Snakes in the City · Local service guide
Snake Catcher Sutherland Shire
The useful first question in the Shire is where the snake is now: beside a shop, under a deck, or along a bush boundary. Call Snakes in the City with that detail and your suburb so we can discuss attendance, safe access and the fee.
Keep people and pets away. Do not touch, corner or disturb the snake. Tell us its last visible position, access details and whether anyone may have been bitten.
Call to confirm the fee, what the attendance covers and current availability.
Town centres above a river and bush landscape
Sutherland’s station precinct and shopping streets are a different setting from the wooded slopes of the Woronora valley. Further south, Royal and Heathcote national parks form substantial bushland neighbours. Rocky ground, dry vegetation and sheltered gullies all sit within the wider Shire landscape.
For a house on a sloping block, explain whether the sighting was at street level, beneath a raised deck or near the rear bush boundary. For a shop or workshop, tell us about customer access and the last place the animal was visible. Those details are more useful than a general description of the suburb.
Snakes to be aware of
Bushland and damp gullies support a different mix of snakes from exposed, disturbed ground. Eastern brown snakes and yellow-faced whip snakes also occur in the Sydney region; none should be ruled in or out from a quick look.
- Diamond python — a non-venomous climber found in Sydney bushland; it may also use trees and roof spaces.
- Red-bellied black snake — a venomous snake often associated with creeks, dams and other damp habitat.
- Golden-crowned snake — a small venomous snake associated with sheltered, moist forest habitat.
Colour alone is not a reliable identification. A photograph taken from an already safe position may help; do not move closer to obtain one.
Under a deck is not a place to investigate yourself
Do not crawl beneath decking, poke a retaining-wall gap or lift roofing sheets to find a snake. Keep the access area clear and tell the catcher what you saw before it disappeared. If a photograph can be taken from your present safe position, it may be useful; a closer picture is not worth approaching for.
On a steep property, mention steps, locked side gates and any route that cannot be used safely. Move pets to a secure part of the home if that can be done without entering the snake’s space. Leave garden tidying until after the immediate concern is resolved.
For workplaces and managed sites
A sighting near a loading entrance can affect more people than the person who spotted it. Keep deliveries and pedestrians away from that specific area, notify the site contact and arrange access for the catcher. Avoid shifting bins or goods to look behind them.
Snakes in the City will discuss the work required before attendance. Availability and travel depend on the location and other jobs; we do not promise a fixed arrival time for every Shire address. If the animal cannot be found, capture cannot be guaranteed.
Medical and veterinary help
Suspected bite to a person: call Triple Zero (000) immediately. Keep the person still and follow the ambulance operator’s instructions. Do not wait for a catcher or try to catch the snake for identification.
Sutherland Hospital is at the Kingsway and Kareena Road, Caringbah. A possible snakebite is a reason to call 000, not the hospital switchboard.
Possible bite to a pet: contact a vet immediately, even if you cannot see a bite mark. SASH Alexandria, 5/476 Gardeners Road, Alexandria. Open 24/7 for emergencies: See the provider’s website for contact details.
Local emergency option: Veterinary Specialists of Sydney, 106 Parraweena Road, Miranda; 24-hour emergency number (02) 8376 8767. For local clinic arrangements, Sutherland Veterinary Clinic lists its after-hours referral options. Alexandria is an emergency alternative outside the Shire. These services are independent of Snakes in the City. Contact details checked September 2026.
Living beside bush without clearing it
Focus routine maintenance on the spaces people use: visible paths, secure animal feed and less loose storage against the house. Keep natural rock and vegetation in reserves undisturbed. Native habitat is not something to strip away because a snake has been seen nearby.
For outings, consult Royal National Park visitor information and follow local signs and closures. A snake on a park track should be given room; alert park staff if it poses a concern in a busy managed area.
Do all snake sightings need removal?
Not necessarily. An animal moving through bush away from people is a different situation from one inside a building. Call with the circumstances so the response fits the actual risk. Never try to handle it yourself.
More detailed Shire information
Talk to Snakes in the City
For a current snake concern, call 0411 103 488. Tell us where you are and what you can see from a safe position.
Local guide updated September 2026. NSW Health snakebite advice · What to do if you see a snake · Catcher background
