In an October so frantic with snakes it feels like the height of summer, the Native and Feral Pest Management catcher has seen eastern browns cutting through a Cessnock school, a brown hugging the pavers in a Mayfield backyard, and several nasty bites on dogs.

Eastern brown snakes and red-bellied black snakes account for most of the work of Mr de Looze, who has been summoned to dark, confined spaces. 

A recent expedition beneath a house to catch an eastern brown was the stuff of an ophidiophobe’s nightmares. 

But most of his scaly discoveries could be mapped out “in loops” of houses that back onto the bush, in places like Raymond Terrace, Maitland, Thornton, Jewells and Mayfield West.

“This is something you get in the middle of summer,” Mr de Looze said. 

“We never see this many this early.”