Bathurst Dog Walking
Dog Walking, Check-in Service
& Pet Taxi.
Snakes
Risk and reality
I know that i won't convince some of you that snakes are our friends!, but what i do want, is for you to take a calculated and careful risk assessment of where you walk your Dogs. We take calculated risks every day walking by the road, driving our cars, riding our bikes
I just thought I would add a little about snakes as we are coming up to summer and those nice sunny summer basking days for snakes.
I will declare, first off, that I am a snake fan. I have even caught snakes at times to show people the “mechanics” of how they really work (I won’t be doing this with your Dog!). To me, snakes are like sharks, everyone is scared of them when really they prefer to just go about their business
Being aware of them, understanding their habits, feeding and hunting methods will help towards reducing the risk of strikes and the risk of envenomation.
The numbers of “strikes” across Australia is actually quite large (I recently read a stat of 3000 per year!) I say strikes, as most of what people refer to as bites are warning strikes and not envenomation. So for the few sad deaths, like Cars, surfing and bushwalking, these are still passionate persuits of many many people.
“My” Dogs are always on a lead regardless. So if the worst happens and they are struck, I will most likely witness it, identify the snake as best I can, immobilize your dog (using my bandages I carry) and…it’s off to the vets immediately!
However, I recommend if you see a snake in a populated area if there is a WIRES or a snake catcher about, tell them and they will relocate them.
So, there are three parts to a snakes defense strategy, in general. I will mention examples of those that don’t necessarily follow this pattern later.
Most snakes try to escape. They feel vibrations of clunky humans from metres away and escape unnoticed. Nearly all snakes I have seen (in my extensive work in the bush) were ones going in the opposite direction! We are totally not on their menu list, so they won’t attack unless cornered, surprised, or in most “strikes”, stepped on. Much like our fur frends when adrenalin kicks in. They are just fine until adverse stimulus presents itself
In most cases, like over 90% (can’t remember the actual stat) a snake bite is actually a warning Strike. As we are so big, they just want to strike and scare away the intruder.
Strikes are different from envenomations. They involve a different kind of action in most cases.
Envenomations may happen, given time, as a secondary action. Snakes have to hold, their prey to envenomate, They actually don’t want to envenomate such large objects for risk of breaking their only means of defense and hunting, their main front fangs.
So a snake “bite” can be one of a couple of things….a warning strike, and maybe an envenomation.
There are a few territorial snakes that are aggressive and very very dangerous ie taipans, death adders and a range of “brown snakes” (I say “brown” snakes as some species of brown snakes are variously darker).
I have even sat in a camp chair as a Inland Taipan slid under my seat and legs… no harm came to either of us and I got a close-up view of the beautiful creature that we’re all so scared of!
The most likely snakes around here are red belly black snakes around creeks and wetlands. They are frog eaters, so where you hear lots of frogs best keep a wide track around thick vegetation, a few of the different “brown snakes” may also be about, But prefer to escape first,warn later with a hiss, maybe a dance, and warning strike and last of all an envenomation.
Snakes caught in the open, really don’t want to be there unless hunting, it’s too exposed to large birds of prey and clompy humans, stock, and other animals.
So what I am getting at, is, please don’t be constantly scared of snakes, They are there and mostly go about their business without risk to humans and our fur-friends.
I can almost guarantee that the majority of strikes are because our Dogs are off lead, and those unlucky to be envenomated have light-stepped it up to, and surprised a snake warming up in the sun.
Ironically on very hot days, it’s actually too hot for most snakes, so the temps have to be just right for them to hunt or be on the move.
So keep your Dogs close, keep them on a lead in risk areas, and keep your clompy great footsteps as clompy as you can!
…again… I keep all my new friends close to me and on a lead at all times
Happy and Safe Dog Walking!
Here are some handy links and heartening stories of survival.
http://kb.rspca.org.au/My-pet-has-been-bitten-by-a-snake-what-should-I-do_444.html
dubbo area
Tamworth area
Bathurst area
http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/1063756/how-axle-rose-from-snake-bite-sick-bed/
Orange area
http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/story/2058837/snakes-bite-is-worse-than-clancys-bark/
Australian Reptile Park
Please read the “Did you know” section with the reality of the risk (especially the most toxic of all Australian snakes) facts about the venomous snakes in Australia
All but one are runners… not a fighters!
http://www.reptilepark.com.au/our-animals/reptiles/australian-venomous-snakes/
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