This is my 3rd or 4th time in Australia. I’ve tramped (hiked) tracks (trails) in every state, coast to coast, sea to mountains, and, rainforests to deserts. During those times, I have never so much as seen a snake. (Not quite true, I remember I saw one on a rock in a gorge I was swimming in. I got out of the water soon after.)
This trip is catching me up. A couple weeks ago it was a Red-Bellied Black Snake. A dangerous critter, but not particularly aggressive. Mine scooted a away as soon as it detected me.
Today, though, it was a different kettle of fish.
I’m walking a track in Wilsons Prom NP when something catches my eye. Is that a snake or just a cast-off skin? After all, it was just laying there on the track, not moving. Then a tongue flicked.
This was no runaway from me Red-Bellied Black Snake. It’s a Tiger Snake—a kind of cobra. My snake app describes it as, “can be extremely aggressive.”
Tiger Snakes make the top ten lists of most deadly snakes in the world. In Australia they are #3, just behind the Eastern and Westen Brown snakes.
This guy/gal was standing it’s ground. I’m maybe 7′ away. I remember reading that snakes (generally) can strike to a distance equal to 50% their length, judging by what I can see of its length, I figure I’m safe. But, I can’t remember if that 50% rule of thumb applies to all snakes. In biology, there is always an exception…. (Amusingly enough, after I get home and watch the video I realize that I’d massively underestimated the length. I was thinking 2′ to 3′. No…this fellow was a full grown 6′ in length.)
So, I stop and wait. Let the snake decide. After a few minutes and many tongue flicks, it turns around and slides down a little ravine and disappears.
I can’t wait to see what the next 4 weeks of tramping scares up!
Pic and videos:
