Snakes in the City · Local guide
Snake catcher Lapstone
In Lapstone, the safe route to a property matters as much as the address. Tell SITC about steps, steep driveways or restricted gates when you call about a snake. Keep a clear separation between people, pets and the last-seen spot.
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At home, on a track, or near railway land?
- Inside your property
- Call with the exact street number and tell us whether access is level, stepped or through a side gate. Do not enter a confined subfloor area or climb down a slope to keep a snake in sight.
- On the Knapsack or Zig Zag walking routes
- Move back and allow space. Note the signposted entrance or landmark from where you already are; do not approach for a better photo. Tell the land manager if a snake creates a concern at a busy public access point.
- Beside the station or railway corridor
- Stay on authorised public paths. Report a concern to station staff where available; never enter the railway corridor to follow or retrieve an animal.
Check access rather than relying on an old walking description
Knapsack Viaduct and the Lapstone Zig Zag are distinctive local heritage features. Council’s eastern-escarpment work includes the Top Points Lookout and surrounding trail connections. The Lapstone Hill Tunnel has had staged works and organised open days: that is not a promise of unrestricted everyday access. Check council’s current information and on-site signs before setting out.
See council’s tunnel and escarpment update and Heritage NSW’s Knapsack Viaduct record. These landmarks help describe location; none is labelled here as a snake hotspot.
When the snake goes out of sight
Mark the last position mentally and tell the attending catcher. Don’t reach into rock gaps, shift garden edging or use a hose to flush it out. On a sloping block, leave gates and safe access instructions for the catcher without entering the snake’s area. A search or attendance does not guarantee a capture.
Emergency contacts for Lapstone residents
Human bite emergency: call 000, not a snake catcher. Keep the person still and follow ambulance instructions. Use pressure immobilisation for a bitten limb; do not wash, cut or suck the bite or apply a tourniquet. Healthdirect first-aid guidance.
Nepean Hospital emergency department: Building A, Gate 7, Somerset Street, Kingswood. General enquiries 02 4734 2000. This location is for reference; suspected snakebite needs an ambulance, not a drive to hospital.
If a pet may have been bitten, keep it quiet and contact a vet immediately, even if it seems to recover. RSPCA advice explains why waiting for obvious bite marks or symptoms is unsafe.
Blaxland Veterinary Clinic, corner of Hope and Station streets, Blaxland: 02 4739 5028. Its published hours are weekdays 8:30 am–7 pm and Saturday 8:30 am–12:30 pm; closed Sunday. Call to confirm it can receive your pet.
SASH Western Sydney, 1 Rowood Road, Prospect, lists 24-hour emergency care. Phone 02 4067 4951. Call promptly for triage and transport advice; do not delay treatment while waiting for snake removal. These providers are independent of SITC.