Snakes in Perth

There are numerous species of snakes in Australia, and some of these are highly dangerous to humans. While some of them are completely safe. In this article, we take a look at Perth snake identification and guidance on what to do if you find a snake near or in your home.

Perth Snake Identification

There are Four snakes that you’re likely to find in and around the Perth area. These snakes are:

Dugite/Spotted Brown Snake (Pseudonaja affinis affinis)

Dugites are a member of the Brown Snake family. They are a slender, fast-moving snake that’s often very shy and will be scared by human movement. The highly venomous snake can display a range of colours that will change as the snake matures. Some will have irregular black scales along the body, which is where they derive the other name that is common to them, the Spotted Brown Snake.

Spotted brown snakes can reach as long as two metres in length, though the average is only about 1.4 metres.

These snakes roam around a lot and can be found all across the Perth area.

Western Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus)

The Western Tiger Snake is another highly venomous and dangerous snake. It is relatively short, reaching lengths of just 1.2 metres at most, but typically being around 90 cm long. It is also very robust. They have a consistent colouration of being black on the top with an orange/gold belly with the colour extending up the sides of the snake.

The snakes love to live in the wetlands around Perth where they can hunt their favourite prey such as amphibians. As their prey and preferred habitat is there, they tend not to venture too far away from this habitat.

The Western Tiger snakes have a reputation for being aggressive. However, this is not entirely true. While they can act defensively, they are more likely to run away. Their behaviour to escape is often so one-tracked that they will run past someone to find an escape route. It is this behaviour that people mistake as an attempted attack, while the snake is just trying to escape as quickly as possible. Just moving to the side can help the snake and they will just continue on their escape route.

South-west Carpet Python (Morelia spilota imbricata)

Carpet pythons are completely harmless and they can be found across Australia. However, this is a sub-species that is endemic to the South-west area of the country and some of the islands off the coast.

This harmless species was once found throughout the Perth region. However, due to habitat destruction, with new homes, roads, and other human encroachment, the species is less common than it once was. It is very unlikely that you will see this species in urban areas.

The snake can grow to a large size, growing up to 2.5 metres in length, and can weigh up to 5kg. Most of the individuals that you are likely to come across in the Perth area, especially urban locations are likely to be escaped pets, though there might be a few wild individuals remaining.

The snake is primarily arboreal, with the larger females spending most of their time on the ground as soon as their weight cannot be supported by plants in the area. At this point, few predators pose a risk to the individual snakes, and therefore, they are safe. However, there are risks such as cats and foxes which are both introduced species.

These snakes can bite, with more than 100 needle-sharp teeth. However, their bite is not venomous. And it is most likely defensive. Snakes tend not to bite anything they cannot eat unless they feel threatened and there is no escape route.

Stimson's Python (Antaresia stimsoni)

This species is not naturally occurring in the Perth Metro area. However, they are regularly kept as pets and are very good escape artists. Therefore, if you do find this snake, it is likely to be an escaped pet.

The snake is completely harmless, and is relatively small, growing to about 1.5 metres at most, with the average adult being only 1.1 metres.

In the wild, the snake is normally terrestrial. They will spend a lot of their time hiding under rocks and in the burrows of other animals. In urban areas, the snake will enter homes when searching for food, which is normally rodent-based.

What to Do If You Find a Snake?

If you happen across a snake and you’re worried then there are several steps to undertake, especially if you have no experience.

If possible, take a photo of the snake using your phone, while not getting too close. Snakes have a considerable range when striking, they can reach up to a ½ of their body length. Though sometimes it is significantly less than this. In addition, snakes are very fast, you normally don’t have enough time to reach them.

Once you’ve taken the photo, contact a snake capture expert. These snake catchers will come with all the equipment necessary to catch and relocate the snake if that is viable. Some snakes like the pythons mentioned above are not going to be relocated but rather find new homes.

Remember that some of the snakes that you can find in the Perth area are highly venomous. A bite from them can kill a human though quick treatment can often save your life.

Final Word: Snakes in Perth

There are numerous snakes in Perth. You can find them in your home or garden. If you’re not familiar with snakes, it can be scary. But it is important to recognize the species and know how to react. The best option is to deter snakes from the area, using devices such as those offered by Envirobug.

If you do find a snake on your property, it is best to contact a snake catcher to safely remove it. You don’t want to be bitten by accident by the snake, in case it is a venomous snake.