Red Belly black snake!

[Fishkeeper]

Most people who get bitten by snakes get bitten trying to handle the snakes in some way.
If you must go and interact with the snake, a hose is a good option, or a broom. Just annoy it away.

 

[Kris5902]

Actually Red Bellies aren't too bad as our snakes go. A bite can make you pretty sick but deaths are rare. The Australian Museum says: For its size, the Red-Bellied Black Snake is probably the least dangerous elapid snake in Australia. Despite the number of bites received every year, very few human deaths have resulted (most death records date from early times and the snake's identity was often unconfirmed).

Yes, and the #1 killer snake in the world is actually a sawscale in the Middle East... no where near the most venomous. I wouldn’t want to take a bite from it or mess with it, wouldn’t want it hanging around my home, chicken coop, pets or kids. And nothing gets to eat my chickens or chicks with impunity except me!

Many things factor into snakebite mortality and damage, availability and access to antivenin, amount of venom injected, time before treatment is received. All of which are pretty decent in most parts of Australia, so I wouldn’t be terrified of a bite, but would really want to avoid one.

Every venomous snake needs to be treated with a healthy respect. Also, the only time that a snakes identity is considered confirmed is when the snake is brought in with the victim. There are often long term effects from even non-fatal bites in many species. For an elapid the Red Bellied Black snake is considered fairly docile and not as “aggressive” (usually people who don’t understand snake behavior) or as venomous compared to say a mamba, water cobra, or king cobra, taipan, or a brown snake. Still, respect the venomous creature...

Short of the western hog nose, I consider all venomous snakes extremely dangerous, hemotoxic and nuerotoxic, even other rear fanged ones and those known for dry bites (I don’t think there are any of those in Australia though). I haven’t had the opportunity to see any Australian snakes first hand at all only North American ones in natural settings, and some South American in exhibits, but it is a personal dream...

I’m both jealous of the OP’s situation, and concerned. Probably, because the only elapid I’ve seen in a natural environment is the coral snake, and the rest have all been large Rattlers. Probably, I just over-react because I haven’t dealt with them extensively in my own day to day (again, so jealous of you all in Australia!). But if I had our only venomous snake here (the Massasauga Rattler, only 1 confirmed death, and an endangered and highly protected species) hanging out by my coop, I’d look into relocating it!

 

[Kris5902]

Can you make or buy a snake catching pole, one with the wire to hold them securely? I grew up in the swamps of Florida catching many snakes when I was young. I don`t have a pole made right now or i`d post a pic. Put the snake in a secure bag and deal with in whatever way you choose. No way I would pay $200 for someone else to handle my snake problems. Just don`t tell anyone how you are handling it.

Please don’t do this... the wire can harm the snake, and please don’t kill it if that is what is being implied by “in whatever way you choose”. Handle it correctly with a proper pair of tongs and a snake hook if you’re capable and going to handle it... otherwise that is what you’re paying the $200 for, expertise and safe handling of a dangerous animal. I will never complain about the cost of my vet care, my mechanic, plumber, or any other highly skilled trade, because they are doing something I either cannot or will not do.

 

[Ribh]

The OP can't kill the snake. It is a protected species. Kris5902: you are quite right in saying all snakes should be treated with respect. They are dangerous but anyone in OZ with bushland is going to see a fair few of them & relocating one probably won't solve the problem as the OP pointed out. Keeping the surrounds snake unfriendly will help but in the course of this discussion it was noted @ the time the snakes were spotted it was very dry & the Red bellies usual food source [frogs] was scarce. Most snakes will avoid humans but I have a very large python living in my ceiling. Has done for years. Occasionally he bumps the t.v antenna & snows us, otherwise he does a pretty good job of cleaning up the vermin.

Sorry if I came over as a little blase but seen or not the snakes are there. That one was actually seen indicates he's pretty desperate ~ especially when chicks/eggs are not the preferred food. Personally I would ensure my chicken enclosure was predator proof & keep my girls in for a few days until the snake moved on to an easier food source.

