You are more likely to be struck by lightning than you are to die from a snake-bite.
Seriously.
I thought I should point this out because it seems like a lot of you have a skewed perception of the risks attached to going hiking in Australia. I hear people, especially international visitors, expressing their fears about snakes all too regularly. I’d hate to think that this was unnecessarily keeping people from enjoying our beautiful wild places.
We most certainly do have some deadly snakes in Australia. However, part of the reason that we have relatively few snake-related deaths is because of the healthy respect that most people (especially those who have some outdoors experience) have for the reptiles. By respecting them and knowing a little bit about them, we can be a whole lot safer when we head outdoors.
Red-bellied Black Snake
The majority of those killed or injured by snakes in this country are bitten when they either accidently step on a snake, or try to capture (or kill) a snake. Which is a nice segue to my 3 simple tips for avoiding a snake-bite while hiking…
1. Leave them the hell alone!
It’s illegal to injure or kill any of Australia’s native wildlife, so don’t even think about it. What would that achieve, anyway?
If you’re hiking in the warmer months, there is a fair chance you will come across a snake at some point. I see them all the time and I still freak out, even after all these years. It’s hard not to freak out, but as long as you give them some space there’s nothing to worry about.
It’s not like snakes are slithering around all sinister-like, looking for humans to kill. The best thing you can possibly do, as long as you’re not too close when you see it, is stand still and let it go about its business. It will get out of your way soon enough. They are very unlikely to strike unless they feel threatened.
2. Watch where you’re putting your feet!
This is probably the best piece of advice I can give you. I used to have a terrible habit of reading my map while walking. Then one day I happened to stop and look down at my feet, only to find that my foot had landed about an inch from a very large tiger snake. Fortunately, it just took off into the scrub. I probably should have bought a lottery ticket that day. I’ve taken a lot more care ever since.
Aside from that, there are a few other things to bear in mind:
- If you’re approaching a log or rock, step onto it rather than over it. You never know what could be lying on the other side.
- Snakes won’t hear you coming but they will feel your vibrations, so it pays to be heavy footed or to bang the ground with your walking pole.
- Avoid any long grass or scrub that could be obscuring a snake. If you have to walk through something like this, give it a bit of a shake with your walking pole first.
- If you find a dead snake, leave it alone. Once dead, a snake’s biting reflex can still remain intact for hours.
- Lastly, it’s not just your feet you need to worry about. If you’re climbing over rocks or using logs to help pull yourself up an incline, make sure you check where you’re putting your hands.
Eastern Brown Snake
3. Cover those pins!
Snakes are much less likely to successfully envenomate through a fabric of any kind, so pants are always preferable to shorts on a hike. Gaiters are even better. The thicker the material, the more protected you are. Don’t forget about your feet, either. Sturdy shoes or boots are a must on any wilderness excursion.
So next time someone asks you to go for a hike, don’t be put off by snakes. They’re actually amazingly beautiful creatures, so if you get to see one you’re very lucky. Statistically, even your significant other is more likely to harm you than a snake is.
No matter how aware we are, or how much we protect ourselves, accidents can happen. So stay tuned for another blog post on snake-bite first aid in the not too distant future.
Do you have any safety tips to add? Or a snake encounter story you’d like to share? If you have anything to say, please let us know by commenting below.
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Hi,
Recently I’ve encountered far too many snakes on one of the only walking tracks near my house. I’m wondering if it’s safe to walk early in the morning just as the sun is rising? I assume snakes are only out in the daytime when it’s warm, but I just want to check if you have any knowledge about them being active at all in the very early morning hours? (Like 5:30-7:30 time). I can’t seem to find any info on this.
Hey Jess,
You can never really be too careful with snakes. They like the heat of the sun but that could be any time of day really. I don’t think it’s unheard of for them to be seen in the very early morning or late afternoon, but it may be less likely. I tend to watch where I’m putting my feet at any time of day and in any weather.
Stay safe!
