Neville Suter of Port Fairy Pest Control said he had received a number of call-outs related to snakes surfacing due to water inundation.

“With all the rain, they are being washed out of the creeks and wetlands and ending up in people’s backyards,” Mr Suter said.

“The big piece of advice I would have for people is that if they see a snake, don’t try and catch them. Stay away from them. Snakes are only likely to bite you if you are going for them.”

While properties in rural areas and by rivers and other bodies of water are high-risk areas for snake sightings, Mr Suter said residents within townships should also remain alert.

“With the wet weather, the snakes are being flushed out of their holes and those holes could be in town,” Mr Suter said.

“The rain has brought them out of their holes earlier than normal.”

Mr Suter encouraged people to keep their properties neat and not have too much water in their yards.

He said once the weather warmed up, snakes would emerge in search of water. 

He said snakes would be on the hunt for mice and rats.