Victorian man finds red-bellied black snake hiding in sock drawer

A Victorian man received a shock when he found a highly-venomous snake while rummaging in his drawers for a pair of socks.

Barry Goldsmith, from The Snake Catcher Victoria, was called to the man's home to collect and relocate the red-bellied black snake yesterday.

The homeowner had reached into his drawer for a pair of socks, but instead grabbed something "wriggling and leathery".

The Pseudechis Porphyriacus, more commonly known as a red-bellied black snake, was believed to have entered the house through a small hole in the screen door.

"When I got there, I pulled the drawer out, put it on the bed, picked up a pair of socks and low and behold a healthy red bellied black snake," Mr Goldsmith said.

"Like most drawers, there is access for a snake through the back.

"Snakes generally tend to follow walls and when a hole is located, they go explore, [and] while following the wall the snake found itself behind the chest of drawers."

There are no recorded human deaths from red-bellied black snake, although bites can cause bleeding, swelling, nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, sweating, local or general muscle pain and weakness.

This was a first for the snake catcher, who said that it was rare to find snakes in bedroom drawers.

"I haven't found a snake in a sock drawer yet so that's a first for me. Usually they're in the bra drawer," Mr Goldsmith said.

"Such a sweet snake, didn't even try to bite or anything."

He said that the best way to ensure a snake can't get inside is to keep flyscreens shut and in good condition.

Red-bellied black snakes are typically found in south-east Queensland, eastern New South Wales and Victoria.

Last week, an animal hospital in Sydney's north west was tasked with extracting a beach towel from a three metre long python.