But What About Snakes?
But What About Snakes?
So often when we’re talking to people about hiking, we hear the all-too-common response “But what about snakes?”
It’s a fair question — there was a time we were nervous about coming across one too. After all, Australia is known for having some of the most venomous snakes in the world, and that alone is enough to keep some people off the trails.
With so many stories out there about the dangers of snakes, it’s hard to know fact from fiction. So we sat down this week with our good friend Troy — The Reptile Bloke — to ask him about some common snake myths, and to find out if we really should be afraid of coming across a snake in the wild.
Myth #1: Baby snakes are more dangerous than an adult snake
This is a really common myth. The thought is that young snakes can’t control their venom when they bite, whereas adult snakes can.
So there’s a couple of things to consider about this. Firstly, the venom toxicity of a snake is generally the same whether they’re a day old or a few years old. Some studies, of Eastern Brown snakes, have shown that the venom composition will change as the snake matures — adapting to suit their diet. A young Brown Snake, for example, might have venom more suited to small lizards, while an adult’s venom targets mammals like rodents. But, the venom is toxic from the day they’re born.
Secondly, I’m not aware of any studies that have actually been done on whether or not young snakes definitively can't control their venom when they bite. There are some who think that from the day a snake is born it’s fully equipped and capable of control the same as an adult. So, we really don’t have a definitive answer either way on that one.
Myth #2: If I see a snake, I should stomp the ground, they’ll feel the vibrations and move
This is another really common one that I hear a lot. Snakes will feel the vibrations, but it won’t necessarily scare them.
It’s the overly animated movement of a person stomping the ground that tends to trigger a reaction in a snake — but that reaction may be to act defensively, rather than to move away.
You’re better off to just walk normally instead of stomping about.
Myth #3: It’s only a python, that means I’m safe from harm
Yes and no. Pythons, as most people would know, aren’t venomous like many snakes are. However, they do have a mouth full of very sharp teeth and a powerful jaw, that will hurt a lot if they bite you.
They can cause significant bodily damage as well, depending on where you were bitten — if, for example, they bite the face, or puncture a major artery.
Myth #4: Snakes are territorial, if I see a snake, that means I won’t see another on the trail for a while
Snakes do have their home-range, so an area or habitat that they will live in. However they’re not territorial in the same sense that mammals can be, where they fight over territory to keep it to themselves.
Their home-ranges can overlap and you will sometimes see multiple snakes sharing that habitat — particularly if it’s a good habitat. Some snakes may share a shelter site. I’ve seen that before, where a couple of snakes of the same species will be curled up nearby to each other. But even if they’re living in close proximity to each other, they tend to leave each other alone. Snakes aren’t social creatures, they live pretty solitary lives even if their habitats overlap.
So, just because you see one snake, it doesn’t guarantee you won’t see another not far up the trail.
Myth #5: On hot days, snakes will only be out in the early morning and late afternoon. During the hottest part of the day they’ll be hiding away
This is mostly true. Snakes are ectothermic — meaning they regulate their body temperature externally. So they move to a cool place when they’re hot, or move to a warmer place when they’re cold.
On really hot days it’s unusual to see a snake out in the open. The exception would be if they had been disturbed where they were or if they were on the move to find a cooler spot. Really hot days are when you tend to find snakes in cooler areas such as inside dwellings, particularly sheds and garages.
Myth #6: I won’t see a snake on a cold day
Not necessarily...
“Diamond Pythons like cooler days” — calls out Troy’s son in the background.
Yeah, Diamond Pythons don’t mind a cool day. Snakes will still be out when the weather cools down, but again, it’s likely to be because they’ve been disturbed and they’re on the move. It might be the middle of July, but if a snake feels the need to flee from where it is, it will do that regardless of the temperature.
Myth #7: Snakes won’t be on popular tourist tracks because there’s too many people about
No — they’ll still be there.
If there’s a lot of foot traffic happening at the time, they’ll typically stay off the track. But if you get a quiet moment, they might come out to bask on the trail. Generally they’ll get out of the way and move off to the side of the track when they see you coming.
Regardless of where you are, you could walk right past a dozen snakes on a hike and not see a single one. They’re there — just well hidden most of the time.
Myth #8: If I stand still, the snake won’t be able to see me
It can see you. It’s more that, if you’re standing still the snake is unlikely to see you as a threat, even though it registers that you are a living thing.
Snakes react to movement. So if you’re jumping about, flailing around, a snake is likely to interpret that rapid movement as a threat. Vision levels vary between species. For some, they may not be able to see you clearly from a distance, but that doesn’t mean they’re blind or don’t know that you’re there. Even if their vision is poor, their sense of smell and taste is still really strong.
That’s what their forked tongues are about, and why they flick their tongues in the air — it’s about smell and taste of what’s around. Studies have been done on snake brains that show their olfactory systems (the neural pathway to the brain that’s all about smell) is the biggest part of their brain in some species, which just goes to show how much they rely on that sense to navigate their environment.
If I’m hiking an overgrown track, or through the bush without a defined track, what can I do to limit my chances of coming across a snake?
In that kind of scenario it’s really about protecting yourself from being bitten more than anything.
Protective clothing and shoes should be worn — boots, thick socks, and pants. I typically wear jeans, but they may not be the most comfortable thing to wear on a hike.
As a general rule, I’d always recommend two things: firstly, avoid long grass; and secondly, try to place your feet where you can see the ground — if you can’t see the ground, then a snake on the ground can’t see you.
What should I do if I find a snake in my tent?
I can’t say I’ve ever had that happen. I suppose it is possible it could happen.
You should always zip your tent up with the zips at the top if possible to keep out the creepy crawlies as well as snakes. But if you were in that position, your best bet would be to open the tent right up, being careful not to agitate the snake, and it should move on. Hopefully before you need to go to bed.
But you definitely don’t want to try and pick it up. Just give it space, and keep an eye on the tent, and it should move on.
What should I do if I come across a snake on the trail?
Just leave it be. Keep calm, stand back, and give it the space to move on safely.
Most snakes will move on once they know you’re there. Some may take a bit of time before they move, but eventually they will. Don’t try to go round it off-track, or poke it with a stick, just give it time.
While you’re there, sharing the trail with a snake, take a moment to appreciate it. You’re getting a glimpse at one of Australia’s most misunderstood native animals in its natural habitat.
The Reptile Bloke
As well as being a licensed snake catcher, Troy also shares a lot of great information about snakes and reptiles on his social media. We’ve learnt so much from him in the time that we’ve known him, and his appreciation of reptiles is contagious — whether they’re big or small, legged or legless.
We used to be worried about coming across a snake on a hiking trail, but learning from Troy has really changed that and we can both now appreciate this whole other side to the Aussie bush that we never did before. As Troy always says: Don’t be frightened, be fascinated.
If you’d like to follow Troy, and learn more for yourself, head on over to his Facebook and Instagram.
Thank you to Troy for the help in writing this post, and providing the photos — because while we may now have an appreciation for snakes, we’re not yet at the point of getting close enough for a photo…
