Old Toongabbie Snake Catcher
Snake Catcher OLD TOONGABBIE — Urban Reptile Removal 0418 633 474
If you've found a snake in Old Toongabbie, in the yard, the garage, near a driveway or somewhere on the property you'd rather it wasn't, call 0418 633 474. We're usually on site within about thirty minutes depending on traffic and access, and we operate 24 hours a day across Old Toongabbie and the wider Hills District. Step back, keep your distance, and let us handle the rest. You don't need a photo. You don't need to identify the species. You don't need to follow it. The most useful thing you can do is watch it from a safe spot, and if it disappears into cover, keep watching the spot where you last saw it. Snakes will often reappear within minutes once the area goes quiet. We'll stay on the phone and talk you through what to do until we get there.
Why Are There Snakes in Old Toongabbie?
Old Toongabbie sits where the western edge of the Hills District meets the upper Parramatta River catchment. Toongabbie Creek runs through the southern part of the suburb, and the green threads of Northmead Reserve, Constitution Hill, and the wider creek corridor connect Old Toongabbie into a continuous reptile habitat network that links north into Winston Hills and east toward Northmead. Most Old Toongabbie streets have a creek line, a reserve or a drainage easement within a few hundred metres.
The character of the suburb completes the picture. Older homes on sloped blocks, mature gardens with decades of growth behind them, sandstone retaining walls, timber piles, garden sheds and the kind of layered planting and shaded corners that snakes use as movement and shelter routes. The combination of creek access, reserve connection and well established residential infrastructure produces a steady reptile call out profile through every snake season.
Snakes aren't appearing in Old Toongabbie because something is wrong with a property. They're appearing because the suburb sits on top of, and continuous with, a landscape that naturally supports them.
What Old Toongabbie Snake Activity Looks Like
Old Toongabbie produces the kind of call out profile typical of Hills District creek corridor suburbs. Eastern browns are the most commonly encountered venomous species, drawn by the rodent populations that build up around older sheds, timber piles, and unsealed garage spaces. Red bellied blacks move along Toongabbie Creek and through any property with consistent moisture, frog activity or pond habitat. Diamond pythons appear in roof cavities and on properties with mature trees and access to possums and rats. Golden crowned snakes turn up occasionally in the deeper leaf litter and mulched beds of the more shaded gardens.
Blue tongued lizards are everywhere, and a fair share of our Old Toongabbie calls are blue tongues mistaken for snakes after a homeowner heard heavy rustling in a garden bed. We'd rather take that call and confirm what it was than have someone make the wrong call.
The pattern follows the standard cycle. Spring brings snakes out of brumation. Summer is the peak. Autumn tapers off. Pythons can still turn up in roof cavities through winter, drawn to the warmth and the resident rodent population.
The Eastern brown snake is one of the most common species we remove from homes in Old Toongabbie. Brown snakes are dangerously venomous and extremely fast. They thrive in older suburbs with high rodent numbers, long fence lines, warm concrete, and plenty of places to hide. Residents often see them crossing driveways, slipping beneath garden edging, travelling along paths, resting beside sheds, or disappearing behind hot water systems. Brown snakes should never be approached or cornered. If you see one in Old Toongabbie, call 0418 633 474 immediately for Emergency Snake Removal.
Red-bellied black snakes are also common in Old Toongabbie, especially near Toongabbie Creek, damp gardens, shaded yards, and properties with frog activity. These snakes are glossy black with a bright red or pink belly. They are commonly seen basking on rocks, travelling along drainage lines, hunting in gardens after rain, or crossing lawns during the day. Although less defensive than brown snakes, they are still venomous and must be handled only by a professional Snake Catcher.
The golden crowned snake is another species often seen in Old Toongabbie. This small, nocturnal snake has a pale yellow marking across the head and nape and a pink or reddish belly. It is venomous but usually causes only local symptoms. Golden crowned snakes appear often after rain or on warm humid nights, particularly in shaded gardens, rockeries, raised beds, and leaf litter. Many residents mistake them for juvenile brown snakes because of their small size and quick movements.
Old Toongabbie also has a healthy population of diamond pythons. These large, non venomous pythons often climb into roof spaces, rest on fences, bask on garden structures, or hide in sheds. They are gentle by nature and pose no danger, but they can be difficult for homeowners to remove safely due to their strength and ability to hide in tight spaces. Urban Reptile Removal relocates many diamond pythons each season, ensuring they are safely moved to suitable bushland.
