Man holds snake with rake in bird aviary for half an hour before help arrives

A highly venemous snake that ate so many birds it was too fat to escape from an aviary has been captured after a man had to hold it down with a rake for half an hour before help arrived.

The tiger snake managed to slither into the enclosure in Langwarrin in Victoria, but couldn't escape after eating two budgies and killing a cockatiel.

When the owner of the birds found the reptile, he pinned the animal to the ground with a steel rake and called Snake Catcher Victoria's Barry Goldsmith for assistance.

"Normally people don't want to see me when it comes to snakes, but this time I think he was pretty pleased I'd arrived," Mr Goldsmith told 9News.

Once on the scene, the veteran snake catcher was able to capture the animal and later release it back into the wild.

"Needless to say when I removed the rake this little guy went crazy, flattened its head to the dimensions of a cigarette paper and proceeded to try its hardest to give me a little kiss," Mr Goldsmith said.

READ MORE: Snake season starts early with Australia's warmer weather

Tiger snakes are one of the most venomous snakes in the world and are commonly found in the suburbs around Melbourne.

They're known for their aggressive nature when threatened, showing a particular posture when they're afraid.

"They raise themselves off the ground and flatten their heads and neck, almost like a cobra," Wildlife Victoria said.

The snake catcher issued a timely warning for residents to be aware of snakes as the weather starts to warm up.

"Snakes are just part of the countryside in Australia," he said.

"People need to be educated about their movements to make sure we can live safely together".