This guide sticks to what Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council pages say about snakes and spiders, quoting their qualifiers rather than adding advice of its own. It was checked on 9 November 2026. One of its sources is a Queensland Department of Education fact sheet, which is written for schools and departmental workplaces and is labelled that way below. The first aid section is a selection of steps, not a complete guide. This is general information and not a substitute for medical advice.
What Council says about snakes in Brisbane
At 9 November 2026, Brisbane City Council’s Living with wildlife page says Brisbane is home to 27 species of snake. On the same date, its list of the most common snakes includes the carpet python, common tree snake, keelback, yellow-faced whip snake, white-crowned snake and eastern small-eyed snake. On that page at 9 November 2026, Council also says some venomous snakes live in Brisbane, and that the eastern brown snake is the most common of those. On the ecological side, the page at 9 November 2026 says snakes help to control rodent populations and maintain the balance of different species.
A Queensland Department of Education fact sheet on preventing and managing snake bites, written for schools and departmental workplaces and reviewed October 2023, says snakes are not usually aggressive and do not seek confrontation with humans, but may retaliate if provoked. That school and workplace fact sheet names cool, dark protected areas such as under buildings and near sheds, around rubble, stored materials and in long grass as typical places snakes may be found.
If you find a snake
For a snake on your own property, Council’s page gives separate steps, as read on 9 November 2026. If it is inside the house, it says to close your internal doors, open your external doors and give the snake a chance to leave. If it is in the backyard, it says to block all potential entry points to your house. In both cases the page, as read on 9 November 2026, says not to go near or interact with the snake and to contact a snake catcher. The school and workplace fact sheet gives the reason for leaving it to professionals: bites can easily occur if inexperienced people interfere with snakes.
For a snake on Council property, Council’s page says at 9 November 2026 to leave the snake alone and slowly move a safe distance away, and adds that snakes will often escape if given the chance. The school and workplace fact sheet adds that if a snake is seen, you should not approach, confront or otherwise provoke it.
Reducing the chance of a bite
The prevention list in the school and workplace fact sheet follows. It lists appropriate clothing, for example enclosed shoes. It says never to put hands in hollow logs or thick grass or under woodpiles or building material without prior inspection. When stepping over logs, it says to carefully inspect the ground on the other side. It also says to keep buildings and sheds free of mice, rats and frogs, because they may attract snakes. Because snakes may be active at night, it says to ensure adequate lighting and wear adequate footwear.
After a snake bite: a selection of the published first aid steps
The Queensland Government bites and stings page, last updated 17 August 2023, says relatively few bites and stings are seriously dangerous, but it may be difficult to distinguish which are serious from those which are not. It says basic first aid should be applied in all circumstances, followed promptly by appropriate medical treatment. The school and workplace fact sheet puts it more directly for snakes: not all snakes are venomous, but they are difficult to identify, so all bites should be treated as dangerous.
The government page lists puncture marks, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, drowsiness or light headedness, a change in vision, chest or abdominal pain, and difficulty breathing or inability to breath as signs and symptoms of a snake bite. Its first aid sequence begins with checking breathing and circulation, following DRABCD if the patient is not conscious, and calling 000. The page then says to firmly bandage the area of the body involved, including the wound, starting above the fingers or toes, but not so tight as to cause tingling or colour changes. If a bandage is not available, it says an item of clothing or a towel can be used. It also says to immobilise the limb using a splint. It says to encourage the person to sit quietly.
Two further details follow. If possible, the page says to mark the bandage at the bite site with a pen so medical professionals can examine the area without taking the bandage off. It also says to re-check circulation in the bandaged fingers or toes. For a bite to the trunk, the school and workplace fact sheet says to apply firm pressure to the bitten area and not to restrict chest movement. That fact sheet also has separate first aid advice for bites on the hand or forearm and for bites to the head or neck, which this guide does not reproduce; this section is only a selection of steps from the sources, so read the Queensland Government page and the fact sheet themselves for the full advice.
The same government page says what not to do. It says a tourniquet, cutting or sucking the venom from the wound is not recommended. For a snake bite it says to avoid washing the area, because residual venom can be used as a sample to help identify the type of snake involved. It says not to attempt to kill the snake, as snakes are protected by law. The school and workplace fact sheet likewise says the person should remain as still as possible and that you should not attempt to catch or kill the snake. Finally, the page says it is important to stay with the person in case they deteriorate and require CPR while waiting for medical help.
Spiders: what the government page covers
The same qld.gov.au page lists sharp pain at the site of the bite, sweating, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea as spider bite symptoms. For funnel-web spiders it adds increased saliva in the mouth, confusion, muscular twitching, breathing difficulties and unconsciousness. Funnel-web bites sit under the same first aid heading as snake, mouse spider, blue-ringed octopus and cone shell bites, which is the pressure immobilisation sequence described above. This guide makes no claims about identifying spider species beyond what the page itself states.
Redback bites have their own entry. The page lists severe pain that is spreading, and hairs on the legs or arms standing on end, as redback symptoms. It says not to apply a pressure immobilisation bandage for redback spider bites. It says redback envenoming is not life threatening and resuscitation is rarely required. Its steps are to reassure the patient, apply an ice pack to the bite site, and give simple analgesia, adding that oral paracetamol/codeine may be sufficient. It advises consulting a doctor if the patient is not responding to simple analgesia, has symptoms other than at the bite site, or the type of bite is in doubt.
For any bite, the page says to call 000 immediately if there are concerns with level of consciousness or breathing. For other symptoms or concerns about a bite or sting, it says to contact a Registered Nurse at 13 HEALTH on 13 43 25 84, as at 9 November 2026.
Wildlife rules to keep in mind
As read on 9 November 2026, Council says it is a serious offence to harm native animals in any way. It also says on that page that feeding dangerous or venomous wildlife is against the law and can lead to serious injury. For a sick, injured or orphaned wild animal, Council says to phone the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625), as at 9 November 2026.
For wider context see Brisbane Native Wildlife You May Meet, Brisbane for Wildlife Lovers, Bushwalks Near Brisbane and Brisbane Outdoor Safety: Heat, Storms and Sun.
Frequently asked questions
Should you wash a snake bite?
As at 9 November 2026, the Queensland Government bites and stings page says that for a snake bite you should avoid washing the area, because residual venom can be used as a sample to help identify the type of snake.
What does Council say to do if you find a snake in your house?
As at 9 November 2026, Brisbane City Council’s Living with wildlife page says to close internal doors, open external doors and give the snake a chance to leave, and not to go near or interact with it.
Is the first aid the same for redback spider bites?
No, according to the Queensland Government page (last updated 17 August 2023), which says not to apply a pressure immobilisation bandage for redback spider bites.
Who do you call after a snake bite?
The Queensland Government page (last updated 17 August 2023) lists calling 000 in its first aid steps for snake bites.
