Hidden Red-Bellied Black Snake Located Beneath Sheet Metal at Box Hill

A red-bellied black snake hidden beneath a sheet of metal at a Box Hill property was located and removed today after specialist inspection equipment helped pinpoint exactly where it was sheltering.

The resident knew a snake had disappeared into the area, but once it moved beneath the metal there was no safe line of sight. Lifting the sheet without knowing the snake’s position could have brought a person far too close to it. Instead, Harley Jones of Snakes in the City first worked out where the snake was hiding and planned the removal around that information.

A snake hidden where nobody could safely see

Sheet metal, stored building materials and low gaps around yards can create cool, protected spaces that appeal to snakes. They can also make a call-out more complicated. A snake may be only a short distance away but remain completely hidden, and guessing its position is never a sound approach.

For this Box Hill job, Harley used an inspection camera similar to an endoscope. Its small camera and light could be guided into the dark, restricted space without putting a hand underneath the sheet. The live view soon revealed the red-bellied black snake’s exact position.

Finding the snake before attempting removal

Locating a concealed snake is an important part of controlling the risk. Once Harley could see where the animal was sitting and how it might move, he was able to approach the removal carefully. The snake was caught, safely removed from the property and later humanely relocated in suitable habitat in accordance with wildlife requirements.

The resident was understandably relieved and very grateful to see the snake leave. What looked like a difficult guessing game became a controlled job because the right equipment was combined with experience and patience.

Specialist equipment supports experience

An inspection camera is useful in places such as narrow voids, beneath fixed structures and around stacked materials, but the camera does not catch the snake. Its value is in providing information before a trained catcher makes the next decision. Equipment should never give an untrained person a false sense of security around a venomous animal.

Harley operates Snakes in the City under NSW General Licence MWL000102655. The business has one experienced point of contact, from the initial phone call through to the removal.

What to do if a snake disappears under sheet metal

• Do not lift, kick or drag the sheet to make the snake move.
• Keep children and pets well away from the area.
• Watch the snake’s last known position from a safe distance if you can do so without approaching it.
• Call a licensed snake catcher and explain where the snake was last seen.

Red-bellied black snakes are venomous and should not be handled or cornered. Colour and markings can also be misleading, so leave identification to an experienced person. If anyone is bitten, call 000 immediately.

Read more about the Red-bellied Black Snake, find local help from a snake catcher in Box Hill, or review our guide on what to do if you see a snake.

For other situations, visit Snake Removal Sydney or see the full range of snake removal services.

Arrange help for your property

For a snake hidden around a shed, garden or stored materials, keep clear and contact our Sydney snake-removal team. Our back office checks working catcher availability and known locations when arranging a new call-out.

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