A spokesman for the ACT Ambulance Service said officers had been called out to six spider bites and one snake bite since the start of the year, while a total of three snake and eight spider bites were reported throughout 2012.

Across the border, Ambulance NSW has received 38 calls for snake bites, 74 spider bite calls and one scorpion sting since July.

Last spring and summer there were a total of 288 calls for spider bites and 136 for snakes across NSW, with Sydneysiders accounting for the majority of spider bites at 133 reports.

While all snakes found throughout the capital are venomous, Senior Ranger Craig Wainwright said the reptiles weren’t necessarily dangerous.

“If they were to notice a snake in their backyard, they should leave it alone,” he said.

“They’re very shy animals. They’re only defensive if they feel trapped or threatened.”

Mr Wainwright said Territory and Municipal Services hadn’t received reports of snakes in the suburbs, but rangers had spotted a number in the capital’s grasslands during the recent warm weather.

“In the urban areas, 95 per cent of our reports are brown snakes,” he said.

“We do get some black snakes, like red belly blacks, and the occasional tiger snake.”

Snake sightings can be reported to TAMS, but Mr Wainwright said the majority of snakes had left the area by the time rangers arrived.

“Snakes are on the move,” he said.

“An urban environment is not a place for a snake to live. They don’t want to live with all that vibration and noise around.”

Mr Wainwright said snakes were more common in grasslands or near creeks, but they could be drawn to mice-prone urban areas such as chicken coops and open compost heaps.

“We often find snakes hanging around aviaries and chicken pens,” he said.

He advised Canberra residents to keep their pathways clear and clean up anything that snakes could hide under if they wanted to avoid a close call with nature.

- with AAP.