Coming across just one Eastern Brown snake would be more than enough for most of us - imagine finding three in the backyard.
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That's what happened to one NSW Central West family last month, says snake catcher Jake Hansen, who was called to relocate the snakes from the Orange home.
"I caught one and then a couple of days later they called about another one - and while I was there I actually ended up catching two."
He says for most of the year it's "highly unusual" to see more than one snake in the one spot, but things change during breeding season.
"Female snakes will attract male snakes and it's not uncommon at this time of year to see a couple of male snakes fighting or snakes breeding."
Late October and November is peak time for this behaviour and as snakes move around to find food, it's also the time they're most likely to be spotted by people or moving through someone's yard.
A lot of the time the best thing to do is to let the snake continue on.
- Snake catcher, Jake Hansen
Since breeding season began, Mr Hansen has been getting "a few calls each day" and has caught about 15 to 20 snakes since September, which he says is "in line" with previous years.
"I certainly get more calls around this time of year, but that doesn't always translate to me catching or removing a snake, often I'm talking people through what they need to do and what the best course of action is because a lot of the time these snakes are just wandering through - they're not hanging around someone's home. A lot of the time the best thing to do is to let the snake continue on."
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He says if you spot a snake in town, the best course of action is to keep your eyes on it and call someone who's licensed to relocate it.
"If you're out of town you need to realise there's multiple snakes on your property and you're just not always aware that they're there, in which case you should give thought to just leaving them alone.
"If you're sensible, they don't pose much of a risk at all.
"Obviously there's exceptions if it's close to the home or inside your home or garage, but relocating is not something I take lightly, because studies show it's not good for a snake to be moved away from its home."
Last month, the Western NSW Local Health District treated 17 suspected snake bites across the district, with two of these in the Orange area.
The total number is a slight increase from the same period in 2020, but largely consistent with previous years, a spokesperson said.
