Tiger Snake encounter

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #1 29-01-2009, 07:00 PM

I sent my boy Jack to tidy up a bit of rubbish in the open carport.
Moments later he called out to me, asking what sort of snake this was that had come across the gravel drive and was passing not 2 feet away from him.
He was smart enough to just stand still, stay calm and let it go its own way. It was 3 or 4 feet away from him by the time I made it down the stairs and up the garden path.
On close inspection it was a 4ft Tiger Snake.

What I want to get across is the importance of drilling it into your kids/grandkids etc to be wary, keep an eye out all the time for snakes, and if you come across one, just leave it alone and stay calm.
I hate to think of what the outcome could have been if he hadn't of acted in a sensible, informed way.

Dennis · #2 29-01-2009, 07:08 PM

Wow Jeanette, I’m glad that the snake just went on its merry way and that Jack responded in the way I assume you’ve taught him to do so.

Last year, whilst camping, a 60cm long red bellied black snake came to within 2 metres of our tent, but we were told by park rangers that they are apparently quite docile compared to the far more aggressive tiger snake.

Cheers

Dennis

Craig.a.c (Craig) · #3 29-01-2009, 07:26 PM

I was almost waiting to read the part where someone gets the shovel to save the day.

Well done, glad everyone came out of it ok. Remember, snakes are more scared of us then we are of them. I love snakes, I have 5 pythons at the moment.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #4 29-01-2009, 07:40 PM

Red bellied blacks are good to have around. They like nothing more than to snack on other snakes (which is why they are housed on their own in zoos).
Craig, I'm afraid that if I had my druthers, I would have killed him.
I like snakes, I do, but if any Browns, Tigers or Adders encroach on my territory ie. around my house, they will find me very aggressive, I'll protect my young as best I can.

PeterM · #5 29-01-2009, 07:50 PM

Very fair comments Jjjnettie, I support you 100% in your thoughts. Some may disagree but try replacing a son or daughter. Your son was very lucky with being so close to a Tiger snake, I have seen them rear up and strike at that distance, a very, very aggressive snake that you do not want around your home, this particular snake when so close to humans is not the least bit scared of us.
PeterM

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #6 29-01-2009, 07:57 PM

We've had a variety of other snakes in and around the house yard, carpet, whip, crown and green snakes and I enjoy having them around. The pythons particularly with their beautiful markings.
We would never hurt these relatively harmless creatures.

GrahamL · #7 29-01-2009, 08:00 PM

I was just reading in the local paper today jjj of a local guy who got bit by one around x-mass.. poor bugger didn't know he was bitten.. it was to late for the anti venom by the time they figured it out ..luckily he survived though by the sounds of it hes very unwell as you could imagine .

PeterM · #8 29-01-2009, 08:32 PM

Something I was taught years ago and in these times of amateur astronomers heading bush for darker skies perhaps handy. Please take this only as general unqualified information but definitely learn first aid in relation as to what to do with a snake bite. Brown Snakes, short fangs, incredibly deadly venom that even a scratch maybe enough to kill you - seems you may not even see or feel a small scratch/bite initially. Always, always err on the side of caution and seek urgent medical attention / assessment. Tiger snakes - much longer fangs, very painful. Deadly venom, apparently in most cases you will certainly know and see if bitten by a Tiger snake, but again always, always err on the side of caution seek medical attention / assessment.
PeterM

stevejack (Steve) · #9 29-01-2009, 10:56 PM

Lucky he stood still!

Just one of the many dangers when observing. Tiger snakes are definitely the worst - they just don't back down. I spend a lot of time wandering around after dark in the bush and even late into the night (after 10pm on warm nights) you still see plenty of snakes out and about.

I worry sometimes when I make camp after dark (that maybe I'm laying next to a snake hole) as I usually just sleep open-air in my swag after I've finished observing.
I usually end up sharing my swag with a spider or two but luckily no snakes so far

Ants worry me more - If you don't find a place to camp before sundown the're often in their nests. You soon know about it first thing in the morning though when you realise you're laying two feet from a bull ant nest

toryglen-boy (Duncan) · #10 30-01-2009, 10:47 AM

i have never seen a tigersnake, in fact i have never seen a snake! (in the wild that is) are they nasty?

gman (Grant) · #11 30-01-2009, 11:24 AM

Back many years ago, (40 odd), 2 of my older brothers used to leave corrogated iron out in the grass to attract and catch snakes - many of them were tiger snakes.

They used to sell them to a man who used to run like a snake zoo/point of interest down at Rosebud.
My oldest brother was bitten by a tiger snake, fortunatley we lived virtually around the cnr from the hospital. (very lucky indeed)

PeterM · #12 30-01-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toryglen-boy

i have never seen a tigersnake, in fact i have never seen a snake! (in the wild that is) are they nasty?

