Unpleasant surprise in Christmas tree for Australian woman

A snake was found among the tinsel on a Melbourne Christmas tree. Photo / Facebook, Snake Catcher Victoria

It's no partridge in a pear tree but a Melbourne woman got a seasonal surprise when she found a tiger snake entwined among the tinsel on her Christmas tree.

The Frankston woman discovered the serpent in her tree on Sunday morning and called in professional snake catcher Barry Goldsmith.

He said the snake entered through an open door before settling among the decorations.

"It's one of the more different ones, but we find them in all sorts of places," Goldsmith said yesterday.

"Tiger snakes are very good climbers." Goldsmith, who runs Snake Catcher Victoria, says the woman did the right thing by taking a photo of the snake then closing off the room until a professional arrived.

"She left the room, put a towel down as a door jam and came and rang me," he told the BBC.

With the warmer weather, snakes are more active, but people should leave them alone and not try and kill them, Goldsmith said.

"It's dangerous, it's illegal, and it's cruel." Tiger snakes, which are found along the Australian coast, are highly venomous but protected. This one was released into the wild.

"I've found them in ugg boots, washing machines, dog kennels, cat boxes, toilets, kitchen cupboards and bookcases," Goldsmith told the BBC.

- AAP