Part 2
Continuing on from Snakes Alive! Part 1...
The area where we
lived for sixteen years was known as “tiger snake country”. It wasn’t uncommon
to have two or three in your
back yard every summer, not including those outside the boundary in the forested
areas. And that was just the ones that were seen.
One Summer, there was a mating
pair living in our garden shed and one that resided on the verandah just outside our bedroom window. He
was living, silently, within the thick ivy that covered one of the posts.
I only knew this because I happened to get a glimpse of him one morning. He was sunning himself on the ground just below his "home" - too close to where our young
son played every day.
The snake needed to be removed.
A young snake catcher called Jeff came
to relocate him. He told me that the snake had been living there for some time, as he had created platforms within the column of ivy. His very own condominium.
Huh. Right
under our noses, so to speak. Now that we knew that he was there though…
Jeff was very patient in revealing and extricating the snake from his leafy inner sanctum. He needed time to allow the snake to "loosen up" so that he could be safely pulled free.
Eventually, he held the snake aloft, skillfully swinging him into his bag. It was clear that he was of mature size at 1.2 metres long!
So, all of the ivy was removed. A property such as ours - surrounded by natural bushland - was impossible to "snakeproof". We just did what we could to keep the gardens well maintained and try to eliminate possible snake havens close to the house.
Our son grew up well educated about them. Like most country kids.
I happened upon many
snakes throughout the years on early evening summer walks, when they would come
out of the bush to lie on the warm gravel back road. With
little fear of disturbance, as few cars used this road, I had chances to get close
and just observe. Mostly, they lay quiet and then slithered away.
My final
encounter happened a month before we moved to the city.
It was early December. I
took my then one year old Blue Heeler Jack for his walk in the afternoon.
Past the community hall, on the wide sandy tracks and over some very low to the ground clover – same as
usual. As we’d done a hundred times before.
As we walked, I
checked back on Jack. He was no more than two metres, just behind me.
Standing still. Looking down. Frozen.
To my horror, and as
if it were a bad dream, I saw a long black slim head weave up out of the
clover, stretching upwards - straight towards Jack!
The large black
tiger snake connected and struck him right on the nose.
My blood ran cold. I
felt weak at the realisation that my blue boy had been hit by one of the most
venomous snakes in Australia.
“How could this be?”
I remember thinking at the time. I was always so careful about where we walk.
The clover was no more than just over an inch high – a clear view.
Somehow, with Jack behind me, I had just
walked over a well concealed adult
snake! Was I dreaming?
I won’t forget
watching in horror as the yellow banded tiger retreated into the clover. I
caught only glimpses of the large shiny black body undulating away towards the trees.
Wracked with sobs, I
checked Jack’s nose, mouth, lips, gums for any drops of blood, any evidence at
all. No time to waste.
Absolutely no
symptoms and a thorough check by the vet concluded there was no bite.
I since learned that
what happened on that afternoon was not uncommon.
Snakes generally do
not and will not willingly bite anything that doesn’t represent a source of
food for them.
And, if the presence of something much larger than them poses no
threat, such as direct attack or is trodden on, then the chance of biting is
rare. Snakes need to
conserve their venom for their prey alone.
What happened to Jack
was what is known as a “head butt” (some call it a dry bite). From the snake’s
perspective, it was a warning.
Lucky, lucky dog.
And, referring back to my previous post where I mention the "freeze mode", I do believe that Jack posed no significant threat at that moment as he stood dead still, looking down at the snake.
Ever since that day, ten years ago, Jack has been kept on a short leash whenever we go for walks in the summer. He has shown a little too much interest in rustles in the grass.
So, I have a healthy
dose of respect and awareness for much maligned, misunderstood reptiles. They are simply
existing as best they can as mankind encroaches on their territory.
Reflecting back on the times I have been in the company of snakes in their habitat has been very interesting.
I found them to be fascinating, not frightening. I only worry about my dog's encounters, not my own.
If I could have my 'time' again, I would study herpetology. To be able take an active interest in the conservation of reptiles and amphibians and to understand these beautiful creatures even further.
Western Tiger Snake
image by webecho via Flickr
Jack, in "freeze mode"
it's OK, he was looking into the fish pond in our backyard. No snakes :)
