Snake in the House? What to Do in Singapore and Who to Call

Snakes in Singapore do not hunt or chase people. Most bites happen when someone tries to catch, corner or kill a snake. Knowing where the snake is, or where it went, also makes removal far faster and safer.

• Move everyone, especially children and pets, at least a few metres away.
• If the snake is indoors, leave the room, close the door and roll a towel along the gap underneath so it stays put.
• If it is outdoors with a clear way out, leave it alone and watch from a distance. A snake that can leave usually will.
• Take a photo only if you can do so from a safe distance. It helps us identify the species.
• Call or WhatsApp ESC on +65 9149 1408 and tell us where the snake is.

Most snakes you are likely to meet here are non-venomous or only mildly venomous, but a few are dangerous, and some harmless species look like venomous ones. If you cannot tell what it is, treat it as venomous.

• Reticulated python: not venomous. Singapore's largest snake, with a net-like brown, black and gold pattern, often 2 to 4 metres long. Common in drains, canals and bin centres, where it hunts rats. A large python can give a serious bite and is a real risk to cats and small dogs.
• Oriental whip snake: mildly venomous, not considered dangerous to people. Bright green, very thin, with a long pointed snout. Easily mistaken for a vine in trees and shrubs.
• Paradise tree snake: mildly venomous, not considered dangerous to people. Black with green or yellow markings and red spots along the back. A strong climber seen on walls, trees and roofs.
• Common wolf snake (often called a house snake): not venomous. Small and brown with fine pale speckles and a pale band across the neck, and one of the snakes most often found indoors, where it hunts geckos. It bites if handled and is often mistaken for a krait.
• Equatorial spitting cobra (black spitting cobra): venomous and dangerous. Black or dark brown, it raises a hood when threatened and can spit venom towards the eyes from a couple of metres. Seen in gardens, parks, drains and around landed homes.
• King cobra: venomous and dangerous, but rarely seen. A very long olive to brown snake that mainly lives near forest.
• Wagler's pit viper: venomous. Green, or boldly banded black, yellow and green, with a broad triangular head. It sits very still in trees and shrubs, so people often walk past without noticing it.
• Banded krait and blue Malayan coral snake: both highly venomous, but shy, active mostly at night and rarely seen away from forest. The krait has bold black and yellow bands; the coral snake has a dark body with a blue side stripe and a red head and tail. Never approach either.

Some sightings need extra care:

• In the toilet: leave the bathroom, close the door and put a towel along the gap. Do not reach over the bowl, flush, or pour chemicals or hot water in. The snake may just retreat into the pipes and come back.
• In a drain: keep people and pets away from the opening and nearby covers, and note which way it moves. Do not poke it or block the drain.
• In a car or engine bay: do not start the engine. Keep the doors and bonnet closed, move away and call. If you spot a snake while driving, pull over safely, get out and close the doors.
• On a high floor: snakes climb pipes, walls and trees beside blocks, often following geckos or rats. Close the room off and watch from outside. If it is on a ledge, air-con ledge or roof, do not lean out to reach it. Every ESC officer is trained and certified for work at height.
• In a condo common area: tell the management office or security, keep residents and pets back, and have one person watch from a safe distance. Clear play areas and pool decks until the snake has been removed.

Snake bites are uncommon in Singapore, but treat every bite as a medical emergency, even if the snake looked harmless. This is general first aid information, not medical advice. Always follow the 995 operator and medical staff.

• Call 995 for an ambulance straight away.
• Keep the person calm and as still as possible. Moving around can speed up the spread of venom.
• Keep the bitten limb still, in a splint or sling if you have one, and not above heart level.
• Remove rings, watches and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
• Note the time of the bite and what the snake looked like, from a distance only. Never try to catch or kill it.
• Do not cut the wound, suck out venom, tie a tourniquet or apply ice.
• Venom in the eyes: rinse with plenty of clean water for at least 15 minutes, then get medical help.
• If a pet is bitten, take it to a vet immediately.

A few well-meant reactions reliably make things worse:

• Do not try to catch, trap or kill the snake. It is dangerous, and harming wildlife is an offence under the Wildlife Act.
• Do not spray it, poke it with a broom or throw things at it. A stressed snake is a defensive snake.
• Do not assume a small snake is harmless. Young venomous snakes carry venom too.
• Do not corner it or block its escape route.
• Do not use mothballs, sulphur, chemicals or fire to drive it out.

ESC's snake removal work is led by certified wildlife specialists. When you call or WhatsApp +65 9149 1408:

• We ask where the snake is and whether anyone is at risk, and give you safety advice over the phone. A photo on WhatsApp helps us identify it.
• A trained ESC officer attends with proper snake handling equipment.
• The officer identifies the species and removes it from your premises, subject to the approvals each species requires.
• We check how it got in, such as gaps under doors, pipe openings, drains or overhanging branches.
• You get practical prevention advice, and managed properties can ask for a photo-documented report.

Snakes follow food and shelter. Take those away and you will see far fewer of them:

• Keep rats under control. Rats are the main reason pythons and cobras come close to homes.
• Secure bins, clear food waste promptly and do not leave pet food outside.
• Seal gaps under doors and around pipes, air-con holes and cable openings.
• Keep drains and floor traps covered, and replace broken grilles.
• Trim vegetation and branches back from walls, windows and roofs.
• Clear clutter such as stacked boxes, planks and piles of leaves where snakes and rats hide.

On managed properties, repeated sightings are a signal, not a coincidence. They usually point to something that keeps drawing snakes in: rats, dense ground cover, standing water or gaps around drains. A site assessment finds the cause, and the fix is often simple housekeeping or minor proofing. ESC's wildlife services are built for town councils, MCSTs and facilities managers, with clear, photo-documented recommendations your committee can act on.