A snake found its way into a Harrington Park yard and spooked the homeowners

A HARRINGTON Park couple were given a spook after discovering a juvenile eastern brown snake had found its way around the side of their house yesterday.

A HARRINGTON Park couple were given a spook after discovering a juvenile eastern brown snake had found its way around the side of their house yesterday.

The snake was discovered by an electrician who was working around the side of the house.

Snake catcher Sean Cade of Australian Snake Catchers attended the home to recover the slithery visitor.

“The electrician had gone around the side of the house and froze when he saw the snake, it had him pinned up so he didn’t want to move,” he said.

“The homeowners called us up and when we got out there they had managed to use a broom and put a bucket over the snake.”

Mr Cade said eastern brown snakes had an active defence and people should approach them cautiously.

“My advice in a situation like this would be to get a wet towels and throw it over the snake,” he said.

The juvenile eastern brown snake is recovered from a Harrington Park yard.

“Putting a bucket over the snake can be dangerous because you’re within the strike range, it’s better to throw the towel from a small distance to keep you out of that range.

“The dampness of the towel will also calm the snake and keep them comfortable.”

While many residents may think snakes in suburbia would be rare, Mr Cade said more and more are being found in areas like Harrington Park.

“We’ve got a lot of urban development happening out there at Cobbitty and Oran Park where the ground is being completely dug up,” he said.

“The snakes need somewhere to go so what you’ll find is they will go to the existing areas.

“When construction is finished on these new suburbs you’ll see the snakes move back.”

Mr Cade said the small snake had minor injuries that indicated it may have had an altercation with a cat.

“I took the snake to a vet I’ve worked with before and gave him a look over before he was released,” he said.

“Cats will often chase a snake and because their teeth are sharp and cylinder shaped they will bite and the wound will close up but because of the bacteria in a cat’s mouth which can be quite dangerous for the snake’s health.”