It’s something many Queensland home owners have known for a long time but recent research has confirmed that a growing number of pythons are heading indoors as their natural habitat shrinks.
In research published in the latest edition of Austral Ecology, Ben Corey and Sean Doody from the University of Canberra and the Department of Parks and Wildlife WA, found that in areas where tree hollows were scarce due to human impacts, pythons preferred to live inside buildings, sheds, and particularly, attics.
“We found that the pythons were reasonably flexible in terms of places they can live” said researcher Ben Corey. “They particularly like to live in tree hollows, but attics will suffice, as long as these are adjacent to naturally vegetated areas.”
Injune’s David and Kate Gordon know all too well the python’s preference for attic living.
Kate snapped this big fellow moving back into their attic via a ceiling light on their property Peronne, west of Injune, in December.
Kate said she still hears the python from time to time but has not gotten used to the fact that she has a snake living in her ceiling.
“My biggest worry is that he’s come down at night and get into bed with one of the kids,” she said.
The Gordons are currently renovating and Kate said she was re-thinking plans to put heat lights back into the new bathroom.
“Apparently they just love the heat lights so I’m wondering if they’ll be a good idea this time around,” she said.
“Part of the ceiling needs to come down next week so we’re all keen to see what happens with the snake. “The builder is pretty unimpressed about it it – he might need to do a Steve Irwin on him.’
Researchers, Mr Corey and Mr Doody radio-tracked 17 carpet pythons for up to 13 months in Willandra National Park NSW.
They studied populations in both relatively untouched forest, and areas that had been impacted by human activity such as land clearing, grazing, and invasive species. They documented where the pythons were choosing to live as well as their diet.
"Three quarters of the diet of pythons consists of pests such as rabbits and house mice," said Corey.
“So with these potential benefits, keeping woodland habitat close to buildings is a great way to conserve these harmless snakes, as well as taking out feral rodents and rabbits".