Blue-tongued lizards are one of the most common reptiles mistaken for snakes in Old Toongabbie. These harmless skinks are slow moving and feed on snails, insects, fruit, and garden pests. They often hide under pot plants, bask near garden beds, or explore veggie patches. When frightened, they puff up and show their bright blue tongue, which can cause people to panic and think they have seen a snake. We never mind checking. It is always better to call than to assume.
Old Toongabbie has many natural and man-made structures that create ideal hiding places for snakes. The most common areas we search include:
• under retaining walls or garden edging
• behind hot water systems
• beside air-conditioning units
• inside garages behind stored items
• under pot plants or raised garden beds
• within hedges, shrubs, or long grass
• under sheds, decks, or outdoor storage spaces
• along fences, paths, or outdoor steps
• around pool pumps or filtration systems
• beneath piles of timber, tiles, or metal sheets
• inside wheelie bin storage areas
• under childrens outdoor equipment
You do not need to keep watching the snake once you call. Urban Reptile Removal will search every possible hiding spot until the snake is located and removed safely.
Most residents want to know why a snake appeared on their property. The reason is simple: snakes follow food. Old Toongabbie has abundant frogs, insects, rodents, skinks, and small prey animals. Natural corridors like the creek also bring wildlife through the suburb. Snakes do not target homes deliberately. They simply move where food and shelter are available.
After removing the snake, we explain the factors that attracted it and offer practical steps to reduce future sightings. You do not need powders, sprays, or ultrasonic devices. These do not work. The only effective measures involve simple outdoor maintenance:
• keep grass short
• reduce clutter in gardens and yards
• tidy garden beds
• lift items off the ground onto shelves or racks
• control rodents
• trim hedges and reduce thick vegetation
• secure pet food
• remove unused building materials
• maintain clear areas along fences and walls
• organise sheds and outdoor storage
Small improvements like these reduce hiding places and remove the food sources that attract prey animals.
Some people worry that seeing one snake means there must be more. Snakes do not travel in pairs, do not live in groups, and do not make nests in backyards. Almost always, one sighting means a single snake. Once that animal is relocated, the issue is usually resolved.
Snakes sometimes enter homes in Old Toongabbie, especially older houses with gaps around doors, damaged screens, or small openings around pipes. Snakes may come inside through open doors, rodent holes, sliding door gaps, or poorly sealed entry points. Any snake inside a home is considered urgent. Urban Reptile Removal responds quickly to make the home safe.
Residents choose Urban Reptile Removal because we work calmly, respectfully, and professionally. We do not cause panic. We do not judge your home or garden. We simply remove the snake safely, explain why it appeared, and give advice that genuinely works. Many local residents appreciate that the business is run by Chris Williams from Urban Reptile Removal, who is known for his calm approach, clear communication, and extensive knowledge of reptiles across Western Sydney.
If you hear unusual noise in the yard, see movement you cannot explain, or notice your dog reacting strongly to something outside, call 0418 633 474 and we will help.
For fast, safe, and reliable Snake Removal in Old Toongabbie, you can depend on Urban Reptile Removal every day of the year. When a snake appears where it should not be, we handle the situation quickly and professionally so you can continue your day without stress.
We wrote the bok on urban reptiles - https://sydneysnakecatcher.com.au/shop/
About Chris Williams
Chris Williams has spent more than 35 years working with reptiles and amphibians throughout Australia and is widely recognised as one of the country's leading herpetologists. Since 2014, he has served as President of the Australian Herpetological Society, helping to promote reptile education, research and conservation nationwide.
His professional background includes roles with the Australian Reptile Park and Taronga Zoo, as well as extensive field experience working with reptiles across New South Wales. Chris is also the founder of Snake Ranch, which grew to become Australia's largest reptile breeding facility.
In addition to his field and zoo work, Chris has authored seven books on Australian reptiles, amphibians and wildlife. He is regularly interviewed regarding reptile interactions. Through Urban Reptile Removal, he continues to train and mentor snake catchers throughout New South Wales, ensuring the highest standards of safety, professionalism and reptile expertise are maintained across the network.
