Re: The snakes in Australia
 

According to local news reports snake numbers are very high in Melbourne at the moment...and some of the alleged hotspots, Clifton Hill, Ivanhoe etc are just a few kms from the CBD.

I find it quite amazing you haven't seen a snake in 6 years. I've (accidentally) run over two...and last saw one about 5 days ago - was up visiting a friend in Byron Bay and in his garden a harmless carpet snake would be out sunning itself every afternoon. OH's parents get venomous snakes on their property in Eltham (northern subs of Melbourne). A guy I know in Brisbane was recently bitten by a carpet snake he trod on in his attic (essentially harmless of course)...and I would imagine very unusual for this type of snake to bite people.

Pretty sure people on BE have had snakey visitors indoors but normally just harmless trees snakes.

Re: The snakes in Australia
 

My apologies, I should have been more accurate. :D

I have seen several DEAD snakes on the road, mainly tigers, and they seem confined to one particular section of that road.

I think that in my little town, whilst very rural, there is so much space where snakes have all they need, they just don't appear much in areas where they are likely to be disturbed.

I saw a programme where the snake catched said the main problem is that urban areas are extending into what is basically a snake pit.

Is now a good time to let the OP know that spiders, tics and magpies are a bigger problem???

Millions of people live here and aren't continually molested by all the wildlife.

Re: The snakes in Australia
 

I was molested by a snake in my garden, it wore a leather jacket and tight jeans and said 'Hey little girl, wanna play with my eggs?'

Then it pinched my bottom - I am OK (now):sneaky:

Re: The snakes in Australia
 

I've seen two snakes in 30 years and most people I know will tell you the same. I spend a lot of time out walking in the bush and in rural areas. Many people have never seen one.

That's not to say they are not around in large numbers, more so that they do not generally cause that much of a problem for most people in the course of their day to day lives.

There are local spikes of certain species near water and especially in grassland areas near wetlands. A lot of suburbs along or near the Yarra and where there is a lot of marshy land and natural bushland alongside urban environments are where most of the problems are encountered in Melbourne.

Just for an example, there is an area near Gisborne which is native marshland with very long grass, frogs and rodents in great abundance and there are plagues of Copperheads there as a result. The snake catcher is called out regularly. I've still never heard of any people in this area getting bitten though or the fear of snakes being a major factor in their lives.

Of course you need to be cautious of them, but the OP can be reassured that generally people are safe.

Re: The snakes in Australia
 

In 14 years living in Brisbane, on the fringe of bushland my snake sightings outside of captivity can be listed as follows:

3 unidentified snakes seen while bush walking, one almost trodden on whilst wearing inadequate footwear (oops). Other 2 asleep sunning themselves.

2 harmless tree snakes in local suburb (1 on road, other on a fence in school)

2 large pythons in backyard.

1 large brown snake wriggling along footpath outside work.

1 harmless tree snake who took up residence in our bathroom.


But that's it. Even for the most phobic of people can manage a single sighting every 18 months! And they are very easy to avoid.nIf you don't live in or near the bush then the chances of sightings are reduced significantly.

Re: The snakes in Australia
 

To minimise the risk of having snakes on or in your property you need to do the following:

1. Keep your grass cut short
2. Keep your garden free from clutter
3. Keep fly screens/doors closed


:)

Re: The snakes in Australia
 

I wouldn't be worrying about snakes when there are European wasps and jack jumper ants out in large numbers every spring/summer. Both of these insects are particularly nasty and can cause fatal allergic reactions.

Most importantly they seek out humans and will attack without provocation, something snakes very rarely do.

Re: The snakes in Australia
 

Excellent advice.

Re: The snakes in Australia
 

I hear you all. I am very weak now. I will have to just go to bed andhope not to dream about anything. I am a physician and will probably be working in one of the rural areas, at least for the first couple of years. I think I am more terrified of seeing them than their bite. I will have to hang onto the fact that millions of people live there happily.

Re: The snakes in Australia
 

I have lived here most of my life yet my encounters with snakes are quite small. Once I trod next to a black snake and it shot off in the other direction like a rocket.
I currently live on five acres and we saw a brown snake the other week. We watched it from our back room and it just kept on going and I assume it went off into the paddock somewhere or further into long grass. Most snakes have gone long before you get near them or see them.
Now encounters with spiders are a different matter!!! Only joking. We currently have a huntsman residing in our bedroom. Has hardly moved from the light. It will probably just quietly leave.

Re: The snakes in Australia
 

Dont worry... People survive snake bites nowadays... For example my husband.... Funny as... Coz the people who were selling thenproperty he was bitten on had never seen one... And his mates at work who have lived in australia for approximately 294 years between them have never once been bitten.....

And he wasnt "playing" with it... Just minding his own business, didnt see it and trod on it....

Re: The snakes in Australia
 

OK, here is my advice. I worked at a facility 4km from my house and on that facility we would get snakes.

I used to be so terrified of them I would avoid going cycling round the wetlands where I live as there is a high tiger snake population. So the thought of them being on our work facility and in our warehouse scared the hell out of me.

One of the English lads had admitted to killing one with a shovel which is illegal by the way but his justification was fear.

The way to tackle fear is knowledge - I trained to be a snake catcher - it was a one day course and it also went over the psychology of fear and how to deal with it.

Although due to health reasons I dont go out on calls any more, the training and knowledge that I received on my course has equipped me well with regards to snake behaviour, first aid, keeping yourself safe and alert.

Perhaps doing a course might be the way to go for you - seriously, I now have a healthy respect for snakes rather than a phobia. I carry snake catching equipment in my car and 3 bandages in a 'snake bite first aid kit' that you can buy.

At least if one comes on to my property or that of my neighbours, I know what to do and what not to do.

I realise you are frightened but it is something you could think about perhaps, as I say, knowledge is power in this case.

:)

Re: Snakes in Australia
 

Threads merged.

Re: Three years in Adelaide
 

it quite the opposite

there are more snakes in a built up area than in bushland

why?

simply put food, snakes eat mice n rats where do you get a lot of mice n rats where you get a large build up of humans, restaurants etc

our local snake guy gets loads of call for surfers etc and the odd cal for the hinterland,

personally we have seen about ten snakes on our property over six years so there there,
just leave them alone they wont attack as your way way to big too eat ;)



http://www.pommiepythons.com/

Re: Three years in Adelaide
 

Snakes are generally scared of humans and will move off unless provoked. If you live in suburbia it should be rare to encounter a snake. If you do, then move away and let it be.

There is more chance of being harmed by bad driving.