There are 23 different species of snakes on the Mid North Coast, with the most common species being the brown snake and the red-bellied black snake.

Both are extremely venomous.

Stuart Johnson is the Billabong and Koala Wildlife Park's local snake expert and knows a thing or two about our slithery friends.

"People seem to think that snakes are out to get humans but that just isn't the case," he said.

"There are two reasons a snake will bite - a food source or if you do something the snake doesn't like, such as attack it or try to kill it which is commonly what happens."

Mr Johnson said a person’s likely reaction when seeing a snake is to jump and scream, which only threatens the snake into thinking it is in danger.

Apart from those two scenarios, Mr Johnson said a snake isn't likely to attack a human.

"They will certainly be around so it is important for people to be aware," he said.

"If you see a snake you need to stay really still and perhaps try and move back very slowly until it disappears.

"Prevention is the best way to keep safe, so ensure that pets and rubbish are kept under control. 

"If not, then that can bring in rodents which will in turn bring in the snakes as it is a food source for them."

Mr Johnson said that snakes are extremely adaptable to the environment and love to hide in dark and obscure places.

If you are bitten by a snake, Mr Johnson said the best thing to do is keep perfectly still and cover as much of the limb as possible with a compression bandage before dialling triple-0.

Do not attempt to rinse the bite site.

Any venom present at the wound, even under a bandage, can help emergency doctors identify the type of snake and, therefore, the correct anti-venom.