Snake shock as eastern brown found under vanity in Junee ensuite

A JUNEE woman has been left shaken after stepping inside to grab a charger for her speaker, only to spot an eastern brown snake slithering into her ensuite.

Riverina Snake Catcher’s Aidan Vivian was called to the Church Street home on Sunday, March 8, after Junee resident Jacqui Daley saw the snake slip into the ensuite and disappear under the vanity.

Jacqui told The Junee Bulletin the frightening encounter unfolded in a matter of seconds after she stepped inside from the garden.

“I was out in the front yard gardening and had my music playing and the speaker went flat,” she said.

“I went in to get the cord to put it on the charge and I just happened to look into our bedroom as I walked past and seen the snake as it slithered into the ensuite and under the vanity.

“I was literally crying and knees shaking.”

“I rang my partner and he told me to close the door and block any gaps so I rolled up a towel and put it against the door, then grabbed my phone and put it on video just in case it came out of the ensuite.

The juvenile eastern brown snake removed from Jacqui’s home | Photo: Supplied

Mr Vivian said he received a frantic call and responded to the home, where the juvenile brown snake was initially found near the door before slipping back underneath the vanity.

“After a bit of patience and careful work, the snake was safely captured and relocated away from the property,” he said.

Jacqui praised Mr Vivian for the swift response | Photo: Supplied

Jacqui praised the response from Mr Vivian and his son, saying their swift arrival helped ease an incredibly stressful situation.

“I have never been so shaken up and teary,” she said. “Even though it was only 30cm, I wouldn’t have been able to enter the bedroom knowing it was still there.”

“Aidan and his son were fantastic. I rang Aidan and he responded with, ‘I’ll put my boots on and I’ll be straight out!’ Wonderful service, I’m so grateful.”

The juvenile snake had sought to cool off under the vanity | Photo: Supplied

Mr Vivian said snake call-outs were a regular occurrence across the Riverina during the warmer months, with activity often driven by weather conditions.

“During the warmer months I receive regular call-outs across the Riverina for snake sightings around homes and businesses,” he said.

“The frequency depends on weather conditions — hot weather and rain tend to increase activity.”

He said while Junee experiences its share of snake sightings, local call-outs remained well below some larger centres.

“Junee does get its fair share of call-outs, especially where homes back onto paddocks, bushland, or areas with good shelter for snakes,” he said.

“But the number of call-outs for Junee are nowhere near the calls for Wagga Wagga, Uranquinty and The Rock.”

Riverina Snake Catcher Aidan Vivian relocating an eastern brown snake | Photo: Supplied

Mr Vivian said juvenile snakes were especially active at this time of year as they dispersed after hatching, and warned that even very small eastern browns could still pose a serious danger.

“Juvenile eastern browns are still venomous and should be treated with the same caution as adults,” he said.

“Their venom is very potent, even when they are small.

“Like most snakes, they prefer to avoid people, but if threatened they will defend themselves.”

The Junee catch came amid a busy period for Mr Vivian, who has also responded to multiple eastern brown sightings elsewhere in the region in recent days.

Just two days earlier, a juvenile eastern brown was found wriggling inside a cupboard at a business in Ashmont.

“Always a bit of a surprise when the cupboard starts moving,” he joked.

This juvenile eastern brown snake was found inside a cupboard at a business in Ashmont on Friday | Photo: Supplied

Later that same afternoon, the Riverina snake catcher was called to a home at Forest Hill, where an eastern brown was found curled up on a bench inside the house.

“Upon arrival, it turned out the brown snake was a fair bit bigger than first thought,” Mr Vivian said.

“Definitely not the kind of house guest you want hanging around.”

Mr Vivian was called to remove this eastern brown snake from inside a home at Forest Hill on Friday | Photo: Supplied

Mr Vivian said snakes usually entered homes accidentally while searching for shelter, food or cooler areas, with small gaps under doors, around plumbing, in garages, or through weep holes in brickwork among the most common entry points.

Bathrooms and ensuites, he said, could be particularly attractive to snakes because they were often cool, dark spaces with small gaps around pipes or cabinetry.

“Sometimes snakes follow prey like mice or skinks into the house,” he said.

He urged residents to take practical steps to reduce the risk of snakes getting too close to homes, including keeping grass short, maintaining tidy yards, removing piles of timber, rubbish or debris, controlling rodents, sealing gaps under doors and around plumbing, and keeping pet food secured so it did not attract mice or rats.

For anyone who discovers a snake indoors, Mr Vivian’s advice was clear: stay calm, keep a safe distance, and do not attempt to catch or kill it.

He said children and pets should be kept away, and if possible, the room should be closed off with a towel placed at the bottom of the door to help limit the snake’s movement until a licensed catcher arrives.

“Snake activity is definitely picking up with the warmer weather,” he said.

“Juvenile snakes are particularly active at the moment as they move around looking for food and shelter.

“Most snakes people see are simply passing through, but if one gets into a home it’s best to call a professional.”

The incident serves as a confronting reminder that some of Australia’s most dangerous snakes are not only found in paddocks, sheds and gardens, but can also make their way inside the home.

Residents are urged not to approach snakes and to contact a licensed snake catcher for safe removal.

Riverina Snake Catcher

On call 24/7
Servicing Wagga Wagga & Surrounds
Aidan Vivian — 0408 334 829