should be treated cautiously and observed only from a safe distance. Protective clothing and specialist equipment support a professional response, but they are not a substitute for training, sound judgement and experience.
If a snake is near a doorway, do not step over it, block it in or try to lift the structure it has hidden beneath. Keep children and pets away, avoid vibration and disturbance around the hiding place, and call a licensed snake catcher. If someone is bitten, call 000 immediately.
What this Minchinbury call-out teaches us
- Check around steps, gaps and sheltered edges before placing hands or feet where you cannot see.
- Do not assume a snake will move away simply because an entrance is busy.
- Keep the snake’s last known location under observation from a safe position.
- Leave difficult access and capture work to a trained, licensed professional.
Residents can read more about the Eastern Brown Snake, find local information for a snake catcher in Minchinbury, or review our guide on what to do if you see a snake.
Snake at your Minchinbury property?
Keep people and pets back and call Harley Jones at Snakes in the City on 0411 103 488 for licensed snake removal across Sydney.
For other situations, visit Snake Removal Sydney or see the full range of snake removal services.
Snake safety at a glance
A snake on your property?
How your call is handled
Suspected human snakebite? Call 000 immediately.