Neil
Hi Neil
thanks for all the info, but – I have had a couple of situations where the snake will just not move. Once was on a very narrow path, so I could not go around it. I stomped, jumped up and down and it just ignored me. In the end I threw small stones at it, from a safe distance, and it eventually slithered away. Was there any other way of dealing with it?
Also, if I do get bitten and I am by myself, do I bandage first or press the PLB?
Hi Fran,
Without checking in with the experts I interviewed for this article, I can’t think of any better way of dealing with snakes that won’t budge than what you did. As for your second question, I guess that’d depend on how easily accessible my PLB was. It takes no time to activate so if it’s at your fingertips then I’d do that first. I’d want to get that pressure happening very quickly though, so if you need to dig in your pack for a PLB then maybe do the bandage first.
Cheers
Neil
Very informative tips Neil. I was born and grew up in the hilly mountains of Nepal. Bushwalking and running around the fields were the only options of child games we got. I’ve encountered plenty of snakes (don’t know much of the names except Cobra) during those times in childhood and am still freak out if I see one. Whenever I see one, I always say to myself, “You are in it’s territory, don’t touch it and let it go it’s own way”. I had heard the stories of the snake bites but never among the people I know. Now I’ve been hiking various beautiful places in NSW and haven’t been across to any of them. Taking every possible safety measure and watching most of your steps in the bush will definitely keep you safe.
You are more likely to be struck by lightning than you are to die from a snake-bite. This is a nice quote.
Cheers
Keep posting mate.
Thanks for the comment, Sanjeet. I’d love to see the Nepalese mountains where you hiked as a child! Maybe one day. You’ve been very lucky not coming across any snakes in your NSW hiking adventures. I see them all the time down here in Victoria. We startled a baby brown snake yesterday in the Grampians National Park. It was very cute (although Lori and the kids didn’t think so) but we were lucky that we were watching our steps.
Cheers
Neil
I’ve seen a few interesting snakes over the last three years in my hikes in Namadgi and Kosi National Parks including a few red-belly black snakes, one that appeared to be a copperhead, and I once stood on an eastern brown.
Most times snakes are desperate to get out of our way, but the time I stood on the brown snake I was in a group of eight in Kosi NP, off track climbing a hill (no gaters too). I was lucky that there was sufficient loose ground material that the snake didn’t feel trapped and managed to slide away quickly. I don’t know who was more scared – but I’m thinking that it was me! Funny how a close encounter can make you more aware of your surrounds though – about 15 minutes later I encountered what I thought was another large snake, however this was simply a blue tongue lizard that had it’s limbs tucked in.
Regardless of if you feel that you have been envenomated or not – any snake bite needs to be treated by a doctor and urgently. If you are hiking alone – make sure you have a PLB to at least give you a chance of survival.
Hey Doug,
I don’t like the sound of your brown snake story! Too close for comfort. Definitely a good tip about seeking treatment immediately, no matter what, and also about the PLB.
Thanks for stopping by.
Cheers
Neil
I love your comment “It’s not like snakes are slithering around all sinister-like, looking for humans to kill.” Hahaha.
Do you find that time sees to slow when you see a snake on a hike? Along the Great Ocean Walk I remember seeing, in slow motion, my foot landing just millimetres from a big fat tiger snake’s head that had just started to peek out of the scrub. Oh my! Time really did slow in that instant. A giant leap forward and something resembling a crazy jig later and I was out of harm’s way but oh boy, that gave me a big scare.
Thanks Sandra! 🙂 Time absolutely seems to slow when I see a snake, especially in situations like you’ve described. That’s happened to me a few times. I wish someone had filmed some of my crazy jigs!
Cheers
Neil
I went for a very cool VNPA walk where we went up and over Mt Langhi Ghiran and returned via a walking track past a reservoir. One lady in the group who was walking a bit ahead stepped right OVER a snoozing brown snake before she noticed it. the snake was as surprised as she was and disappeared into the long grass and scrub. Maybe she should have bought a lottery ticket too!
