Snake expert asks Eurobodalla residents to let Diamond Pythons stay

When their habitat was destroyed by fire, surviving snakes had nothing to return to and caused an increase in snake reports in residential areas.

Eurobodalla snake catcher Brendan Smith said rehoming snakes caused huge stress to the animal and the limited habitat made it difficult for catchers to relocate them safely.

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"Diamond Pythons are harmless, extremely gentle by nature and pose no real threats so if people can put up with them making themselves comfortable I would recommend letting them stay," Mr Smith said.

"Even with the right habitat, it's very stressful for the snake because every species has a homing range and as soon as you take them out of that range they've got to start from scratch, it's literally like they've been born again and have to work out where to get food, water and shelter.

"The fires made a huge dent in their habitat, all the areas you would normally take them too, there's nothing out there and they wouldn't survive if we left them there."

Not only are snakes an integral part of the South Coast ecosystem, they are also a protected wild species and people can be fined for injuring or killing them.

"Typical locations people might find a Diamond Python are in a roof cavity or anywhere warm, dry and has good access to food and water," Mr Smith said.

"If people are concerned they can always call a snake catcher for advice, but it would give them a huge helping hand if they are allowed to stay where they are for winter and move on when they want to rather than being relocated."