Reptiles in Riverstone – Emergency Snake Removal Call Urban Reptile Removal on 0418 633 474
Reptiles in Riverstone – Emergency Snake Removal
Call Urban Reptile Removal on 0418 633 474
If you need emergency snake removal in Riverstone, call Urban Reptile Removal on 0418 633 474. We respond fast across North-West Sydney and safely relocate any snake from homes, yards, farms, and worksites.
Riverstone is one of the most interesting suburbs in Western Sydney because it still has a mix of old semi-rural blocks, horse paddocks, big backyards, wetlands, new housing estates, creeks, and long grass around the edges of developments. This mix of land types gives reptiles heaps of places to hide, hunt, bask, and travel. Because of that, Riverstone has become one of the busiest snake-removal areas in the region.
During spring and summer especially, snakes move around more often looking for food, warmer spots, and mates. If you live in Riverstone, chances are high that you will see a snake at least once. Knowing which reptiles live here — and what to do when you see one — is the best way to keep your family, pets, and property safe.
Red-bellied Black Snakes in Riverstone
Red-bellied Black Snakes (Pseudechis porphyriacus) are extremely common in Riverstone. They grow to about 1.5–2 metres and are easy to identify because of their shiny black back and bright red or pink sides.
Even though they are venomous, Red-bellied Blacks are usually shy. They prefer to escape when given space, but they will defend themselves if cornered or grabbed — especially by dogs.
Why They Love Riverstone
Riverstone has perfect habitat for Red-bellied Blacks because it has:
Wetlands
Creeks and drainage channels
Frog-filled canals
Semi-rural farmland
Shaded vegetation
Big blocks and open paddocks
All of these areas attract frogs — their favourite food. They also eat skinks, small mammals, fish, and sometimes other snakes. Riverstone’s older sheds, piles of timber, farm equipment, leftover building materials, and overgrown gardens give them great hiding spots.
Most Red-bellied Blacks in Riverstone are seen in the daytime, often on warm mornings when they come out to bask. Dogs are the most common animal hurt in encounters, because they run straight up to the snake.
Breeding in Riverstone
Red-bellied Blacks breed in spring. Males wrestle each other to compete for females. Females give birth to 10–20 live babies in late summer. Young snakes often hide under:
Sheet metal
Timber piles
Garden rubbish
Long grass
Old materials around sheds
Keeping your yard clean can help reduce snake activity.
Eastern Brown Snakes in Riverstone – One of Australia’s Most Dangerous Snakes
Eastern Brown Snakes (Pseudonaja textilis) also live widely across Riverstone. They are responsible for most serious venomous snakebites in Australia and must never be approached.
Adults grow to around 1.5 metres, although some individuals in semi-rural areas get bigger. They come in colours from light tan to dark chocolate. Juveniles often have a black head or banding.
Why Riverstone Has So Many Brown Snakes
The main reason Eastern Browns thrive in Riverstone is rodents. Mice and rats are their preferred food source. Riverstone’s mix of new estates, old farms, stables, barns, empty blocks, sheds, and stored building materials provides plenty of rodent hotspots.
Anywhere you find:
Chook feed
Pet food outside
Stored rubbish
Hay bales
Farm sheds
Garden clutter
Long grass
…you may also find Brown Snakes.
Behaviour to Watch For
When threatened, Eastern Browns often:
Lift the front of their body
Flatten their neck
Strike quickly, sometimes multiple times
They are extremely defensive, fast, and should never be handled.
Breeding in Riverstone
Eastern Browns lay 10–35 eggs in summer. They choose warm, well-protected hiding places such as:
Long grass
Compost heaps
Mulch piles
Burrows
Piles of metal or timber
Deep garden debris
Eggs take 2–3 months to hatch. Juveniles appear most often in late summer and are just as venomous as adults.
If you ever see a Brown Snake in Riverstone, step back slowly, secure pets, and call Urban Reptile Removal on 0418 633 474.
Yellow-faced Whipsnakes in Riverstone
Yellow-faced Whipsnakes (Demansia psammophis) are another species commonly seen in Riverstone. They are long, thin, fast snakes that grow to about 1–1.2 metres. Their pale-yellow face stripe is their most recognisable feature.
Whipsnakes prefer sunny, lightly vegetated areas such as:
Paddock edges
Driveways
Garden beds
School grounds
Open reserves
They mainly hunt skinks and rely on speed to avoid danger. Most people only see them for a second before they disappear into long grass or under objects.
Their venom is medically significant, but much less dangerous than a Brown Snake’s. Still, any snakebite should be treated as serious.
Other Reptiles in Riverstone
Because Riverstone contains large blocks, farmland, wetlands, drains, and old sheds, it supports many harmless lizards that help control pests.
Blue-tongued Lizards
Blue-tongued lizards are the most common reptiles in Riverstone. You might hear them called:
Blueys
Eastern Blue-tongued Lizards
Common Blue-tongued Lizards
Blue-tongues
They grow up to 60 cm and show a blue tongue when threatened.
They eat:
Snails
Slugs
Beetles
Caterpillars
Fallen fruit
Pet food left outdoors
Riverstone properties with lots of garden clutter, stepping stones, concrete slabs, pot plants, and storage piles give them perfect hiding places. Females give birth to 10–15 live babies in late summer.
Other Lizards Seen in Riverstone
Bearded Dragons on fence posts, rocks, or sheds
Garden Skinks darting through mulch and lawns
Eastern Water Dragons along creeks and drainage channels
Night-time Geckos feeding around outdoor lights
All of these reptiles are harmless and protected under NSW wildlife laws.
Living Safely with Snakes in Riverstone – How to Reduce Snake Activity
Because Riverstone has farmland, wetlands, long grass, bushland, and new estates, snakes can appear anywhere. But you can make your property far less attractive to them with simple steps.
Snake Prevention Tips:
Keep grass cut short
Trim shrubs and remove overgrown groundcover
Store timber, bricks, tiles, and metal sheets off the ground
Clean up clutter around sheds and yards
Control rodents (very important for Brown Snakes)
Store chicken feed and pet food indoors
Fix leaks and remove standing water that attracts frogs
Seal gaps under sheds, steps, decks, and house edges
Keep rubbish areas tidy and secure
Maintain fencing and clear vegetation touching it
A neat property removes hiding places and food sources for snakes.
What To Do If You See a Snake in Riverstone
If a snake appears in your yard:
Stay calm
Move away slowly
Bring pets and children indoors
Do not try to catch or kill the snake
Do not corner it — this increases aggression
Close nearby doors
Call Urban Reptile Removal on 0418 633 474 if the snake stays nearby
Most bites happen because someone tries to interfere with a snake. Leaving it alone is always the safest choice.
First Aid for Snake Bites in Riverstone
If a snake bite occurs:
Call 000 immediately
Keep the person completely still
Apply a pressure-immobilisation bandage
Start at the bite site, wrap down the limb, then back up
Splint the limb
Do not wash the bite
Do not cut the wound
Do not suck the venom
Wait for paramedics
For pets, take them straight to a vet. Quick action saves lives.
Conclusion
Riverstone’s combination of old farms, new estates, wetlands, paddocks, drains, and large backyards creates one of the most active reptile zones in North-West Sydney. Residents commonly see Red-bellied Black Snakes, Eastern Brown Snakes, and Yellow-faced Whipsnakes, along with harmless reptiles such as blue-tongues, skinks, dragons, and geckos.
With good yard maintenance, calm behaviour, and help from Urban Reptile Removal, Riverstone residents can safely live alongside the native reptiles that move through the area every year.
For fast and professional snake removal in Riverstone, call 0418 633 474.