Thanks for the comment, Helen. I’ve done that so many times! It’s scary to think how particularly angry they’d be if you woke them from their slumber! haha
Cheers
Neil
Ah the jig… I know that jig! Last time I did it was earlier this year… was a tiger snake… only saw it as I was mid-step over the top of it (and was wearing shorts and sandals at the time). We now have a sat phone (and I did buy shoes… but I think the sandals will still win out in warm weather… but perhaps with gaiters).
I’m getting really good at it now, Jenny! It has never become less panicked, though. 😀
I’ve never been a sandal wearer myself, but I hate wearing long pants so gaiters are definitely the answer when I feel I need them. I’m not a big fan of them either, but it’s about balancing comfort and safety, I guess.
Thanks for reading (and for the comment)!
Cheers
Neil
Good advice.
If I see a snake I don’t worry, it’s the snakes you don’t see. In our many years of walking we’ve had a Fer-de-Lance pass between us, and once I almost stepped on a Jumping Viper (thank goodness it moved before I put my foot down) So, a few close calls I’m aware of, and probably more that I never noticed.
Still I’ve had a few close calls on the highway, and other events that were perhaps life threatening. Everything has risks, and I try to keep the risk/benefit ratio reasonable.
Good point, Greg. Cheers for the comment.
Neil
Hi Neil.
Thanks for covering this, and I have a couple of follow-up questions to ask either yourself or whomever might confidently know…
“Then one day I happened to stop and look down at my feet, only to find that my foot had landed about an inch from a very large tiger snake. Fortunately, it just took off into the scrub. I probably should have bought a lottery ticket that day. I’ve taken a lot more care ever since.”
Out of interest, what would have happened if you’d trodden on it? Would it be likely that you’d get bitten? If so, how do bites typically pan out? Are they generally fatal, or generally not? Do they leave you well-off for a reasonable enough amount of time to walk out and seek medical attention, or are you completely dependent on attracting attention from someone to get help or being able to treat it yourself?
Also, are there any particular stats comparing off-track with on-track? If I end up surrounded by long grass then I sometimes get a bit wary, especially if it’s clearly a place where there haven’t been many or any other people making vibrations during any recent history, but I’m also not too well versed on how snakes work.
Hi Mike,
Thanks for your comments. I hope you don’t mind, but rather than answering your questions here I’m going to put together a follow-up post as soon as I get a chance. I’ll answer all of your questions in the post.
Cheers
Neil
Good advice Neil,and I know it’s true most people get bitten because they are trying to catch or kill the snake. We came across a large coastal python in the Gold Coast Hinterland, I know they aren’t venomous but this one had just had breakfast a large lump in it’s middle.
It was pouring with rain and it wasn’t going to move for anyone.
Thanks enjoyed the read..
Thanks for the comments Jill! The coastal python must have been cool to see!
Cheers
Neil
Yikes! Thanks for this. I recently started hiking again and I am always so paranoid about rattlesnakes. I have a habit of looking around at the beautiful surroundings and not looking down. I stopped hiking from this fear although I have only seen one non venomous snake before and I’ve never seen a rattlesnake. Sometimes I am so scared that I don’t want to go far because I’m afraid I will get bitten. But I will be careful and keep trekking!
Thanks for commenting Melanie. I should point out that this article is based on my knowledge of Australian snakes, so it might pay to search for some more specific info about your area. However, I’m sure the message that they shouldn’t stop us from getting out there (with due care) is fairly universal. I’m just checking out your blog now. Looks great!
Cheers
Neil
I also teach the kids to stomp really heavily when first entering a an empty area or about to go (unavoidably) through grassy area.
Thanks Jenny!
Reminds me that I need to buy a new pair of gaiters before I go to the Snowies. Always put them on first thing in the morning, because that is when snakes are the most sluggish and less likely to get out of the way.
Good tip Ken! Thanks!