Snake season

[Andy Mac]

Hi there.
Had a bit of a scare today! I've had the day off work, because my wife wanted to go to Bris Vegas with her mum and do the Craft Show thing. No complaints there, my young fella Loki (2) and I did a few things... like take his wagon and a couple of buckets for a walk. Went up through our back gate and collected horse manure from the sports ground, which we brought back for my worm farm. While we were at the garden shed, Loki pointed towards the chook pen, so I grabbed a scoop of grain and went to check on the new chickens. He carried the scoop, so I let him into the pen and he headed for the grain trough (which is very close to the tin chook house), which I was pleasantly surprised at, instead of tipping the whole lot on the ground. Well, he was about a foot from the trough when I spied the bugger...a bloody great brown snake between the trough and chook house!!:eek::eek: I yelled at Loki to stop, which scared him and promptly dropped the scoop by which time I raced from the gate and lifted him away. The snake made a quick escape... on par with mine, and disappeared under the slab which has been dug away by chooks and rats probably. As I retreated I had a bit of a look at him (or her) and although it was all tangled up over itself I reckon it would have been about 6"+ in girth, and shiney gun metal grey, not a pattern to be seen....so was no python! Tell you what, made me shake for a bit, thinking how close my little fella was to it. And now I've gotta face it when ever I go to get the eggs, as I'll be reluctant to let my girls go there now.
We've been on this 3 1/2 acres- half of which is lightly timbered- for nearly 3 yrs, and I've only seen one snake before (under the front steps) but with all my junk around I'm not surprised. And as my stepfather always said, if you've got chooks, you'll have snakes.

Cheers,

[Bleedin Thumb]

Might be worth getting someone in to "relocate" it if it is a brown because theyre bad tempered things. At least get a positive ID for your peace of mind.

[Wood Borer]

Removing hiding places and food sources such as the rats will make the place less attractive for them.

Remember this is one that you saw, there may be others or it could be one passing through.

Although I am very fond of snakes there is no place for them to be around young people.

[ozwinner]

Although I am very fond of snakes there is no place for them to be around young people.

This is why you have them.

Al

[Gumby]

6" in girth !!!! :eek:
Sure it wasn't an anaconda !

[Wood Borer]

This is why you have them.

Al

You're older than me Al.

[ozwinner]

You're older than me Al.

I only have a pet python and he is easy to please.

Al

[Andy Mac]

Remember this is one that you saw, there may be others or it could be one passing through.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'd have been close to a couple before this but didn't notice...just now I'm paranoid!!
This is the snake, I'm about 95% positive: http://www.oceanwideimages.com.au/ca...es.asp?cID=278
and this is brown snake country. As for 6", I mean in circumference, and that's being conservative...it was pretty thick. I just had a chat to the neighbour over the fence, and he pointed out a dead kookaburra, on my side nearer the chook pen!! Maybe the kooka tried getting too close:eek:.

Cheers,

[Doughboy]

Hehe

My old amn would have ##### himself. I dont mind snakes, I do like snake skin handbags they look good.

I would rather see a snake than a spider any day!!!!!

Pete

[Bluegum]

Hi Andy, I can understand where your coming from there with the old joe blakes. We back onto a feeder creek into the Bremer river. Last year we had 3 browns show up and one that took roost under the house. It ended up moving on to next door and we think back out to the paddock behind us. I've been down to Bunnies and bought a swag of that cheap gutter gaurd and I've ran it around the bottom of the fence to hopefully keep them out. Its a bit easier for me only having and 800 odd SQM block. it was either that or try and by a mongoose.

[knucklehead]

Andy, if you are lucky enough to find a skin stick it in the post to Queensland Muesum. They may be able to identify it.

I've used it a couple of times with good sucess.

[bsrlee]

Some parents do pick'em - you named your kid 'Loki' and he has a problem with snakes?!?!?!?!:eek:

Look up the various legends associated with Loki - he ended up chained to a rock for eternity with a snake dripping corrosive venom on him - One of his daughters holds a bowl out to collect the venom and earthquakes are caused when she has to empty it & a few drops hit him. Also known as Loki, Baldur's Bane.

[Buzza]

I'm relieved to hear no damage was done to either you or Loki!

A dead kookaburra nearby suggests Kooky may have lost a battle with Joe Blake. Kookaburra's cant resist having a go at a snake, and the 6" girth may suggest the snake had dined already.

What 've found with snakes is that if you "relocate" them from the place they curl up in for a camp, they will be replaced within 24 hours by another. (Even if relocated using a 12G).

A big one like that suggests a King Brown but I don't know much about snakes of your area. Do you have Taipans there . . ?

[MurrayD99]

"dangerous and venomous". Mate - this is one great reason for living this side of the Tasman. I'd still be running - no - I'd have died on the spot!

[Iain]

Saw my first tiger about six weeks ago, very cautious when I walk up the driveway as that is where the last one was hiding.
Seen a few flat ones on the way to work.
The local primary school gets a few as the is a creek adjoining the place, the kids are warned to stay away if they see one but do they, never, the boys sit on the picnic tables and pelt them with stones leaving the teachers to deal with one very angry tiger