Keep the situation controlled
- Stop and move away slowly.
- Keep children, pets, staff and bystanders out of the area.
- Do not touch, trap, corner, poke or attempt to kill the snake.
- Watch where it goes from a safe position, but do not block its path or follow it into vegetation or storage.
- Take a zoomed photograph only if it can be done safely.
- Call Snakes in the City on 0411 103 488 and describe the location.
Avoid common causes of bites
Bites may occur when people approach, handle, corner or attempt to kill a snake. Never place hands into vegetation, boxes, gaps, machinery, roof spaces or storage areas after a snake disappears.
Suspected snake bite: call Triple Zero (000)
Treat every suspected Australian snake bite as a medical emergency. Call 000 for an ambulance, keep the person still and follow the emergency operator’s instructions. Apply pressure immobilisation if you are able and trained to do so. Do not wash, cut or suck the bite, and do not apply a tourniquet.
Official guidance: Healthdirect snake-bite first aid ↗
Clinical guideline source: Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation ↗
Identification does not make handling safe
A photograph may help Harley understand the possibilities, but colour and pattern can vary. Treat every unidentified snake with caution and maintain distance even if it appears non-venomous.
