Snake catcher Rhys Gloury, who provides services to councils across the North East, including Alpine, Indigo and Wangaratta, said the deluge of water on the first weekend in September had unsettled tiger, black and brown snakes which are normally not seen until mid-October.

“Because the floods have flooded the river areas they’ve woken the snakes that have been hibernating in the logs and other areas and given them no option but to come out earlier and now they’ve woken they’re moving around,” Mr Gloury said.

Click here for spectacular aerial photos of the floods

“Before the floods I didn’t receive a single call, since the floods I’ve had 10 to 15 calls.

“I had one lady who called me and she had a big tiger snake in her backyard and she lives in the centre of Wangaratta near the Pinsent Hotel.”

Mr Gloury said the combination of the floods, maximum temperatures under 30 degrees and spring breeding habits ensured that tiger and black snakes in particular will be visible.

Brown snakes, which normally occupy drier farmland rather than riversides, are also on the move but are unlikely to be as abundant as their reptilian colleagues.

“In the townships that experienced floods, the snakes will be more inclined to be in town for the next month or so, until their habitat dries up,” Mr Gloury said.

“In the floods, they move into town and they might lay low but they emerge with the sun and like to return and are roaming around.”

Mr Gloury warned penalties, including fines of up to $10,000, applied for killing snakes and urged those concerned about sightings to call a catcher, although he stressed that was not always necessary.

“Unless the snake’s in your house or car and has been cornered it’s not worth a snake catcher coming around, because the snakes are generally moving through,” he said.

“Usually you see them once and then they move on.

Mr Gloury is hoping to show some of his snakes at Wangaratta’s Relay for Life on October 2-3. He is also happy to answer any queries at the event.