Most people know that Australia is home to some of the most dangerous creatures on earth, snakes, spiders and crocodiles, to name a few, and I had a sharp reminder of that fact this morning.
I was walking out the back of our farm, looking at the cattle, when I heard a rustle in the grass as an Eastern Brown Snake struck at me. I had obviously startled it, but nowhere near as much as it startled me
, and its strike was more of a warning than a serious attempt to bite me. It was about 2 metres away, and after striking it immediately disappeared under some dead leaves. It's Spring here now, a time when snakes can be very active, although they are not often seen, as they tend to move away as soon as they feel the vibrations of an approaching person or large animal. I must admit some complacency about the presence of snakes, they are there but rarely seen. However, on the way back to the house I was rather more vigilant than on the outward journey.
The Eastern Brown is the second most deadly snake in the world, after the Australian Inland Taipan, but is one of the biggest causes of snake bite, mainly because they are quite common in the more populated areas of Australia. The bite, if not treated fairly quickly, can be fatal, so I count myself quite lucky. I will keep a sharp lookout, and carry a big stick, in future
Peter.
