Snakes aren't a pest control job
Keep clear and call a licensed snake catcher. Don't try to catch or kill it. For a snake bite, call 000, apply a pressure bandage and keep the person still.
What's different in the Hawkesbury
A very big catchment
The NSW Government says the Hawkesbury River estuary drains the second largest coastal catchment in the state and marks the northern boundary of Greater Sydney. Over 70% of the catchment remains undisturbed forest, and grazing makes up around a quarter of land use.
Water that stays
NSW Health says heavy rain and flooding leave water lying around, and that stagnant water provides ideal conditions for mosquito breeding. After a flood, clearing containers and debris matters as much as anything you can buy.
Trapped at North Richmond
NSW Health found Gan Gan virus in mosquitoes trapped at North Richmond on 8 April 2025. It's a virus that isn't notifiable in NSW, and a virus in a trap isn't a human case.
Japanese encephalitis
As at 30 July 2026, NSW Health's list of high risk council areas didn't include Hawkesbury or any other Greater Sydney council. Lists change, so check NSW Health's map if you're worried. A pest business can't prevent or treat disease.
On rural blocks
Sheds, feed stores and hay are good shelter for mice and rats. CSIRO has said cooler weather encourages mice to find shelter in homes, so expect them to come inside in autumn. Store feed in sealed bins, keep the grass down near the house and clear rubbish from around sheds.
NSW Health says ticks are common in bushland, long grass and other humid environments, and NSW Health Pathology says the adult paralysis tick is most likely to be met from September to December. Check kids, dogs and yourself after a day outdoors.
For farm buildings and sheds, tell the pest business what's stored there, what livestock is nearby and where your water comes from, so they can plan any treatment around it.
After the water goes down
NSW Health's advice is to empty and throw out containers holding water, and to clear debris so water can move through drains and creeks. Damp timber then becomes the concern. If flooring or subfloor timber stayed wet, ask for a termite inspection once it has dried out, and leave any mud tubes alone until then.
Before you call a pest business
- Note what you've seen, where and when.
- Photograph any droppings, damage or nests from a safe distance.
- List your water tanks, dams, animals and hives.
- Ask about any inspection or call-out fee, especially for acreage.
- Note gates, dogs and how to reach the problem spot.
Our take on pests in the Hawkesbury
Out here, tidy sheds and clear water beat any spray. If you've got a pest you can't shift, tell us your postcode and what's on the block.
Want someone to look at it?
Tell us what you've seen and your postcode, and a local pest business that handles exactly that calls you to talk it through.
