SNAKES are on the move in the Redlands as they look to find a mate during the spring and summer months.
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Residents of an apartment building on the corner of North and Wharf streets at Cleveland called Redlands snake catcher Tony Morrison to remove a sunbathing carpet python from the front of the property on Monday.
The snake's presence was first brought to the attention of residents when it crossed the road and headed towards a Moreton Bay fig tree.
"They go along the side of the (Raby Bay) canals and clean out the water rats," Mr Morrison said.
"A snake like this will eat possums and all those types of things."
He said places like Mount Cotton, Redland Bay and Victoria Point were often inundated with venomous snakes whereas non-venomous species were more prevalent in other areas.
"We get snakes in the Redlands all year round but this time of year we are flat out," Mr Morrison said.
"It's breeding season now and the snakes are out to find a mate. They will be found in places where they aren't normally."
Mr Morrison said he had seen a drop off in the number of venomous snakes during his 25 years of catching experience in the Redlands but the total number of snakes had not changed.
"Even though we're so built in snakes have adapted," he said.
"Most of my calls are either inside the house but we also get some outside.
"They'll access the house when people leave doors and garages open.
"When people leave the garage open they will enter through the internal door."
Residents are being urged to tidy their backyards in anticipation of the annual snake pilgrimage.
"Make sure you've mowed and get any tin you may have lying around off the ground," Mr Morrison said.
"They love tin because it warms up and they get underneath it and in between the corrugated iron."
Mr Morrison said people could send him a photo of a slithering invader so it could be identified prior to him visiting the property.
"They can send it to me straight away and I can go 'hey, it's just a green tree snake, nothing to worry about," he said.
"It can also go the opposite way where people tell me they've got a tree snake but when they send me the photo it's actually a brown snake."
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