Snake at night

[De-Gen]

Just a thought..

is there a risk of bitten by a snake at night during observation? (i hope i don't answer my own question , lol) Maybe we should be careful..

[danielsun]

As far as i know not likely! usually if they feel some one nearby they keep clear from us. its really the brown snakes (highly venomous) that are agressive when someone is near their breeding area! i'm not so sure about tiger snakes and others. some one else may be better informed to fill you in! even though i used to have a pet snake and catch snakes with a girlfriend many years ago back in brisbane!!!

[RAJAH235]

I don't really think so. Unless you go chasing them in their bedrooms.
Usually hunt thru the day, don't they, when it's warm? They 'feel' you long before you see them. (Vibrations, you know).
More likely to get lots of mozzie bites/leaches etc etc...... or the dreaded 'Brown Foot', from you know where. L.

[davidpretorius]

depends if they are in the middle of an imaging session and you come rumbling past and knock the scope out of alignment and collimation.

Bird bites too if you kick his mount!!!

[danielsun]

Yes thats right!!! he!! he!!... Go Dave!!

[De-Gen]

Originally Posted by danielsun

As far as i know not likely! usually if they feel some one nearby they keep clear from us. its really the brown snakes (highly venomous) that are agressive when someone is near their breeding area! i'm not so sure about tiger snakes and others.

ah..i see, so i guess the risk is low.

Originally Posted by danielsun

even though i used to have a pet snake and catch snakes with a girlfriend many years ago back in brisbane!!!

snake catching? sounds like fun

Originally Posted by RAJAH235

I don't really think so. Unless you go chasing them in their bedrooms.
Usually hunt thru the day, don't they, when it's warm? They 'feel' you long before you see them. (Vibrations, you know).
More likely to get lots of mozzie bites/leaches etc etc...... or the dreaded 'Brown Foot', from you know where. L.

yeah, that's right, mozzies are worse

Originally Posted by davidpretorius

depends if they are in the middle of an imaging session and you come rumbling past and knock the scope out of alignment and collimation.

Bird bites too if you kick his mount!!!

[fringe_dweller]

hehe I have often thought of that - but Rajah is dead right, they are mostly daytime creatures in Oz - but there are a few? nocturnal snakes in Oz. Locally speaking, I know the Adelaide Plains Death Adder (extremely venomous) was nocturnal only, - extremely unusually, I find this is the one animal i am glad is extinct now - sounds strange to say that!

[slice of heaven]

Serious answer..Yes some do ,Death Adders are 1 type of nocturnal snakes in Oz I know of and there'd be more I presume.
But they'd be hunting food not astronomers, just don't go wandering around in the bushes

[slice of heaven]

Beat me to the post again Kearn
I didn't know they died off? They are/were horrors!!!

[RAJAH235]

hehe I have often thought of that - but Rajah is dead right,

Please, your choice of words!
The US Rattle Snake has infra red sensors that he/she uses to find prey in their dark burrows or @ night. Luckily.......... not here. L.
ps. Hi Geoff. How's Telrad & Dolphin??

[slice of heaven]

Originally Posted by RAJAH235

ps. Hi Geoff. How's Telrad & Dolphin??

Tucked away safely thanks Laurie Not having much luck with good skies at the moment, but when the skies come, they'll both get a thrashing again

[fringe_dweller]

Originally Posted by slice of heaven

Beat me to the post again Kearn
I didn't know they died off? They are/were horrors!!!

hehe
I read that they were extinct in Adelaide and suburbs since the 50's I think? recently in the Advertiser - I have never seen a death adder in the wild - they are pretty similiar to the ones you get in some outback deserts still tho i guess - I thought they were very shy snakes generally, from memory?
If I ever want to be sure snakes arent around in the bush somewhere I just makes lots of noise - jump up and down ect. it must be quite a sight to see!!! let them know you are there - they dont want to waste venom on us i would suspect? hope?

[fringe_dweller]

Originally Posted by RAJAH235

Please, your choice of words!

LOL sorry mate! I take that back - ..you were spot on

[RAJAH235]

lol. Not that bit. I meant, "dead right". L.
ps. Now that it's been mentioned, I think the Death Adder also has infra red sensors. L.

[fringe_dweller]

Originally Posted by RAJAH235

lol. Not that bit. I meant, "dead right". .

I know mate!! I meant them as a replacement words a little superstitous are we now?!! LOL!

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

Hmm, I've been stalked by a very confused fox, but not come across any snakes at night.

Bird

[slice of heaven]

Originally Posted by fringe_dweller

hehe
I read that they were extinct in Adelaide and suburbs since the 50's I think? recently in the Advertiser - I have never seen a death adder in the wild - they are pretty similiar to the ones you get in some outback deserts still tho i guess - I thought they were very shy snakes generally, from memory?
If I ever want to be sure snakes arent around in the bush somewhere I just makes lots of noise - jump up and down ect. it must be quite a sight to see!!! let them know you are there - they dont want to waste venom on us i would suspect? hope?

Misread your 1st post, Ive come across them in the Dublin,Lower Light area ,north of Adelaide, they are a seriously nasty looking snake with a mean disposition when disturbed. I'd rank them 1 place below the tiger snake in the snakes I've come across.

[hogly52 (Graeme)]

Most snakes shouldn't be a problem to the astronomy fraternity. In the main they will react to noise and vibration and seek quieter quarters out of the way of human danger. Death Adders can be a little different because of their liking to hide in a leafy location luring prey with their distinctive tail colour and movement. They are less prone to getting out of harm's way, and are likely to attack if stepped on. I believe their thinking is, "you should have seen and recognised the distinctive tail, and gotten out of my way!" Not always possible at night, when both of us are going about our business. Anyway, what is an astronomer doing in a leafy location? If somebody, has a better knowledge of the Death Adder's habits, please feel free to correct me.

In the north, I am yet to encounter any reptiles while out viewing, but we have been accompanied by howling dingoes, and have to be most cautious about roaming water buffalo. The latter can be a very real problem. If near the water's edge, there's the crocs , which could really ruin your night out if given the opportunity.

Graeme

[RAJAH235]

Kearn, np. L.

LoL you guy's should try my place. We have had Eastern Browns, Browns, Red belly
Blacks and it's silvery cousin the Swamp Snake. Plus the not so deadly Green snake,
actually we have one in the roof and the odd Python.

Now sometimes I'm am a lil paraniod when I walk out in the dead of night in my thongs.
But over the last 3-4 years living here I have never bumped into one in the middle
of the night. The red Belly Black is the only night hunter I know of but they tend to
stay clear of you. Although I have had them come pass while at the scope, so I tend
to move around a lil. The only reason I do that is if I observe an object for several
minutes one could slide through my feet if I have kept still, it's when I suddenly move
while one is sliding through will be the danger. Personally I think you would have to be
unlucky to get bitten. So if they do come sliding through just stay still until it moves
off not even a King Brown will hit you if you keep still, btw, you can still scream like
hell they wont hear you, just dont move.

The thing I find works best out here, keep the grass down and I mean down like a
nicely cut lawn. Snake dont like the open as they become prey as well. Brown snakes
are the worst only because they are aggressive by nature which is part of their
danger. If you have Red Belly Blacks which are more venomous but placid by nature.
You want to keep them around, they kill Brown snakes. And green snakes well they
take care of rhe mice and rat populous.



Regards,CS

PS: your all welcome to come for an observing weekend : )