Reptile Awareness Display of Australia's Mr Burnett said Australia was home to seven of the planet's 10 most venomous snakes. As the weather warms, he said, residents should be aware of their surroundings which might well be home to slithery creatures.

Mr Burnett regularly travels hundreds of kilometres with some of the world's most deadly snakes including the Inland Taipan; the second most deadly, the common Eastern Brown; the third most deadly the Coastal Taipan; the fourth most deadly, the Tiger snake and the ninth most deadly, the Death Adder.

He said the key to living alongside the reptiles was to be careful, avoid complacency and know first aid.

Having trained as a paramedic in Albury during the 80s, Mr Burnett is well placed to know how dangerous snakes can be, but believes the creatures get a bad rap.

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"Of course they do, it goes all the way back to Adam and Eve, the snake being the evil thing that tempted Eve," he said.

"Throughout history, and especially in Australia, people think 'a good snake is a dead snake'. That's how I was brought up and how my father was brought up.

"It boils down to fear, we fear what we don't understand."

The Australian Reptile Park has warned residents the recent wet and warm weather has brought snakes out earlier than usual in NSW.

The organisation encouraged residents to brush up on first aid and ensure they do everything they can to coexist with the reptiles.

Mr Burnett said people should try to steer clear of snakes and remain calm if they do encounter them.

"If you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone," he said. "If you fraternise with them inadvertently by walking into a shed and seeing one, back away slowly and everyone will be happy.

"People need to be aware they're coming in for a reason, whether it be food or water or in springtime to mate.

"That's the only reason they're passing through, they're more tourists really.

"They certainly haven't come to eat your children or you."