A snake may use the same local area repeatedly, moving between shelter and feeding places. That does not mean it stays under one rock or inside one yard. Nor does a second sighting prove that the same individual has returned.
What is a home range?
A home range is the area an animal uses during its normal activities. It is different from a single shelter site or the much larger geographic area where its species occurs.
For red-bellied black snakes, the Australian Museum describes individuals using several preferred shelters within their home range. A snake disappearing into cover may therefore be using one of several retreats, rather than a permanent “nest”.
Can they return to familiar places?
Yes, this has been documented in some species. A radio-tracking study of broad-headed snakes followed 25 individuals and found that many adults returned to rocks where they had previously been captured. Their use of space also changed with season and reproductive condition.
This is evidence for that population, not a promise that every Australian snake follows the same route or returns to the same garden. Repeated use of an area and remaining in one spot are different behaviours.
How far does a snake travel?
There is no single useful distance for all species and circumstances. The Museum reports male red-bellied black snakes travelling as far as 1,220 metres in a day during the spring breeding season. That is a recorded example, not a daily average or a radius to draw around a sighting.
What changes when a snake is relocated?
Moving it elsewhere can change its movements. In a study of 14 tiger snakes near Melbourne, relocated animals travelled farther and used larger overall ranges than resident animals. The study does not establish a universal relocation distance or outcome for every species.
If removal is needed, leave that decision and the handling to a qualified local catcher. For recurring sightings, the garden guide explains food and shelter around homes. Keep a record of dates and locations rather than assuming that similar-looking snakes are always the same visitor.