The ACT's native reptile population, including some of the world's most venomous snakes, is about to become very active with the warming weather.
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Local experts have asked Canberrans to be mindful of the habitat they share with their scaly neighbours.
A wet lead-up and the onset of spring have created idyllic breeding conditions for many of the capital's reptiles, according to an expert from the University of Canberra.
Professor Arthur Georges said the next few weeks should present a ''big boom'' in visible reptile populations. ''I'm confident we'll see lots more movement,'' he said.
Male snakes in particular would be more mobile while they sought out mates, Professor Georges said. The wetter weather was also playing a part. ''[A lot of it is] tied to water. When the rivers and creeks dry up, snakes go to ground. With a lot more water around they'll be able to move,'' he said.
Professor Georges stressed that while extremely venomous, Canberra's snake population presented a low risk to humans and making noise was often the best defence. ''Make a little bit of noise and they'll hear you coming and get out of your way,'' he said.
Peter Childs of Reptiles Inc backed the professor, saying that while potentially dangerous, native snakes were not interested in biting humans. ''It's purely a defensive reaction and usually only happens when they are stepped on or extremely frightened,'' he said. ''Most of the cases [of snake-bite] I'm aware of happened when someone was trying to interfere with the snake, including me.''
Mr Childs said many of the saddest clashes between reptiles and humans came through misinformation. ''There was this one bloke who would go around killing all the blue-tongue lizards with a shovel because he thought the blue tongue meant they were poisonous,'' Mr Childs said. The distinctive blue is actually a form of sunscreen.
Both Professor Georges and Mr Childs said Canberra's bush capital heritage, combined with new housing developments meant that humans were constantly encroaching on native reptile habitat, not the other way around.
''This is their land and we are the intruders,'' Mr Childs said.
A TAMS spokesman said, ''Snakes are most active from October to March and may enter gardens for short periods in search of food and water. Residents should not be alarmed as snakes do not normally take up residence in suburban yards because of the lack of shelter and their fear of human activity.
''The best advice is to leave snakes alone.''
