Ethics of home defence Vs snake invasion

A 5 iron would probably work just as well.

12 gauge willem style would have been better

John,

We have had cattle dogs most our lives, which are pretty good at keeping the blighters away. But my sisters cattle cross collie is the best snake dog I have seen, even BIG browns don't seem to slow him down. The dog knocked itself to the ground when a HUGE brown it threw in the air landed on it's back, the dog just whipped itself up off the deck and was straight back into the snake, result dog=too many to count; snakes=nil. With 5 boys on a couple of acres I think the dog is my sisters best investment.

Cheers Trevor.

I have been in similar position with 2 dugites. I tried shooting it with a .22 got most of the magazine into it and it kept going, ended up using a shovel.

Since been told even better way is a length of aboout 25mm black poly pipe hit em over the back with it and it breaks their back. I now keep several lengths in strategic places around the house.

I actually dont enjoy killing them and we try to dissuade them from being near the house. Bobtail lizards(blue tongues) eat snake eggs so we encourage our Bobtails and look after them. The garden is shaded and cool but not to overgrown so snakes tend to keep away. Also the movements of 3 dogs and a horse seem to repell them as well.

A bit left field, but we have chickens at our place and the occasional fox. I spotted my first brown last week slithering accross the road as I was on my way out. I have been told that goats are good to keep around chooks as they keep away both foxes and snakes. Is this true?

John.

You have got "Moses", now you just need "St Patrick".
Thats not the name of your 12gauge is it?
No more water or snake problems.

John, will you and Heather be around home mid Aug 06?
We may be down your way then.

Stay safe this festive season.

Hi John

if one was nearby here, then I'd be getting rid of it the best way I could, which would probably involve a shovel...as I don't have a gun...Alan demonstrated his snake despatching skills when we were away with 4 wdadventureoz in Kingfisher camp, so I reckon I could match his abilities...except for the flicking it at people part...hahahah....[which was a panic reaction rather than anything sinster on
Al's behalf...was very funny to watch, though not sure Glenn thought so...lol...]

seriously....I would place personal safety above the life of a nasty....

Hi JohnR,
In my view its simple,I have no want to harm any of gods creatures what ever form they come in,and rarely do I call for my back up,,..Smith& Wesson...but if it comes down to my,or mines survival I have no hesitation whatso ever of protecting my own...but because this course of action is for ever make sure there ar no other ways around it..generally i've been told when you come face to face, their up to no good as they are aware of your presence way before they scare the bejingles out of the misus...word of warning beware of the mate lurking in thebackground!..the no go zone starts from the mowed section.
JD

Living here in the inner northern suburbs of Brisbane we don't get many snakes. However, Easter 2002 found us having a clean up at home. I'm a professional photographer and I have a small rockery for photographing small children. Late on Easter monday I found a 7 foot carpet snake living under a rock seat that we pose toddlers on. Decided to relocate him... not happy John. Managed to grab him behind the head, but then he wrapped the rest of his body around my left leg and started to constrict. At this point I had a super rush and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. Wife came to rescue with a large shovel. I held his head down and she "massaged" the back of his head until he was converted to an ex-snake.

Glad I found him though.... can't imagine a parent asking me to get the snake of his/her child duriong a portrait shoot!

Cheers

Mark Taylor

Growing up on a farm, the rule was simple - in the yard area around the house, snakes were fair game and were quickly introduced to the business end of a post hole shovel. Down the paddock, generally leave 'em be unless there's a pressing need to dispatch them (e.g. kids, dogs about).

I think the laws in each state are basically that a snake can only be killed if it poses a threat to livestock, pets or people. They're part of the environment, have a role to play (keep the bloody introduced rats and mice down for starters!) and going around killing every one you see is rather futile, because there's probably 99 that you don't see for every one you get.

If you believe it threatens you, your family, pets or livestock - get rid of it.

Taking to it with a shovel, golf club, or stick is generally a high risk solution. No thankyou. Contact your local council. Most have contacts with a local snake catcher/keeper or NPWS.

As a last resort, use a stick that breathes fire if you have one :)) But be prepared for a thorough investigation if one of your neighbours decides to report you.

Agree with gramps and others that if snake is in the yard or anywhere you may frequent they are fair game. Carpet snakes and green tree snakes an exception. (A carpet snake over say 6-7 feet would relocate). Anything else I deem is poisonous.

Not real sure about using a rifle, shotgun maybe, but a one inch dowell or poly pipe is my weapon of choice. very effective ... aim for the middle of the back.

Wouldn't worry about the council or National Parks people unless it was large and "stuck" somewhere - in the roof or dashboard of the car.

spade

John,
I reckon anywhere near loved ones is fair game.

Your story remindsme of an incident at my in-laws' house a few years ago. They live on a fairly large vineyard in Willunga, SA, and see dozens of snakes each season.

Brian thought he spotted the tail of a brown snake disappear behind the entertainment cabinet in the rumpus room. He decided that he couldn't ignore it considering that he has 4 grandchildren who like to play in that room. So he pulled out one of his shot guns (he normally uses them for bird control), took up position on a rocking chair; grandpa on the front porch style; and waited...

