A Canberra resident received an unexpected and scaly visitor on Christmas Eve, discovering a venomous tiger snake inside his suburban garage.
A Festive Surprise in Throsby
The unusual encounter took place in the Canberra suburb of Throsby on December 24, 2025. The homeowner made the startling find while entering his garage, prompting a call for professional help.
Fortunately, assistance was close at hand. Gavin Smith from ACT Snake Removals promptly attended the scene. Smith, who also works as an academic at the Australian National University, safely captured the reptile without harm to the snake or any people.
He described the tiger snake, scientifically known as Notechis scutatus, as "an uncommon find in urban Canberra." For the snake ecologist, however, the call-out was a welcome one, calling it "the perfect gift for me."
Understanding the Uncommon Visitor
Tiger snakes are dangerously venomous and capable of delivering a lethal bite if threatened or provoked, Dr Smith emphasised. However, he was quick to add that snakes generally prefer to avoid confrontation with larger predators like humans or dogs and will retreat when given a chance.
The snake's name comes from the distinctive yellow and black cross-bands seen in some populations, though not all individuals display this pattern. Their colouring can range from dark olive brown to blackish-brown, with off-white to yellowish bands of varying thickness. Some tiger snakes have no patterned markings at all.
While primarily ground-dwelling, these adaptable reptiles are capable swimmers and climbers, able to access trees and buildings—including suburban garages. The species inhabits areas from sea level to over 1000 metres in altitude and is often associated with waterways, wetlands, and even degraded agricultural land.
Safe Release and Community Education
Following the capture, the tiger snake was released into a nearby nature reserve. Due to the rarity of such a sighting in the city, Dr Smith logged the encounter on the community wildlife mapping platform, Nature Mapr.
Dr Smith is a sociologist and snake ecologist with a passion for public education. He has conducted research tracking brown snakes around Canberra using cameras and GPS transmitters. His mission is to foster greater public respect for these often-misunderstood animals.
"Snakes are incredibly communicative," Dr Smith has noted in past interviews. "People see them as dumb and inert, but they are curious when they become calm." On Christmas Day, he thanked his social media followers for supporting his work with these remarkable creatures over the years.
This Christmas Eve incident serves as a timely reminder for Canberra residents to be vigilant, especially in garage areas and near bushland interfaces. It also underscores the importance of contacting licensed professionals like ACT Snake Removals for safe and humane resolution when wildlife enters urban spaces.