 

[TwistedSteel]

I`ve had 12 live snakes and a 4 ft. monitor lizard living in the house with me at one time. Caught more than 100 rattlesnakes and dealt with many cottonmouths in my 60 yrs. The pole built right with the correct cable (guess I should have been clearer for those less mechanically inclined) is a very effective and safer way to handle aggressive venomous snakes. When you have kids and livestock shooing them away or just waiting for them to move in there own sweet time is not really an option. Not going to pay someone else to do something for me that I can do myself. No problem with paying a Dr., vet or lawyer.

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

I`ve had 12 live snakes and a 4 ft. monitor lizard living in the house with me at one time. Caught more than 100 rattlesnakes and dealt with many cottonmouths in my 60 yrs. The pole built right with the correct cable (guess I should have been clearer for those less mechanically inclined) is a very effective and safer way to handle aggressive venomous snakes. When you have kids and livestock shooing them away or just waiting for them to move in there own sweet time is not really an option. Not going to pay someone else to do something for me that I can do myself. No problem with paying a Dr., vet or lawyer.

Thanks I will consider it

 

[Kris5902]

I`ve had 12 live snakes and a 4 ft. monitor lizard living in the house with me at one time. Caught more than 100 rattlesnakes and dealt with many cottonmouths in my 60 yrs. The pole built right with the correct cable (guess I should have been clearer for those less mechanically inclined) is a very effective and safer way to handle aggressive venomous snakes. When you have kids and livestock shooing them away or just waiting for them to move in there own sweet time is not really an option. Not going to pay someone else to do something for me that I can do myself. No problem with paying a Dr., vet or lawyer.

“If you’re capable”... not everyone is able to handle hot snakes correctly, and this is how most people are bitten. Yes a loop system can be effective and if built correctly and used carefully will not harm the snake. I wound never suggest anyone handle a venomous reptile themselves unless I knew they were experienced enough, and a “pole with a wire loop” is pretty vague... wire/thin cable pulled too tightly can damage scales or even cut the snake... I was in no way intending to imply you weren’t personally able to safely, but I don’t know the OP’s experience level in working with hots. Cottonmouths are one of my favorite snakes... super docile and horribly misunderstood by most, and their camouflage is amazing. Elapids also have very different behaviors than vipers.

 

[Kris5902]

The OP can't kill the snake. It is a protected species. Kris5902: you are quite right in saying all snakes should be treated with respect. They are dangerous but anyone in OZ with bushland is going to see a fair few of them & relocating one probably won't solve the problem as the OP pointed out. Keeping the surrounds snake unfriendly will help but in the course of this discussion it was noted @ the time the snakes were spotted it was very dry & the Red bellies usual food source [frogs] was scarce. Most snakes will avoid humans but I have a very large python living in my ceiling. Has done for years. Occasionally he bumps the t.v antenna & snows us, otherwise he does a pretty good job of cleaning up the vermin.

Sorry if I came over as a little blase but seen or not the snakes are there. That one was actually seen indicates he's pretty desperate ~ especially when chicks/eggs are not the preferred food. Personally I would ensure my chicken enclosure was predator proof & keep my girls in for a few days until the snake moved on to an easier food source.

No offense taken, and please don’t think I was advocating killing it... I was objecting to the implication of that in another post! Hopefully the weather improves and it goes back to a less human and chicken dense area. One day I will get down there to see all the beautiful scaly things myself. Until then I just have to continue my visits to the USA for reptile viewing... all we have on my island is sharp tails and garter snakes. I have to travel to see venomous, and like I said, kinda jealous that these beauties just wander in to homes and around coops over there.

 

[Ribh]

No offense taken, and please don’t think I was advocating killing it... I was objecting to the implication of that in another post!

No, I was responding to someone else who did suggest killing it. I grew up in Sydney with funnel web spiders so for me snakes, which I can actually see, are far less threatening than lethal black spiders I can't see.

 

[Kris5902]

No, I was responding to someone else who did suggest killing it. I grew up in Sydney with funnel web spiders so for me snakes, which I can actually see, are far less threatening than lethal black spiders I can't see.

Hey! It’s been many years since the last funnel web death... spiders are my only phobia! So I’m with you on that one...