Aleigha Maher might live in regional Queensland and be accustomed to snakes but that didn't stop her shock finding one in her bed.
The 12-year-old screamed when she found the carpet python slithering in her sheets at her home near Mackay in northern Queensland.
But her mum Sandie told the Daily Mercury it was not the schoolgirl's first encounter with a scary serpent.
'My husband and I heard her scream and she came running from her room saying there was a snake in there,' Sandie said. 'Our family has had quite a few experiences with snakes, so this was not a major thing for us. It was just funny and unexpected to have a snake on a bed.'
Despite their initial surprise, the reptile turned out to be a non-venomous carpet python.
After making the discovery, the mother-of-four calmly removed the python from her daughter's bed and returned it to its habitat.
In addition to being known for its warm weather, Queensland is also famous for the dozens of snake species which call it home.
Life in the region has meant Sandie's children are well prepared and braced for any potential encounters.
'I tell my kids to always be on the look out for snakes while playing outside. They are very good at hiding and moving through grass without being seen,' she said.