Green or Common Tree Snake: FAQ After An Encounter.
These snakes are normally referred to as Green Tree Snakes; however, since their colour can vary greatly, the name Common Tree Snake is more appropriate.
Common Tree Snakes are found throughout the Sydney area but often go unnoticed due to their excellent eyesight and speed, both on and off the ground. As their name suggests, they are typically found in trees and shrubs. However, they are most likely to be encountered by the unsuspecting public when they find themselves in unfamiliar territory, such as a home or garage.
Common Tree Snake - Nonvenomous and considered harmless.
Description: The Common Tree Snake’s colouration is highly variable, ranging from all shades of green to gold, brown, black, and blue. Sydney specimens are usually olive green on top with yellow underneath. When threatened, they can inflate their body, displaying a lighter, often blue, hue between the scales.
Length: They measure around 1.2m, though they may appear longer due to their swift movement through trees.
Diet: They primarily eat frogs and occasionally tadpoles, fish, and lizards.
Notes: These snakes are diurnal and alert, active during the day and quick to retreat when spotted. They are more likely to be encountered inside houses or in communal aggregations during the cooler months than to be active in the wild.
Due to their highly variable colour, they can sometimes be mistaken for other species. For example, a resident of North Epping contacted us in December 2023 to remove what they thought was a ‘Green Tree Snake’, which they had seen before. Upon arrival, we retrieved a four-foot Eastern Brown Snake, a highly venomous species responsible for more fatalities in Australia than any other.
By understanding the behaviours and habitats of Common Tree Snakes, residents can appreciate the role these creatures play in the local ecosystem and respond appropriately when encounters occur.
This photo was taken after the snake had bitten the catcher. As you can see, despite giving a decent chomp to the arm, the small amount of blood shows that the bite was mostly superficial. While Tree snakes can be enthusiastic when they strike, the actual damage is minimal.
A homeowner in West Pennant Hills was a bit surprised when they found this Tree Snake climbing along the brick wall inside the home.
There have been numerous reports of communal nesting sites in green tree snakes. In one case from 2024, after a tree fell in southeast Queensland, more than 450 old eggs that had hatched over many years were found inside a hollow within the trunk.
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