'While you are sleeping, I move through the night'

While you are sleeping

I move through the night

Searching for something to eat.

And once I find it

I sneak up beside it

And give it a very tight squeeze.

What on earth am I?

I’m a Diamond Python.

Living across from the bush, I’ve had quite a few encounters with Diamond Pythons. They’re nocturnal, and I’d love to seem them slithering around during one of my summer night wanders. No luck in that respect but I have seen these pythons in various spots curled up, basking in the sun. In the crook of my frangipani, only moving on as the hot summer rain started to come down. A very large adult stretched right across our road, stopping traffic and drawing out all the neighbours to watch. And coiled up on my hot tin roof.

These snakes love a roof cavity. We had one particular snake that would move from roof to roof over the years. They’re great at keeping possums, mice and rats at bay, although the tradies were a tad horrified when I warned them of the possibility of a snoozing reptile as our roof was replaced a couple of years ago.

They’re not venomous instead killing their prey by giving them one of those death cuddles, and are partial to the afore mentioned rodents, other small mammals and the occasional lizard. That doesn’t mean that they can’t pack a punch. They have decent sized fangs, can grow up to three metres in length and are ambush hunters. That means that they will wait for prey to come near before striking out to grab it. As you can imagine, that in turn could mean a super painful bite. They’re placid snakes though and if you leave them be, they will eventually slither onwards.

As it’s winter, you’re less likely to see reptiles in general as they go into periods of brumation, meaning they’re semi-dormant. You may still come across them trying to grab some sun or warmth on the road or rocks but it’s around November - December that you’re most likely to stumble across their path, when they’re out looking for a mate.