With deadlines fast approaching one fateful day, Times sale guru Paula McDonald decided to kick off an unscheduled show and tell session with the rest of the unbeknownst staff.

From a plastic tub she pulled out a snake skin, measuring between eight and nine feet in perfect condition.

Staff was soon alerted to the skin's presence, thanks to an untimely squeal from sale consultant Leisa Smith.

The skin was discovered at a Moorland dairy farm, owned by Peter Latham.

Peter said a person delivering stock to the property's engine room noticed it on lying on the ground.

"He opened the door, saw it and was surprised," Peter laughed.

"He had a look around to make sure the snake wasn't there."

Remarkably, the skin was in perfect condition complete with shedded eye caps.

Peter believed the skin was from a carpet snake.

Manning based snake catcher Brenton Asquith noted on the Manning River Times Facebook page the skin would be from a diamond python.

"The only species of python found here is the diamond python which is a subspecies of carpet python," he wrote.

The change of season could have played a part in its appearance at the farm.

"But we do see carpet snakes a bit up here and the odd variety of python," Peter said.

The appearance of snakes across the Mid Coast area began earlier than usual this year. There were reports of sightings in the Manning and Great Lakes in August.

Warmer than average temperatures has been identified as the cause.