Jeanette Davies scared by “growling” snake hiding under microwave in Corndale home

A woman had the fright of her life when a venomous snake “growled” as she went to put the kettle on in her home north of Lismore. Here’s what happened next.

A Corndale woman has recalled the frightening moment she encountered a venomous tiger snake as she went to make a cup of tea.

Jeanette Davies headed to her kitchen on Monday night to make a brew when all of a sudden her microwave started moving.

A long night tiger snake – also known as a brown tree snake – slunk under her microwave and onto her kitchen floor before Ms Davies jumped into action, enclosing it in a bunch of towels.

“It made a growling sound,” she said.

“It was low lighting in the kitchen and I thought ‘what’s that behind the kettle?’

“I put my hand down and then saw the curling and knew it was a snake, I was a bit taken aback.

“I’ve removed big pythons from my chook house but this little fellow looked scary - I’ve never seen one before.”

Ms Davies, who was made aware of snake sightings in the Lismore area since the floods called the Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service to remove the snake but it was too late in the night for them to assist.

She watched and waited for over 12 hours keeping a close eye on the snake but WIRES volunteers were unable to get there in time.

The night tiger escaped and is still hiding somewhere in Ms Davies home.

“I think he may have gone up in my ceiling as I have gyprock off the kitchen wall.

“Tonight I might say hello to him again.”

The night tiger can grow up to two metres in length and is found in coastal and sub-coastal areas of the north and east coast of Australia.

WIRES spokesman John Grant says “you should never attempt to handle or remove a snake yourself” in your home.

“This snake may have been seeking shelter as WIRES has received reports of flood displaced wildlife being seen around homes including on verandahs and in carports and garden sheds.”

Brown tree snakes have been spotted in many Northern Rivers homes over the last few years but more sightings of venomous snakes have been reported since flood waters receded.