25/05/2026
REPTILE AWARENESS ~ Each week, thanks to Troy, The Reptile Bloke, we share interesting information about reptiles. Stay safe and be nice to snakes.
Snakes and Fences
Something I hear people say every now and then is this: “I don’t mind snakes as long as they stay out of my yard. If they come into my yard, they’re going to die.”
Well, OK, but how about we think about this for a moment.
Snakes don’t know what a yard is.
They don’t understand fences or property ownership. There’s no concept of trespassing in the reptile world. To a snake, your backyard is just another bit of habitat.
So when a snake turns up at your place, it’s not making a decision to “come into your space.” It’s just doing what snakes do, moving through its environment, looking for food, shelter, or a mate. And that doesn’t mean you have to destroy it.
Snakes aren’t out to get you, your kids, or your pets. They don’t hunt people. In fact, they’d much rather avoid us altogether. That’s why they spend most of their time trying to remain hidden, or take off the moment somebody gets too close.
Remember, most bites happen when people try to interfere with them, pick them up, harass them, or attempt to kill them.
So what should you do instead?
If the snake is just passing through and not causing any immediate risk, the best option is often the simplest: leave it alone. Give it space, keep an eye on pets and kids, and let it move on in its own time.
If it’s in a tricky spot or you’re not comfortable, that’s where I can help. Call a licensed snake catcher such as myself, and I can safely relocate the snake for you.
At the end of the day, we share this landscape with wildlife. Snakes are just as much a part of that as the parrots and possums, which also love to jump our fences.
So if a snake does come into your yard, don’t be afraid of it and don’t try to harm it.
Appreciate it for what it is: a beautiful native Aussie creature.
𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 - 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱
Troy Hovenden is a licensed and insured snake catcher servicing the Blue Mountains and Penrith areas. Fees apply. TROY - 0404 109 421
Web: www.thereptilebloke.com.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thereptilebloke
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/SaveTheSnakes
Photos: ©Troy Hovenden
