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Old 07-11-2009, 06:27 PM
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Dangers in doing the right thing

Since the fire season is rapidly approaching for Victoria, I'm in the process of clearing my property.

Only a few moments before the image was taken, this friendly fellow was mistaken for a tree branch which I had picked up.

This is the third time I have accidently handled snakes all of which were the venemous tiger snake variety.

Steven
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  #2  
Old 07-11-2009, 06:44 PM
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Yep they are on the mover everywhere Steven. We don't get a lot of tigers up here but plenty of other nasty ones.
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Old 07-11-2009, 06:49 PM
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Keep your eye's peeled!!!

Those are the branches that bite!!
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Old 07-11-2009, 06:51 PM
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multiweb (Marc)
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Mate, I'd be myself if I had this in my backyard. This stuff is deadly right? Do they go after you or they just scare away if you leave them alone?

Last edited by xstream; 08-11-2009 at 10:23 AM. Reason: bypass profanity filter
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Old 07-11-2009, 07:10 PM
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Mate, I'd be sh****g myself if I had this in my backyard. This stuff is deadly right? Do they go after you or they just scare away if you leave them alone?
People have died from Tiger bites.

Tigers are not generally aggressive unless provoked or cornered.

The first time this happened to me the Tiger somehow wrapped itself around my forearm. When it flattens its head and looks somewhat a Cobra you are in potential trouble. Fortunately I was able flip it off my arm before it became very aggressive.

Steven
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Old 07-11-2009, 07:16 PM
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Completely different viewpoint... Thats a beautiful looking snake.. I suppose you can be thankful it was a tiger as opposed to an Eastern brown or a coastal taipan.. Tigers are generally fairly placid and would prefer to disappear back into the bush than face confrontation..

Do yourself a favour Steven.. Don't pick too many more of them up!! If theres plenty around, it might be a good idea to go to the nearest hospital or even a zoo and get yourself a small vial of anti-venom... Last thing you want to have to do is get in the car and drive somewhere if you're bitten...

Alex.
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Old 07-11-2009, 07:24 PM
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Ps - Very few species of snakes get "aggressive" They get very defensive when they feel threatened.. In Australia, the Eastern brown is the only "aggressive" snake we have. The rest get hyper-defensive.. and will strike without warning when threatened. You must always realise, the snake can't talk, it cant growl like a dog to tell you its feeling threatened, its only method of simple, quick conveyance of this message is to strike.. There are many subtle signs, like the flattening out of the body, repeated tongue flicks and posing that can give away when a snake is scared..

I've caught and relocated about 30 snakes in my local area in the past 4 months.. they are definitely out in force this year.. I would caution everyone to watch your step..
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Old 07-11-2009, 07:25 PM
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Quote:
I suppose you can be thankful it was a tiger as opposed to an Eastern brown or a coastal taipan
Yes, taipans and browns can be rather aggressive and nasty when they want to be. I've had one chase me...just lucky I can run fast!!!.

I'd heed what Alex said...get a small vial of anti-venom for your first aid kit and stash it in the fridge...it has to be kept cool before use.
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Old 07-11-2009, 07:45 PM
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This is the first Tiger I've seen in about 3 years.

When I first moved up here 12 years ago it wasn't uncommon to see Tigers cool off on the veranda.

I suspect the climate has become drier over the years and this may have reduced the Tiger population in the area.

And yes I think its a great idea to keep a supply of anti venom.

Steven
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Old 07-11-2009, 08:08 PM
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Had a lot of fun with snakes over the years. Not too many bad ones around here. Lots of pythons about though. Like anything they will leave you alone if you return the favour. Pets are not quite as smart though. Nice reflexes to manage a photo though.
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Old 07-11-2009, 08:19 PM
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I have an add in the local paper, as I hold a level 2 advanced reptile handlers licence, I can work as a snake catcher.. Most of what I've had to move around here have been pythons ranging from 3 to 8ft, I have captured a few small browns around here... as such I keep a small supply of anti venom for most common species of venomous snakes...
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Old 08-11-2009, 12:58 AM
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Tigers not agressive?!
The ones up your way must be smoking something.
I used to keep snakes when I was younger, venemous and not. Tigers are the most agressive snakes I've ever encountered. Where Cobras, Puff Adders, Rattlers etc. will give you fair warning and mostly run away, Tigers seem to take offence if you're within 20 metres and activley go on the offensive! Brrrr.
One chased me across the garden last year and my next door neighbour almost died from a bite she got while standing still.
Give me your nice placid Browns and Red-Bellied Blacks any Day.
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Old 08-11-2009, 01:51 AM
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I currently keep about 18 species of reptiles, the only one I have that I consider aggressive is a 15 month old brown snake.. the southern tiger is as calm as, the inland taipan (fierce snake) is relatively calm, although he's protective of his enclosure, I consider my two jungle pythons as more dangerous than my tiger or my taipan.. Hell, even my frill neck lizard has bitten me more times than the tiger snake has.. and she's coming on 6 years old now...

