A quiet morning in Epping changed quickly when a resident walked into the bathroom and spotted a dark-coloured snake stretched out beside a pile of towels.
The resident stopped at the doorway and backed away. Instead of trying to move the towels or work out how the snake had entered, they kept the room clear, moved pets into another part of the house and called Snakes in the City.
A small room with plenty of hiding places
A bathroom may look simple, but it can be a difficult place to search. A frightened snake can slip behind a vanity, beneath a cabinet or into a gap around plumbing within seconds. Towels and clothing on the floor add more cover and make it risky to reach into the room without knowing exactly where the animal is.
When the Snakes in the City catcher arrived, the snake was still visible near the wall. The catcher first checked the doorway and nearby gaps, then quietly moved into a position that gave good control of the room without crowding the animal. The aim was to make one calm removal rather than chase the snake from one hiding place to another.
A controlled removal
Using professional snake-handling equipment, the catcher secured the snake and placed it into a purpose-made transport container. The bathroom was then checked carefully so the resident could be confident there was no second animal concealed nearby.
Once the call-out was complete, the snake was transported and humanely relocated in suitable habitat in accordance with wildlife requirements.
How snakes can enter a bathroom
Snakes do not deliberately seek out bathrooms to frighten people. They may follow cool air, water or the scent of small prey, or simply move through an open door or an unnoticed gap. Bathrooms can then offer the dark, protected corners that make a snake reluctant to leave.
After the removal, the Snakes in the City catcher suggested checking gaps around external doors, plumbing penetrations and damaged insect screens. Keeping towels and clothing off the floor also makes unusual movement easier to notice.
What to do if you find a snake inside
- Step back and keep everyone out of the room.
- Do not move towels, boxes or furniture near the snake.
- If it is safe, close internal doors to limit access to the rest of the home.
- Call a licensed snake catcher and explain where the snake was last seen.
Do not rely on colour alone to identify a snake. Treat any unidentified snake cautiously and call 000 immediately if a bite occurs.
For current service, access and safety information, see the Snakes in the City snake-removal guide for Epping.
Snake inside your Epping home?
Keep the room clear and call Snakes in the City on 0411 103 488.
Snake safety at a glance
A snake on your property?
How your call is handled
Suspected human snakebite? Call 000 immediately.