Carpet python snake seen drinking from backyard bird bath in WA

Alerted by nearby birds which were startled by the commotion, a WA woman found a large snake drinking out of her backyard bird bath.

A massive carpet python has been photographed drinking out of a bird bath in Western Australia.

The extraordinary sight was photographed by WA resident Jeanie Lennard, who told the ABC that she made the discovery when she heard birds making “a bit of a racket” due to the snake’s presence.

Once she discovered the python in her backyard in the Midwest region of WA, the reptile rose nearly 60cm off the ground so it could drink out of the bird bath.

“I turned around and went, ‘Oh my God! What is that?’ And, yeah, it was a python,” she said.

The python was found roughly 60cm off the ground. Picture: Jeanie Lennard/ABC

The reptile was later identified by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions as a southwest carpet python. The species is recognised by its distinctive patterned scales which feature a distinct pattern that ranges from greenish-brown to a blackish-brown.

The non-venomous pythons are often found sheltering in hollow tree limbs, rock crevices or even the burrows of other animals.

Carpet pythons are identified by their distinctive patterned scales. Picture: N&S Snake Catcher

The average carpet python can grow up to 2.5-3m and weigh 1-4.5kg, though females can be four times the size of males, according to Perth Zoo.

Although she used to be intimated by pythons, Ms Lennard said the “harmless” creatures no longer alarmed her.

“Not all snakes are bad, and pythons are just living in the environment and not hurting anybody,” she said.

“So, hopefully, people won’t automatically kill snakes when they see them.”

Originally published as Carpet python snake seen drinking from backyard bird bath in WA