According to the RSPCA, spring often brings snakes into household gardens as they search for a potential mate.

The RSPCA warns that if anyone sees a snake in their garden or house, they shouldn’t try to catch or kill it.

Instead, walk away from the snake and keep an eye on it from a safe distance. That “safe distance” according to the RSPCA is several metres.

Anyone dealing with an unwelcome snake should also keep pets away.

“The snake will usually move on in its own time. Snakes don’t want to be near humans any more than humans generally want to be near snakes,” an RSPCA spokesperson said.

“If the snake has decided to stay around, and you really want it removed, you will need to contact a licensed snake handler.

“If the snake is inside the house, close the door of the room it is in and place a towel under the door to prevent it from exiting before you call.”

One such licensed handler is Wagga’s snake man, Tony Davis.

Like the RSPCA, Mr Davis advises a slow and calm approach to an unexpected snake encounter.

“Snakes are more scared of you than you are of them, so all they want to do is get away from you and go back to where it’s safe,” he said.

In two decades of catching snakes, Mr Davis has found them in all sorts of places, inside and out, and has removed the reptiles from door cavities, bathrooms, dishwashers and, once, a pillowcase on a bed.

According to Mr Davis, if anyones see a snake they should stop, walk backwards from it and keep watching.

He said running away is never a good idea.

There are also a few ways to help reduce the changes of a snake paying an unexpected visit to a backyard.

Mr Davis said the best way to keep them from moving in was to keep backyards clean and free of things that might attract ‘food’ like mice.

“Bird cages can be dangerous. The birds aren’t always the target, the snakes can be sometimes looking for mice,” he said.

He also advises keeping backyards neat and tidy and to remember that snakes will try to shelter from the heat.