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Snakes
 Red-bellied Black Snake |
Rarely causes serious poisoning. A glossy black snake with a red or pink belly. Like to live in areas near water such as swamps, dams, rivers and lakes. They hunt during the day. A shy snake, when alarmed it will try to escape, if
cornered or harassed it will flatten its head, hiss loudly and as a last resort bite. |
A highly venomous snake that is active during the day and on warm nights. Colours of body vary greatly from black, dark brown through to a light copper colour. They are non-aggressive with small fangs (3 mm long). |
 Copper Head |
 Tiger Snake |
HIGHLY TOXIC, POTENTIALLY DEADLY TO HUMANS. This snake is the one most likely to be trodden on as it does not escape when it first detects human footfalls approaching. They like swampy areas and near rivers and lakes as their favourite food is frogs. They may climb low trees or shrubs to eat young birds. Most Tiger Snakes have black bands, however some do not
have bands. The is a great variety of base colour, ranging from light grey, through
shades of red, brown, olive to black. |
HIGHLY TOXIC, POTENTIALLY DEADLY TO HUMANS. EASILY PROVOKED They are usually one uniform colour, even though they are called Brown Snakes they may be any shade of grey, orange, russet, brown or nearly black. They are common in a variety of habitats ranging from dry scrubland through to coastal forests. Active during the day or hot nights they shelter in hollow logs or amongst rocks. They like to eat mice and small rats which attracts them to farm outbuildings. |
 Eastern or Common Brown Snake |
PRECAUTIONS:
Wear shoes or boots with thick socks when walking in the bush or through grass.
DO NOT put your hand into vegetation, a hollow log or down holes without careful checking of site.
Use a torch around campsites on warm summer nights, and shake out shoes and sleeping bags.
If you come across a snake, back away from it or stay still. Leave an escape route open for the snake. Snakes avoid humans! They will retreat in the opposite direction if given the opportunity. But if taken by surprise, provoked or attacked a snake will attack to defend itself.
SNAKE BITE TREATMENT:
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1. Apply a broad pressure bandage over the bite site as soon as possible. |
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2. Keep the limb still. The bandage should be as tight as you would bind a sprained ankle. |
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3. Extend the bandage down to the fingers or toes then up the leg as high as possible. (For a bite on the hand or forearm bind up to the elbow). |
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4. Apply a splint if possible, to immobilise the limb. |
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5. Bind it firmly to as much of the limb as
possible. (Use a sling for an arm injury).
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