A Queensland snake catcher says interstate migration is leading to an increase in call-outs from nervous Victorians as warmer weather wakens amorous pythons.
Gold Coast-based reptile catcher Tony Harrison said "statistically" one in three homes had a python living in the roof cavity and warmer daytime temperatures meant they were starting to move around.
"As soon as the weather gets above 23 degrees it pushes the button for all of the male reptiles to start travelling, looking for females," Mr Harrison said.
"They have one opportunity per year to mate so they try their hardest to get to that female."
He said pythons were the most active snakes at the moment, but venomous terrestrial species, including the eastern brown, would soon be more active.
"The days might reach 24 degrees, but they only reach 24 degrees for a couple of hours," he said.
"Once you start getting 24 degrees from 11am to about 4pm, then the ground will start to warm up and then you'll start to see the eastern browns."
Interstate migration
Mr Harrison said most people would steer clear of snakes when they discovered them on their properties.
But he said interstate migration had meant more call-outs for reptiles to be relocated.
"With this COVID business, a lot of my customers are now from Melbourne and Sydney," he said.
"Down there in Sydney and Melbourne they deal with five species and up here you've got 21.
"So all of the new-comers to the Gold Coast are going, 'what is this giant 10 kilo snake doing on my front lawn'?"
Pet warning
Mr Harrison said pet owners needed to be wary as well.
"It's a little bit cooler, so they're a little bit slower, so the dogs have got the upper hand," he said.
"They can catch up to the snake and then it's on."
Eastern brown snakes are active by day, but can also be encountered at night, according to the Queensland Museum.
