What would you do if you locked eyes on this monster diamond python staring through the window at you from your deck?
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A Mount Kembla resident got the shock of her life when she found this unannounced visitor waiting outside her home on Wednesday morning.
A member of the Farmborough Hts community page posted the image on Facebook with the comment, "This big fella was lurking in my daughter's verandah this morning in Mount Kembla. They had to call snake catchers to relocate him. So that means we could also have visitors in our yards in FH. So scary."
Illawarra Snake Catcher Glen Peacock got the call to help. He and his wife arrived with a bag to catch the snake and were shocked when they saw the size of the python, which he estimated was 2.4 metres (eight feet) long.
He shared a series of videos on his Facebook page yesterday showing the moment he captured the python and later released it back into the wild.
"Afternoon guys. We are just releasing this whopper of a diamond python we just got from... Mount Kembla. This thing's one of the biggest diamond pythons I've had for a while," he said.
"I'm guessing this thing's gotta be 10 to 12 kilos. It's gotta be one of the biggest ones we've had.
"It looks like it's had a pretty big feed too, so it's a big boy."
Mr Peacock said snakes and pythons found close to suburbia were usually "used to people and more docile" while the ones found closer to the bush "tend to be more flighty and bitey".
"This thing tried to eat us," he said.
Mr Peacock said it was hard to show the full scale of the python on video as it was so big he could not film it all in one go.
"I'm six feet and he's a lot longer than I am," he said, adding the python's girth "is as thick as my arm".
Mr Peacock said when the arrived at the job the python "a bit intimidating, a bit bitey"
"We didn't try to handle him, we just put the bag on the ground and encouraged him to go in it," he said.
At one point during the video the python appeared poised to strike.
"I'm not getting too close to him. Get bitten by one this size it hurts. It's like a hundred backwards facing teeth like fish hooks."
Another video shows the "bloody giant" of a reptile making its way up a tree.
Many commenters on the community Facebook page were shocked by the size of the python.
"Wow! A well-fed beauty by the looks of it! An amazing creature, beautiful," wrote one. "Omg, I would die on the spot if I come across a snake this size," said another.
Others expressed concern about family pets.
"He is sure big enough to take a dog," wrote one. "An excellent reminder not to leave cats and small dogs out overnight. That's one biiiiig hungry [snake]," said another.
Some were concerned about it being captured, but Mr Peacock offered reassurance.
"It's been safely relocated back to the bush. Well away from homes and near water and lots of food," he wrote.
The Mercury reported earlier this month that snakes, spiders and other creepy crawlies were being flushed out by the wet weather.
Snakes, and in particular red-bellied black snakes, may seek refuge in homes as heavy rains 'flood them out' of their resting places.
Mr Peacock said he had been receiving an increase in calls as heavy rains cause snakes to leave the river and creek beds they call home and seek dry ground.
"Usually when it rains I end up getting a lot of calls because the river beds where they live get flushed out. At the moment a lot are still hiding but they will come out if it keeps raining and that is when they end up in unusual places [such as] garages, sheds and out in the open in little spots," Mr Peacock said.
He suggested people keep an eye out for snakes, especially if they live near creeks or the coastline, with rocky areas also popular habitats.
"I get quite a few of them around Kiama Heights. They like rocks. And also anywhere around the Minnamurra River. They like anywhere there is cover for them and a ready supply of frogs and lizards to feed on," he said.
"If they are in an area where there are flood waters coming in they will try to reach higher ground," he said.
Mr Peacock said snakes often start moving when the day warms up, usually around 10am or 11am, and while they are more prevalent in summer, they will stay active until the start of winter.
Details: Illawarra Snake Catcher, 0418 162 441 or click here
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Merryn Porter
Journalist with more than 25 years' experience in print and digital media who has covered most news rounds, including health, education, politics (local, state and federal), police and courts, with a special interest in women's and family matters. Highly-skilled interviewer and storyteller.
Journalist with more than 25 years' experience in print and digital media who has covered most news rounds, including health, education, politics (local, state and federal), police and courts, with a special interest in women's and family matters. Highly-skilled interviewer and storyteller.
