Thread: Living with snakes

We get browns and tigers at our place. If they venture too close to my immediate living surroundings they meet Mr. shovel.

And yes I do know that you are not allowed to kill them, but I am not having them hang around the house, possibly breed and then we have lots more.

Only good snake is a dead one in my book.

$3000 in vet bills and a dead poddy lamb over the last two years and I still can't find the bugger to dispatch him.
No living with snakes at our house (brown ones anyway)

Regards,
Tote

Wait till you pay $1,100 for a vet after biting a good dog to save it and finding 2 calves dead after snake bites because they are inquisitive and attempt to sniff them out and a lot of people would have a different view. They get one of the s's here a shovel or shotgun. If they get under some rubbish a bit of petrol sprinkled around, they either come out in a hurry or later a bit dopey, either way you can relocate the snake (minus the head of course).

Originally Posted by oldyella 76

Wait till you pay $1,100 for a vet after biting a good dog to save it and finding 2 calves dead after snake bites because they are inquisitive and attempt to sniff them out and a lot of people would have a different view. They get one of the s's here a shovel or shotgun. If they get under some rubbish a bit of petrol sprinkled around, they either come out in a hurry or later a bit dopey, either way you can relocate the snake (minus the head of course).

I remember back in the day, around Ilfracombe, the shower & long drop were out the back, along a rudimentary concrete path. The snakes used to lay across the path at night for the residual warmth, I guess. And one day, I was under the house [ low set] putting ants into the Ant Devils funnels [ purely for science, of course] when a very large head poked thru the garden near me. I ran upstairs and screamed " big lizard under the house!" Dad grabbed his Martini action 310, a rake , and went out to investigate. Out came the biggest brown snake I have ever seen. Watching Dad try to pin the thing with the rake, and shoot it with the single round in the rifle, was terrifying and fascinating all at once. He did it. Only after dodging a few strikes. If any snake came near Dad's dogs, or the house, [ in that order, the dogs were important ]It was goodnight , the fox. A matter of priorities.

The old story of black snakes eating browns, yes they do, but I’ve seen browns eating blacks. According to a snake expert it all depends on who wins in the fight, they will both eat each other.

Originally Posted by trout1105

99.99% of the time if you leave the snakes alone and don't get threatening or aggressive towards them they are harmless most of the time.

Yes, i was cutting some grass with the wipper-snipper and one came towards me, i didn’t have anywhere to go as i was between the shed and the fence he was up and ready to strike. So i did what my old snake handler said. Just stop and freeze, this is because snakes only have a very very short memory, after a couple of minutes he just went back down, and went between my legs and away.
My old snake friend said that the best snake in Australia will only have a memory for about 10 mins at the very very best, most only just a couple of minutes, and if you don’t move they just loose interest.
This is NOT a fail safe way. But in my case it was the only thing i could do. Some will say here why didn’t i try to kill it with the wipper-snipper, well they can move very fast and it was already “on alert” so i was at a disadvantage, also I will only kill one if i am left absolutely NO choice at all.
They have their place here, just rabbits, foxes, starlings, etc i will kill if i see one, they are pests, snakes are native and have their place in the eco system.

Hi,
I learned the 'freeze' trick from the Snakes Alive chap doing a show at a local market. Works well and gives time to watch the snake move slowly off to where he was going before I disturbed him.
Cheers

snakes are native and have their place in the eco system.

I agree.
One of my pet hates is seeing squished snakes and lizards on the road especially the local bobtails when they are so easily avoidable, There is a weird compulsion in people that makes them want to murder any snake/lizard they see when they are driving.