A Tasmanian snake catcher in the middle of the island's busy season has witnessed a serpentine cannibalistic drama unfold, with a surprise twist in the tail, er … tale.

Key points: A southern Tasmanian resident reported a snake in their driveway — but the snake catcher soon found out that was not quite correct

A southern Tasmanian resident reported a snake in their driveway — but the snake catcher soon found out that was not quite correct What was thought to be a single copperhead turned out to be two snakes — a larger female with the tail of a smaller male snake she had eaten hanging out of her mouth

What was thought to be a single copperhead turned out to be two snakes — a larger female with the tail of a smaller male snake she had eaten hanging out of her mouth Once captured, the female regurgitated the male, which survived the ordeal relatively unharmed

After arriving at the residence in Sorell north-east of Hobart for a "snake in the driveway" on the weekend, Reptile Rescue's Chris Daly soon realised things were not quite as they seemed.

"When we arrived, we quickly realised it was two snakes — and one had the other's tail sticking out of its mouth," Mr Daly said.

The snakes — both copperheads — were at first thought to have been mating, with the male becoming a post-coital snack.

But Mr Daly thought otherwise.

"I think the young male tried his luck and the female wasn't having it … so she just ended up eating him!"

The species is one of three common to Tasmania — tiger, white-lipped and copperhead — all venomous.

And you thought human dating was rough. ( Supplied: Chris Daly )

Mr Daly said that once the female copperheads and her plucky passenger were caught and placed into the container, the female gave up her victim.

"The defence mechanism of a snake is to spew up its food, so when you go to catch them they tend to do that," he said.

"Both snakes are now doing fine … the little guy that got eaten is resting up before we release him."

"I've already released the female, but the male needs a few extra days to recover after being down the other snake's neck."

He said the cannibalistic behaviour was quite common amongst copperhead snakes in Tasmania — and that there were unexpected benefits to having the species around.

"They will eat the tiger snakes and most bites towards humans are dry," he said.

This might put him off romance for life. ( Supplied: Chris Daly )

Caution urged as snake season in full swing

Tasmania recently had it's first snake-related death since 1977, after 79-year-old Winston Fish died from a tiger snakebite while mustering sheep on his farm in Oatlands.

Mr Daly said he was not aware of there ever being a human death due to a copperhead bite in Australia.

His advice for people who encounter a snake is to "leave it to those who know what they are doing".

"Nine out of 10 snakebites are due to the fact that people are trying to kill the snake or catch it," Mr Daly said.

Tasmania's 2020 summer snake season was on track to be as busy as last year's.