I dont know about "nice placid browns" what so ever. I've been chased by browns, I've had them throw themselves 5 feet in my direction with their mouth wide open and fangs out.. they are by no means placid when they are confronted with what they think is a predator... I've not met a single person who handles elapids regularly who would agree that tigers are more of an issue than an eastern brown...
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Old 08-11-2009, 07:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sjastro View Post

The first time this happened to me the Tiger somehow wrapped itself around my forearm.

Steven
yikes!!!!!!!
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Old 08-11-2009, 09:19 AM
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Quote:
Tigers are not generally aggressive unless provoked or cornered.
or picked up as firewood

been a few browns getting out of late, I got to know a few over many years where I used to work and even got to likeing them over time.
Aggressive .. hmm well yes they seem to be but maybe its more in there nature than being outwardly nasty. I always found they like no other snake will not consider moveing on till your on top of them and
in the ensuring panic these meetings generate agressive sure fits.
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Old 08-11-2009, 09:39 AM
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I don't like browns. Have you ever noticed the look in their eye when they're about to attack you? Very expressive eyes.
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Old 08-11-2009, 11:08 AM
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This is a bit odd. People from both ends of the continent report entirely different behaviour for the 'same' snake. Browns and Blacks seem to exhibit classic snake behaviour: running away unless cornered, whereas Tigers, as noted, are confrontational.
I know that now and autumn are the most 'aggro' times of year for snakes 'round here. Mating/hibernating as it were.
I also know that what a snake considers threatening is castly different from what I would consider threatening.
But I'm genuinely puzzled as to why a snake so venemous is so aggressive.
Or why, for that matter, in this part of Australia which has never been short of food, a snake needs to be that venemous at all?
Any ideas?
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Old 08-11-2009, 12:41 PM
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I would have to change my shorts !!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOO THANKYOU !!!
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Old 08-11-2009, 01:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexN View Post
Do yourself a favour Steven.. Don't pick too many more of them up!! If theres plenty around, it might be a good idea to go to the nearest hospital or even a zoo and get yourself a small vial of anti-venom... Last thing you want to have to do is get in the car and drive somewhere if you're bitten...

Forget the antivenom at home - one, the hospital won't give it to you, and two, you can cause more harm than good in giving it incorrectly or at the wrong time. You are better off having a good supply of compression bandages and a way of contacting ambulance etc. And do a first-aid course.
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Old 08-11-2009, 01:57 PM
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Agreed in that if its used incorrectly it can cause troubles, not to mention any allergic reactions you may have to a certain antivenom, That said, it all depends on how far your nearest hospital is from you, and how likely you are to be bitten. Being that I am either in close proximity to, or handle elapid snakes on a daily basis, I find it always better to have the antivenom on hand... My inland taipan has a tendency to snap at me when shes hungry, and although she's only 8 months old, within 5 minutes of a very mild "warning" bite to the extremities, you start feeling very light headed, between 2 to 5 minutes after the bite, it feels much like you've consumed half a bottle bourbon in a short period of time... Personally, I wouldnt want to be messing about with a compression bandage, a splint and juggling the phone trying to call an ambulance in that state...

A Tiger snake bite would have very different effects, the Taipan's venom is a neuro-toxin, hence the effect is more so on muscle control, and motor skills etc. It will attack your central nervous system and cause effects much like alcohol. The tiger snake venom is more of a muscular degenerate, causing effects much like necrosis, the immediate tissue will die off within 2 hours of a serious bite and the most notable effect is the extreme pain as the toxin attacks your muscles and other tissue...

Yes, you should definitely know how and when to administer antivenom, but if you're likely to get bitten, then I think its better to have it than not..

I've never been denied a vial of anti venom from anywhere when I've informed them of the regularity in which im in contact with snakes. I don't know if you'd be required to have the same advanced reptile handling experience and permits that I have in order to get it though.
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