Monday, 2. November 2009, 09:54:23
Narrabri, life, snakes
We have been seeing a few black snakes around our yard this spring, particularly as the creek has been drying up and the snakes have had t move further afield to find water and food. It's good to know that blacks aren't terribly venomous and they keep the more toxic browns away.
From
Wires
Red Bellied Black Snake
The Red Belly Black Snake ( Pseudechis porphyriacus ) is one of our best known elapid (or front fanged venomous) snakes. It is wide spread throughout the Eastern Parts of Australia, preferring to live near creeks, and fixed water sources. Their diet consists mostly of frogs, although they are known to eat the occasional lizard, and smaller snakes. Although they are venomous, and are classified as dangerously venomous, the toxicity is not considered fatally dangerous. The venom of this genus destroys muscle tissue, but does not effect the central nervous system. Few human deaths have resulted from a bite from this species, and no adults have died from a bite.
They are excessively shy creatures, who will evade humans rather then strike. Its also a fact that if you have red bellies in your yard, you are not likely to have Brown snakes! Red's actively chase Brown's away, as the Red Belly toxin kills Browns.
* Given that stat, you will be amazed to hear (according the Bureau of Statistics) that you are more likely to be struck by lightening or die of a bee sting then you are of a snake bite.
* From the same source, between 70 - 93 % of snake bites are received while trying to capture or kill a snake.
* There has only ever been one recorded death from a red bellied black snake bite, and that occurred in the 1800's on a new born infant. Their venom does not work that way.
* Red Bellied Black Snakes will actively chase and kill Eastern Brown snakes from their preferred locations. (Brown Snakes are responsible for around 65% of the deaths by snake bite in Australia) This makes Red Bellies good to have around!
Tuesday, 27. January 2009, 06:45:35
Australia, snakes
It's commonly believed that black snakes eat brown snakes, although some nature experts dispute this.
Here's the proof, although it's not clear whether the browns stay eaten! Although black snakes and brown snakes are both venomous the browns are much more aggressive towards humans, and therefore much more dangerous.
From the ABC:
Hungry snake discovers you are what you eat
A New South Wales man has had an interesting encounter with not one but two snakes, and he has the photos to prove it.
Tony Barton from South Gundagai says he and his wife had just been out for lunch about a month ago when they returned home and spotted a black snake alongside the car.
It turned out to be a red belly black snake about 165 centimetres long - a species well known for a taste for other snakes.
"It looked like there was a stick or branch off a tree that was coming up towards it, so we drove past to about get 10 metres away from it and I ducked up the back lawn and around to have a close look," he said.
Mr Barton says his wife called out to him to ask him what he was staring at.
He yelled back, "Well, it's a jolly big black snake eating another one! Consuming it! You keep an eye on it and I'll duck in and get the camera."
Mr Barton says it took about 10 to 15 minutes for the black snake to fully consume the brown snake, which he says was about 135 centimetres long.
Then it went off for a snooze.
"It was fairly sluggish after such a huge meal," he said.
Initially, Mr Barton thought someone had killed the snake and it was all a practical joke.
He says when the black snake finished eating the brown snake, something irritated the black and it moved off to try to get a bit of relief from the discomfort.
Not long after, the snake returned - this time to the back lawn.
"I walked up and got within three metres of it," he said.
"I was having a close look at it when it opened its mouth a little bit and I spotted this beady eye and the head of the brown snake in its mouth!
"So I got the camera ready, took the shot as the brown snake came out a few inches, fastened onto the black's lower jaw and pulled itself completely out.
"It had all this mucus all over it. Then the two parted ways."
Mr Barton reckons that somehow the brown snake turned itself around inside the black snake.
"When you tell these stories no-one believes you, but I have the photographs," he said.
Article
Wednesday, 10. December 2008, 06:59:08
Narrabri, snakes
We discovered a black snake in the church today, hiding near the front door.
We rang the police then National Parks for advice on who moves snakes. They advised us to call the VRA who came round in force within minutes. They found him lurking in a stack of children's chairs near the front door.
He is now resting in peace. I was going to say he is now with the Lord but I'm not sure about the theology of that 
One of the VRA guys confided to me "Snakes make me shiver. I hate them. I don't know why I'm here really!" Good to know that I'm not the only wimp.
WIDGETIZE