Summer is Snake Season !

 Australia has some of the most lethal snakes in the world, and yet death from snakebite here is rare.  The main reason is that the nation's snakes have undergone extensive laboratory testing with the result that anti-venom is readily available.

The snakes most people are likely to come into contact with are the Eastern Brown, the Tiger snake and the Red Bellied black snake.  Further inland, they are likely to encounter the Taipan and that has the reputation of being the most deadly snake in this country.

The start of summer is the time those living in close proximity of the city are likely to find a snake in their backyard. Removal is best left to a certified snake handler because they tend to become aggressive if disturbed and most householders are no match for an angry snake.

At a time of drought, they are likely to invade backyards looking for water and curiosity seems to impell them to enter dwellings.  This includes the many varieties of non-venomous carpet snakes in which their sheer size terrifies residents.

Many will be happy to hear that snakes usually try to avoid contact with people. They are conscious of our footfalls as we approach and they usually vacate the area if there is time.  We probably pass quite close to snakes in the bush without being aware of their presence.

For some strange reason they seem attracted to motor vehicles.  When having a picnic in the bush or visiting a beach it is wise to keep the boot lid locked and the doors closed to avoid having a snake as an uninvited passenger.

If that does happen, a call to the police will usually result in a snake handler being found and the reptile removed. People trying to remove snakes from cars are at a disadvantage because it brings them into close contact, and often results in a bite.

In the event of a bite the course of action needed is clear.  Tightly bandage the bitten arm or leg from the bite point back towards the body, and get to the nearest hospital immediately.  It would  be helpful to identify the snake because different anti-venom relates to different snake types.

Do not listen to those suggesting treatments that were simply folk lore over a century ago. Charlatans then suggested deep cuts across the bite area and having someone suck the wound to extract blood and poison. This is ineffective and a complete waste of time.

Snakes are not normally aggressive and if they try to deliver a bite it us usually because they are trying to defend themselves.  Given the opportunity, they will escape rather than fight, and that is probably the main reason that death from snakebite is rare in Australia !