How much of a problem are snakes in urban/suburban Australia?

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Ozmaniac

They're not a problem at all if you take sensible precautions. I live on the semi-rural outskirts of Brisbane (the capital of Queensland) where there are heaps of them including some very dangerous species, and it's unwise to ever forget that they're around, but that doesn't stop anyone going into the garden or the bush. Our weather is warm all year around here and we all spend a lot of time outside without any problems.

We don't leave doors open to the outside and have screens on every window and doorway to keep them out of the house and as a matter of habit, I quickly check the back deck before letting the dogs out. We always take a torch outside at night and look where we're walking at any time, but none of that's a problem - it's just second nature when you live here.

If you move outside furniture, or turn over a log or anything on the ground, you need to be aware that a snake might be hiding, but they don't leap out and attack. If one's there, you simply back off until it goes away, which it will - they're at least as afraid of us as we are of them. The vast majority of people who are bitten have been trying to catch or move the snake - the rule is to leave them alone and they'll leave you alone.

Reading the above all sounds very scary, but believe me, it really isn't. Even living here surrounded by subtropical bushland where snakes are relatively common, it's been well over a year since I've seen one and I've never seen more than one or two in any year.

Bandit

Not as much of a problem as the Drop Bears they wait until you walk underneath them then drop out of the tree and land on your head and attack you.

mmdjaajl

another stupid question about snakes STOP watching TV programs full of rubbish
there is NO problem with snakes at all

Nat

Depends where in Australia. Where I live (30 mins out of Brisbane on the bayside) I back on to bushland and a creek and we get snakes up to 10ft all the time in neighbouring properties, especially the ones that have the cyclone fencing coz it is so much easier for the snakes just to slither through the holes. When I lived around the road from this house we tended to get Red Bellied Black snakes.

OzNana

Also depends on what state / part of Australia you are talking about. In North QLD there are some pretty nasty snakes - I have seen Taipans in the back yard there, and brown snakes etc. Of course you can go out into your garden, but sensible people make sure they know what the local wildlife is like, and learn what creatures to avoid. If you keep your grass short there's nowhere for the snakes to lurk....

bob k

If you mean the likelihood of being bitten- it's very low. you are more likely to be hit by lightning.

ABCDiamond Britzinoz.com

For the vast majority of the time, there is no problem at all in most normal residential areas.

Some people have said that we just don't see them, and for a while I thought that was a possibility.

However, our pet guinea pig got out of its cage, and wandered freely around the garden, and we decided to risk letting it stay free. After two years it still has the run of the garden, and hasn't been eaten.

I am sure it would be long gone, if we had snakes in the area, as snakes tend to like guinea pigs, for dinner.

E!ya

It's no problem really. If you move to a particular area just ask the locals if there are any particular species to be aware of. They will tell you what to look out for in what seasons. In most parts of the country you will not have any problems though.

I wouldn't personally walk in long grass in bare feet, because I have grown up in Australia and it's second nature to check where you put your feet. It's not something to obsess over though, the chance of you encountering a problem with a snake or poisonous spider is very slim.

Also if you do a first aid course in Australia they will cover what to do in the case of a snake bite etc.

cc_of_0z

About as common as Coyote's in Manhattan

zafir

Snakes do not live in suburban areas. People in some outer city suburbs, which border grasslands, may very occasionally see snakes in spring or autumn, but the creatures are just passing through and are not considered a hazard.

I've lived in various cities and have only seen snakes when bushwalking in the country, and I can count those occurances on one hand!

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