It is not very likely you will see one in suburbia, still possible. As I noted earlier as we tend to observe more and more well away from cities, usually in fields, it is quite likely you will. Australian snakes are some of the most beautiful creatures you can see in their own territory. There is such a variety of colours and patterns, some are just stunning. The speed at which a red bellied black can move is very surprising. A snake rearing up while scary is also something you never forget. Australia has some of the deadliest snakes in the world and it is sometimes hard to tell a venomous one from a non venomous, treat them all with repect. I have seen a farmer near our Leyburn site shoot a Tiger because it keep getting into their chicken pen near the house and he had young children he was concerned for, yet they only shoot them if absolutely necessary. We have had to take issue with 2 browns that could have easily ended in tragedy for young children. Where at all possible leave them alone, view their beauty from a distance if you encounter one, you will be the richer for it. We have one of the farmers near our Leyburn site. A real big fella called Kerry who tells the story of when he was riding his tractor in the paddock how he saw a snake come up the side of the tractor and went straight up inside the leg of his jeans! Scared witless not knowing what type it was he grabbed the head of the snake under his jeans and it immediately backed down and out. The way he tells this story is so very funny and I swear he swears it is a true story!
PeterM

stevejack (Steve) · #13 30-01-2009, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toryglen-boy

i have never seen a tigersnake, in fact i have never seen a snake! (in the wild that is) are they nasty?

They're odd in that they give chase sometimes. But as others have said, most snakes (even the deadly ones) will quickly disappear when they hear you coming. The only time you'll have trouble is if you startle one or interfere with it in some way.

On a more amusing note, a curled up tiger can look amazingly similar to a cowpat so it's probably best not to step over anything at all when you're in the field lol

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #14 30-01-2009, 01:01 PM

Here's a some information and photos of our most venomous snakes.
http://www.usyd.edu.au/anaes/venom/s...e.html#SNAKEID
All of the Top 10 most venomous snakes in the world are in Australia, and of the top 25 most venomous snakes, 21 of them are in Australia.
It would take more than one Saint to rid us of all our snakes.

BerrieK · #15 30-01-2009, 01:15 PM

We have had brown, king brown, black, red-bellied black and copper heads at various spots on our place over the years. One king brown was accidentally mowed over with the ride on mower...he was not a very happy chap I can tell you.

On a lighter note, a friend of mine from Adelaide rang me last summer for some advice.....he had a 'really big' snake in his back yard and wanted to know which end to hit with the shovel - the head or the tail. So I suggested that if he was sunbaking and someone kicked him up the bum would he:
a) fall down dead or
b) get really cranky

and suggested that he just left it alone!

toryglen-boy (Duncan) · #16 30-01-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Here's a some information and photos of our most venomous snakes.
http://www.usyd.edu.au/anaes/venom/s...e.html#SNAKEID
All of the Top 10 most venomous snakes in the world are in Australia, and of the top 25 most venomous snakes, 21 of them are in Australia.
It would take more than one Saint to rid us of all our snakes.

thanks for that, must be a throw back to when Australia split away and sailed North millions and millions of years ago, its obvious that evolution took a different step here from the rest of the world, probably because it was an island

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #17 30-01-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevejack

On a more amusing note, a curled up tiger can look amazingly similar to a cowpat so it's probably best not to step over anything at all when you're in the field lol

Beware of brown sticks lying in the grass too.
Some disturbingly come to life when you go to pick them up.

BerrieK · #18 30-01-2009, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Here's a some information and photos of our most venomous snakes.
http://www.usyd.edu.au/anaes/venom/s...e.html#SNAKEID
All of the Top 10 most venomous snakes in the world are in Australia, and of the top 25 most venomous snakes, 21 of them are in Australia.
It would take more than one Saint to rid us of all our snakes.

Its interesting to note that of the snakes described here, the tiger and copper head are the only ones whose demographic is Tasmania.

NickontheCoast · #19 30-01-2009, 01:52 PM

Caught this yesterday while roaming the net .. this site has better pix than saw on some others...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worl...ers-again.html

mozzie (Peter) · #20 30-01-2009, 08:15 PM

bloody snakes around 2 months ago getting ready to start work and my dog is on the back verandah running around the tonka trucks the kids have wondering what is her problem i moved 2 tonkas and this bloody tiger snake rises up and has a go frightened the bejesus out of me removed the dog welled out to the misses she kept an eye on it went and got the shovel it must have had 20 strikes at me it was pissed of finally got it with the shovel but it really frightened us i dont like killing snakes but under the toys the kids wouldnt stand a chance thank goodness the old dog was allert every morning i know look under the kids tonkas just in case
mozzie