woops...a lucky escape

[viewmont1071]

http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/news/bitten-snake-catcher-blacked-out-wheel-and-crashed/1715831/

A WIRES volunteer bitten twice on the hand by a highly venomous snake, 'blacked out' at the wheel and crashed his car at Bonville last night. 

It is understood the snake catcher was called to a nearby property to retrieve a snake (from behind a computer) that was originally thought to be a harmless brown tree snake.

Relying on the expert opinion of local snake handler Steve McEwan doctors at the Coffs Harbour emergency department established the snake was in fact a highly venomous rough scaled snake, also commonly known as a Clarence River snake.

"This one is about 40cm long so they are a little whippy snake and good climbers," snake handler Steve McEwan said

The man, who was listed as serious, was treated with broad spectrum 'tiger snake' anti-venom and police say he is expected to make a full recovery. 

small snake big bite

[serendipityricho]

Very scarey Dave--makes working in the motor

trade seen a bit easier now......................Richo.

[kopenhagen5]

Gee, as a 75 year old snake catcher, you would think he wouldn't get it wrong. Lucky to not have been killed in the car accident.

I have noticed a lot more snake occurences lately in the news, especially being found indoors. Perhaps the dryer conditions are bringing them closer to water sources.

[jean2579]

We are at Coffs. I have the snake handler and WIRES both on speed dial on the mobile. We keep the grass very low and all boots are kept in a secure plastic bag. My OH went to put his gardening boots on once and found a snake curled inside. Our best defense is a very aggressive Jack Russell who yells his head off if he spots a snake.

[viewmont1071]

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/nationalparks/parkHome.aspx?id=N0757

Our property backs onto this nature reserve. Have seen more snakes this year than I have seen collectively in the last 5 or so while out bushwalking. We have a "pet" red bellied black snake called Fang and a 14ft or so (estimated beside the barb wire fence posts) Carpet Snake the Mrs usually calls

  "Dave.......Faaaaauuuurck".

However both are extremely territorial, cannibalistic and it appears have learned to cohabitate so around the house we normally only see that pair

.....touch wood...

[serendipityricho]

Hi Dave---do you change your jocks very often..........................Richo.

[viewmont1071]

No matter how many times I rehearse the "stay completely still when you see a snake close to you" scenario Richo. I still normally break out into the "snake dance" with legs and feet a blur of skin,hair and sweat, arms a waving doing an awesome imitation of  a double amped Tazer victim

[darksideofthemoon]

:^O oh please may we have a photo viewmont ... 

It's strange but have only had the one snake here that the Heeler caught and did damage to before I got him to drop it and then hooked it on a garden stake and got it back over the fence into the bush...   

I do keep the grass short and there isn't anything around in the way of cover for them.. between the dogs and the ride on + the wire fence I think they feel we are a bad deal for them... however, saying that, I do still keep a keen eye open.

There have seen snakes in Kingston which is a shopping centre and surburban area, so they are on the 'ran-tan' as jv would say 🙂

[colic2bullsgirlore]

The carpet snake is up in the roof now I will give it a whirl later on when it gets hot. He is so big you can hear him slithering accross the tin and up into the back eave.

I guess I should add that we see the wires cars with stickers  at the school bus turnaround just up the road from our place which is also the unmarked "entry point' to the nature reserve...however they are 'dropping off" not "picking up" so we expect to see a greater number of snakes than most.

[colic2bullsgirlore]

Woops Viewmont unmasked 😛