NPWS Area Manager David Crust warned that snakes can be sighted almost anywhere including sporting ovals, fields, carparks, in the garden or in the garage, beside roads and along walking tracks.

Mudgee resident Vaughn Murphy sighted his first snake of the season this week, at Oporto Rd in the heart of south Mudgee.

“That’s a worry, because thats only two blocks from my house,” Mr Murphy said.

Mr Crust said during the cooler months, snakes become inactive, entering a state of hibernation or torpor, when their breathing and heart rate slows to a very low rate.

“With the start of the warmer weather snakes emerge from this state - they are hungry and are looking for a mate. As a consequence they are very active and are more likely to cross your path. It’s similar with lizards,” he said.

The two most common snakes encountered in the region are the Red-bellied Black Snake and the Eastern Brown Snake.

Mr Crust said Red-bellied Black Snakes usually live along creeks and rivers or near dams and wetlands where there is a good supply of their favourite food - frogs.

These snakes are sometimes found around houses near rain-water tanks or wet areas where frogs could be breeding.

“They are not usually aggressive and will normally quickly move away when disturbed,” Mr Crust said.

But Mr Crust said Eastern Brown Snakes have a different nature.

“They can be aggressive and may strike repeatedly if threatened or cornered.

The best way to avoid having snakes inhabit your yard is to avoid providing habitat for them.

“Reduce the places they can shelter and the food they can eat,” Mr Crust said.

“This may include ensuring old corrugated iron, wood piles or other material is not left lying around the yard and control mice and rats as these are a tempting source of food for snakes.

“The best thing to do if you come across a snake is leave it alone” said Mr Crust. “If somebody does get bitten, forget all the old remedies like sucking out the poison or applying a tourniquet, instead, immediately apply a pressure bandage on the affected limb, calm the patient

and get them to hospital as soon as possible.