Photo identification is free when Harley is available. Response times vary during call-outs. For a snake nearby now, call rather than waiting for a text reply.
Snake nearby? Stay calm and follow these steps
- Move back slowly. Give the snake space and avoid sudden movements.
- Clear the area. Keep children, pets and other people away.
- Watch from a safe position. Note where the snake was last seen without following it into cover.
- Call Snakes in the City. Phone 0411 103 488 and describe the location. Do not delay an urgent call to take a photograph.
If anyone is bitten, call 000 immediately and follow the snakebite first-aid guidance.
A safe first step
Help Harley understand what you saw
Identification can help guide the response, but it should never put you closer to the animal. Juveniles can look different from adults, lighting can change colour, and harmless and dangerous species may be confused.
Move children, visitors and pets away. Do not touch, pin, trap, spray or place the snake in a container. If it is safe, keep visual contact from a distance and call Snakes in the City on 0411 103 488.
Commonly recognised species
Snakes seen around Sydney
This gallery is educational only. Do not make handling decisions from an online comparison, and never approach a snake for a better look.
Eastern Brown Snake
Species guide →
Red-bellied Black Snake
Species guide →
Diamond Python
Species guide →
Common Tree Snake
Species guide →Photographs supplied by Snakes in the City. Appearance varies; these photographs are not a substitute for professional identification.
Recent real Sydney snake call-outs
Diamond Python — Killarney Heights
Harley safely captured and humanely relocated a Diamond Python found resting on a sunny back porch at a Killarney Heights home.
Common Tree Snakes — Cammeray
Harley safely captured and relocated eight common tree snakes found sharing a sunny rockery in a Cammeray backyard.
Genuine call-out photographs supplied by Snakes in the City. Do not attempt to handle a snake yourself.
A useful photograph
What to send our team
- A zoomed photo taken from a safe position
- The suburb and type of property
- Where the snake was last seen
- Whether children, pets, staff or customers are nearby
- Any obvious escape route or hiding place
Keep your distance
What not to do
- Do not move closer to take a photograph.
- Do not pick up, pin or put the snake in a container.
- Do not rely on colour alone to decide it is harmless.
- Do not search dark or confined spaces after it disappears.
- Do not delay an urgent call while seeking an identification.
An unusual Sydney species
Yellow-bellied sea snake on a Sydney beach
When lifesavers found a venomous marine snake near a swimming area, Harley assessed the animal and safely removed it from the busy public space.
Read the Sydney beach field story →
Related help
Identification is only one part of a safe response
Choose the guidance that best matches what is happening at your property now.
Professional, licensed and realistic
Harley operates under NSW General Licence MWL000102655 and uses appropriate equipment for safe capture, containment and humane relocation. If a snake has already left or cannot be located, capture cannot be guaranteed; The attending catcher will provide practical advice based on the site and last known position.