Do you run over snakes?

**farmcar** · 19th February 2008, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

No I don't - snakes are protected species.

Many years ago I was on a LROCS trip and one of the members was seen to dart across to the wrong side of the road and slam on his brakes producing a cloud of dust.

At the next stop we asked what was the reason for the abberrent behaviour. His reply was that he saw a red bellied black at the side of the road and wanted to kill it, the braking episode was the guarantee the event.

The corrollary to the story was that the next day when he went to the car he found a black snake in the garage. The reptile had wrapped itself around the axle housing. Sadly I don't think the snake survived it's holiday to the suburbs.

Diana

BTW: We have red bellies in our hay shed, they are really useful animals that keep the mice levels down. Occasionally you pick up a bale of hay and find a black, we just replace the bale and go to the next one. They are more afraid of us than we are of them and you don't seem to find browns or tigers (which are nasty) when you have blacks.

From what I understand is that the red bellied black snakes eat the young of the other snakes, so this could be why you don't see too many others around. Blacks are also quite timid.

We have been fortunate this year not to have too many snakes around the house, we put this down to a new dog, border collie, discouraging them from being around - or perhaps discouraging thier prey from being around, either way we are quite happy.

I'm not going to go out of my way to kill a snake - as someone mentioned, more likely to hurt doing that, but when they are on my veranda, I get quite territorial...

**Tango51** · 19th February 2008, 09:32 AM

Wow, partied hard last night, found a post I don't remember writing!
Pretty impressed with the spelling since I have no recollection of the event.

**FenianEel** · 19th February 2008, 10:40 AM

Grew up with plenty of snakes on the farm, unless there was a danger or potential for, I have never "nobbled" them. Only ever worried about browns or taipans (only ever seen a few), the rest can stay where they are.
I'd rather "relocate" them down the paddock, as I did with two browns on the weekend (not doubt they'll back in the wood shed again).

Check this out - it's on Foreign Correspondent tonight. I heard it on the radio this morning and sounds pretty wild.

Foreign Correspondent: PNG - Dangerous Liaisons

**FenianEel** · 19th February 2008, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by Tango51

Wow, partied hard last night, found a post I don't remember writing!
Pretty impressed with the spelling since I have no recollection of the event.

Ooh, haven't you been warned of the dangers of "drink typing"

JamesH · 19th February 2008, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by CraigE

JamesH,
Have to say your mate was a bit of a clown. It was obviously not threatening him. Most often they will just slither away. If they are not creating any immediate danger, let them keep going.

Yes, I see your point (and so would he) but we felt very threatened, our understanding was that these snakes are territorial, and deadly. We have not heard any refuting theories since. Our camp was hours from medical attention. He made the call and had no argument from the rest of us.

**Tango51** · 19th February 2008, 11:22 AM

I can vouch for that, King Browns are VERY territorial and are the only snake I know of that will chase you even if you walk away.

I was trying to be supportive in my drunken state, although my communication was sh*t, sorry.

I've never killed a King Brown but I've been chased all over the scrub by a few, rescued two surveyors treed by one, and been chased into a billabong by one and it swam after me!
They are real aggressive sods.

**29dinosaur** · 19th February 2008, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Tango51

I can vouch for that, King Browns are VERY territorial and are the only snake I know of that will chase you even if you walk away.

I was trying to be supportive in my drunken state, although my communication was sh*t, sorry.

I've never killed a King Brown but I've been chased all over the scrub by a few, rescued two surveyors treed by one, and been chased into a billabong by one and it swam after me!
They are real aggressive sods.

Why then would anyone want to get close enough to try and wack it over it's neck with a shovel. You miss - you're a gonner... you wouldn't get a second hit.

And what happened in the billabong story did it get you? Or did you get bitten in the scrub by being chased..... no.... again .. you need your head read if you're trying to kill these beasts!

**29dinosaur** · 19th February 2008, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by JamesH

Yes, I see your point (and so would he) but we felt very threatened, our understanding was that these snakes are territorial, and deadly. We have not heard any refuting theories since. Our camp was hours from medical attention. He made the call and had no argument from the rest of us.

Unless he got himself bitten - then where would you be?

"Of the estimated 100,000 snake bite fatalities worldwide every year, the continent of Australia usually accounts for between one and three of them. Snakebites are believed to have resulted in 38 deaths in the past 24 years in Australia, and of those 38, three were trained herpetologists bitten while handling snakes, five occured as a result of people trying to kill the snake, four were cases of people handling a venomous snake believing it to be harmless, and twenty were bitten after accidentally treading on the snake."

**crump** · 19th February 2008, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by 29dinosaur

Unless he got himself bitten - then where would you be?

"Of the estimated 100,000 snake bite fatalities worldwide every year, the continent of Australia usually accounts for between one and three of them. Snakebites are believed to have resulted in 38 deaths in the past 24 years in Australia, and of those 38, three were trained herpetologists bitten while handling snakes, five occured as a result of people trying to kill the snake, four were cases of people handling a venomous snake believing it to be harmless, and twenty were bitten after accidentally treading on the snake."

How many people have died from horse related accidents in the same time frame, yet you dont see people calling for their heads to be chopped off.

**FenianEel** · 19th February 2008, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by crump

How many people have died from horse related accidents in the same time frame, yet you dont see people calling for their heads to be chopped off.

You used to on a bad day at Bundamba

Thread: Do you run over snakes?

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