Australian Woman Mistakes Dog for Python on Her Bed

A Surprising Encounter with a Carpet Python

At first, Rachel Bloor thought the weight she felt on her torso was her labradoodle. However, as it turned out, the Brisbane resident had a much more unexpected guest — an 8-foot carpet python lying across her body. This unsettling experience served as a reminder that snake season can bring wildlife uncomfortably close to home.

What Happened?

The encounter occurred during a time when snake activity has increased in Queensland. According to Kurt Whyte, a snake catcher based in Ipswich, the breeding season has ended, eggs are beginning to hatch, and the hot weather is causing more snakes to emerge from their hiding places.

Bloor described how, late Monday evening, she felt something heavy on her stomach and chest, initially assuming it was her dog. When she reached under the covers and felt movement, she woke her husband. He turned on the light and discovered the snake. Her husband said, “Babe, don’t move. There’s about a two-and-a-half-meter carpet python on top of you.”

In response, Bloor’s husband quickly moved the couple’s two dogs out of the room while she carefully side-shuffled free of the bedding. She then guided the python back out through the window. Bloor believes the snake climbed to the second story, slipped through an open window, pushed a shutter aside, and curled up on top of her. Despite the shock, she maintained some humor, noting that she was more relieved it wasn’t a cane toad: “Toads freak me out.”

Why Does It Matter?

Whyte explained that reports of snakes are becoming more common as new housing developments encroach on former bushland, even if the actual number of snakes isn’t necessarily increasing. This overlap means that snakes may end up moving through the same areas people use daily, including backyards, garages, and even bedrooms.

On an Ipswich property where Shane Hancock runs The Llama Farm, his partner, Darren Degen, found a carpet python guarding 16 eggs while cutting tall grass. Although the eggs survived, the injured mother snake had to be euthanized. Tiarnah Kingaby, another snake catcher, highlighted another major hazard: when people attempt to manage snakes themselves, “We see a lot more bites because of that.”

What Can I Do?

Experts advise against trying to catch a snake yourself. The recommended approach is to stay calm, avoid harming the snake, and leave any capture attempts to professionals. Keeping a safe distance, observing where the animal goes, and calling a snake catcher or reptile rescue group are essential steps.

Whyte also emphasized that the same advice applies to snake eggs. Professionals can collect them, move them to an incubator, and later release the hatchlings. Kingaby noted that this time of year is especially sensitive, as mother snakes may be sitting on eggs in tall grass or dense vegetation, including areas around homes and properties where people garden, mow, or clear land.

People can also reduce the chances of an indoor surprise by checking for common entry points. Whyte pointed out that gaps under garage doors can provide “the perfect entry points for a snake,” so sealing openings and being mindful of open windows may help lower the risk. As Hancock put it, “We’re more than happy to have [them]. We coexist with our wildlife.”