4 ms·

if you don't step on a snake by mistake, you have very little chance to get bit... it's not like they go out and hunt humans... I've seen rattle snakes (2) and

by yorby 9y ago

if you don't step on a snake by mistake, you have very little chance to get bit... it's not like they go out and hunt humans... I've seen rattle snakes (2) and a coral snake in the wild and I had to be very careful not to scare them away just to take a picture.

sdrothrock 9y ago
When I was a kid mowing the lawn, which was adjacent to a thinly-forested area, I ran over rattlesnakes at least half a dozen times... in those cases, if I hadn't been mowing, I definitely would have just stepped on it. I don't think it's too unlikely that people could stumble over a snake in grass while just playing around outside.
King-Aaron 9y ago
FYI: Snake advice in most places in the world doesn't translate to advice that should be taken in Australia. I.e. if you cross paths with a Tiger Snake - particularly if it's shedding or in breeding season - it will probably chase you down.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- wallace_f 9y ago
  AFAIK this idea is not necessarily substantiated by reality. The breeding/shedding thing is a myth: www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=4750 And the supposed general aggression of Tiger snakes is a popular cultural exaggeration. They do prefer to retreat. They're supposedly only aggressive if cornered or attacked first: https://australianmuseum.net.au/tiger-snake https://australianmuseum.net.au/tiger-snake Personally, of venomous snakes, I've only ever seen Browns and Blacks, both always decided, with extreme urgency, to run away. I once saw a couple of cunts swatting at a juvenile brown with a water bottle. Given that people will be stupid, and yet only a few die a year from snakes, I think you can safely worry about more serious threats to your life: like sugar, bankers, or politicians.
  - King-Aaron 9y ago
    Hmm, I know anecdotes aren't necessarily warranted here, but I have caught plenty of them to relocate out of my yards in the past. They can be extremely aggressive if they're shedding or breeding. Otherwise like any animal they do tend to try and get out of your way. I was more commenting on OP, in some advice against trying to pose for a photo with one :P
- Jedd 9y ago
  Agreed on regional advice variations. My understanding is if you see a snake, you stop, and wait - it'll likely go away (if it's noticed you) or keep going the way it was going (if it hasn't). We've unknowingly stepped over death adders before, and only noticed when we went back the same way. They're the fastest striking snake on the planet, and do themselves no favours by staying very still (they're ambush predators) despite large humans stomping around near them -- but I gather strikes are relatively rare. Never actually seen a Tiger snake - my neighbour saw it near their pool, but it's very late summer, and while they're poikilothermic, I doubt they feel especially energetic or antagonistic in 40C heat. Anyway, apparently it hid in the grass, then wandered off when the humans got too close (they thought they'd seen something there while gardening, but weren't sure -- they were not looking for the snake).

by yorby 9y ago

sdrothrock 9y ago

When I was a kid mowing the lawn, which was adjacent to a thinly-forested area, I ran over rattlesnakes at least half a dozen times... in those cases, if I hadn't been mowing, I definitely would have just stepped on it. I don't think it's too unlikely that people could stumble over a snake in grass while just playing around outside.

King-Aaron 9y ago

FYI: Snake advice in most places in the world doesn't translate to advice that should be taken in Australia. I.e. if you cross paths with a Tiger Snake - particularly if it's shedding or in breeding season - it will probably chase you down.

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
wallace_f 9y ago
AFAIK this idea is not necessarily substantiated by reality. The breeding/shedding thing is a myth: www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=4750 And the supposed general aggression of Tiger snakes is a popular cultural exaggeration. They do prefer to retreat. They're supposedly only aggressive if cornered or attacked first: https://australianmuseum.net.au/tiger-snake https://australianmuseum.net.au/tiger-snake Personally, of venomous snakes, I've only ever seen Browns and Blacks, both always decided, with extreme urgency, to run away. I once saw a couple of cunts swatting at a juvenile brown with a water bottle. Given that people will be stupid, and yet only a few die a year from snakes, I think you can safely worry about more serious threats to your life: like sugar, bankers, or politicians.
- King-Aaron 9y ago
  Hmm, I know anecdotes aren't necessarily warranted here, but I have caught plenty of them to relocate out of my yards in the past. They can be extremely aggressive if they're shedding or breeding. Otherwise like any animal they do tend to try and get out of your way. I was more commenting on OP, in some advice against trying to pose for a photo with one :P
Jedd 9y ago
Agreed on regional advice variations. My understanding is if you see a snake, you stop, and wait - it'll likely go away (if it's noticed you) or keep going the way it was going (if it hasn't). We've unknowingly stepped over death adders before, and only noticed when we went back the same way. They're the fastest striking snake on the planet, and do themselves no favours by staying very still (they're ambush predators) despite large humans stomping around near them -- but I gather strikes are relatively rare. Never actually seen a Tiger snake - my neighbour saw it near their pool, but it's very late summer, and while they're poikilothermic, I doubt they feel especially energetic or antagonistic in 40C heat. Anyway, apparently it hid in the grass, then wandered off when the humans got too close (they thought they'd seen something there while gardening, but weren't sure -- they were not looking for the snake).