Illawarra Snake Catcher Glen Peacock was called to the Short Street facility after RSPCA officers picked up the fox.

Pool staff alerted Mr Peacock to the snake, which was about 30cm long, trapped inside a filter catchment pit in the ground.

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"It would appear the snake has come in, climbed through a small hole in the metal grate probably looking for a rodent, and then hasn't been able to get out.

"It had fallen into the water in the pit but had managed to climb out of it and was resting in a crack in the wall.

"The snake was cold and lethargic from the water.

"When I came in to the pool and lifted up the grate, most of the kids were watching me.

"It was a bit of a show and some kids got to pat the snake."

The golden crown recovered and was released back into the bush.

Mr Peacock said snakes could drown if they fell into a swimming pool and could not get out.

"The golden crown snake is mildly venomous but it is pretty much harmless. A bite would feel like a bee sting," Mr Peacock said. "The species is one of the most common types in the area."

Mr Peacock said he had been busy in the past two weeks removing snakes from homes after they had been displaced from their burrows due to flooding and heavy rain.

He was alarmed to be called to a home in Cringila recently to rescue a red-bellied black snake that had slithered into a pile of tiles after the homeowners chased it from their backyard shed.

"The snake got stuck and someone had poured petrol over it, probably to try and force it out," he said.

"It was practically dead when I found it.

"Some people don't care about snakes and deliberately try to kill them or will use any method to flush them out."

Mr Peacock said he gave the snake 10 baths and used soap to bring it back to life and to remove the petrol smell.

"The snake probably ingested some petrol, which had also soaked into its skin and probably burnt it, and the fumes would have also affected it.

"It is now back to full health and will be released soon."

All reptiles are protected in NSW by the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

Mr Peacock said he had also been busy returning five escaped pet snakes back to their owners.

"I found a mixed breed zebra snake in a Farmborough Heights picnic shed, which was opposite the owners house," he said.

"Pet snakes don't usually go that far.

"In most cases I find the owners when they come forward and I match up the snakes' patterns with photos."

Mr Peacock expects to be called to rescue baby snakes in coming weeks as eggs hatch.