...almost two hours later the snake's head emerged from his hiding place. BANG!

To this day Val still hasn't forgiven him for the chipped tiles and blood-stains on the ceiling. All for a worthwhile cause though!

Dan

There's more than one way to kill a snake that's not a problem but the problem in my neck of the woods is bloody ants. I can kill em all day but they just keep coming at us, millions of them day after day intent on turning our home into one big bloody ants nest. Give me a few snakes and you can have the ants.

laying lengths of fairly small guage fishnet, similar to a bait net, serves as a very effective trap/barrier. They get tangled up trying to get through. Works very well. Makes them eaiser to flatten with a shovel, or keeps them there till you can get someone around to removing them.

Another effective method of despatching them is to twist together about 4 strands of fencing wire to a suitable lenght, say 5 ft. One strike is all its ever taken, breaks their back with no fuss.

But, after all that said, best to leave them be, unless they are a genuine threat.

I saw an article recently about a 21yo snake charmer in the North of Malaysia who managed to capture a King Cobra with nothing more than his hands... this snake measured 5.4 metres and weighed in at 15kg. Given that a King Cobra can stand to 1/3rd its body length, that bugger would stare a 6 foot man in the eye.

He's the man... brave or foolish... he's most definately the man

G'Day John,

If you can run quicker than it can move, (tiger), then leave it alone, if it gives you no chance, (brown), get rid of the bugger and go find a tiger or a black to replace it!
Rolande

Hey Bro

Looks like I have started a trend here....lol

Then again I would probably leave the snake alone and encourage it to go away.

Cats.....thats different!!

Cheers

SIGH , I would just like to point out that EVERY NATIVE AUSTRALIAN SNAKE is a protected species and if you are caught killing one - you can be held accountable which means a hefty fine or even jail time . Details can be found on the NPWS webpage.

I am a snake owner , I have 2x 7 foot long carpets that are totally harmless and had them since they were 2 weeks old ( captive bred and purchased ) Lot of the time these animals are killed by people that think its MANLY or Macho to kill a snake , when all they are doing is removing a animal from the wild that helps keep vermin such as rats and mice to a low level. there is also some Hysteria in regards to certain snake species such as redbellies , these snakes can be kept on a class 2 snake licence ( class 1 pythons and various lizards - 2 mild venomous and hard to keep 3 - very dangerous ) These snakes usually will leave very promptly and will not stand and fight unless you try to attack them or corner them. the only real snake that will chase you is an inland typan or brown snakes. the majority will scamper. "I didn't know what snake it was so I killed it anyway" is an excuse often heard , well -educate yourself - if you want to 4 wheel drive - you learn your vehicle - If you want to camp and bush walk - you learn what to expect and how to avoid! rather than being weekend Rambo and killing every native animal in sight.

Here is some info for you shovel happy weekend warriors, 90%+ of snake bites are as a result of people trying to kill a snake. Is it worth the risk of a potential snake bite , fine or prison time ? I am actually very disappointed in a lot of the comments in here in regards to how "I KILLED ONE WITH A 12 GAUGE or MY TRUSTY WINCHESTER will do the job" I thought this community was a bunch of people sharing interest in 4 wheel driving and what nature has to offer wether it be scenery or our native animals - I dint realize this was a hunting group that kills animals for the sake of it.

very saddened indeed

Frank

P.s the term for toxic snakes is VENOMOUS not POISONOUS - or amongst the snake handlers a venomous snake is regarded as a HOT HERP.

JohnR - that's an interesting post. We've had a few this season - mostly Fierce Snakes. There are shovels all around our place (on purpose) but mostly I have a length of twisted wire with a l-shaped end. As for ethics - agree about out in the paddock or on the road but as we are so far away from medical help etc. if they are in town or in anyone's yards - then they have to go. Funny about they way kids borrow things.

I grew up in Werribee, back when it was lots more sleepy than it is now. Well, that is 'cept for the guys lapping the main st in VK commodores. There was a bloke back then, & I wouldn't put him past being still there, who used to do all the snake catching, esp around the river. On the cleanup weekends (eg. lions club) he used to wander ahead and just come back with handful after handful. Something to see. Can't remember his name now, was well known though. There's heaps around, and I reckon leave them alone they leave you alone. But saying that (there's always a but), one about to enter the house - go for the game of "snake cricket".

BUT, JohnR - you thought I was joking about the fierce snake - no it's not a non-paying/runout guest - it really is a nasty one. Inland Taipan - most deadly snake in Australia. All these years here and only ever saw two and that was last year (no, I don't mean you and Willem either!!) - one in our back yard, it was coming at Ian through the bush house - he was 7 ft long, shiny, thick and very healthy and beautiful. Didn't know Ian could dance like that either.
Thinking about this business after my first post - I'm sure the fine in Queensland is $75,000 for death/destruction of a snake. Still, they've got to catch you I suppose.