Teachig Snake Saftey! how and what do you teach??

[beckoes]

We are (hopefully) moving to a house with a bit of land in QLD and deffinatly snakes...im from the UK and i think they have adders in scotland, but i dont really know much about snakes...make noise and they run away...hopefully...not much use really!
DD is 22 months and i want her to enjoy the huge outside area we will have, but how do i keep her safe and what do i teach her....i dont want her to be afraid of snakes...but i dont want her to try and hug one if she sees one!!!

What have you taught your kids....or what were you taught as a child??

TIA

[krysalyss]

I have tried to teach DS to be aware that areas with long grass, piles of logs etc. are places where snakes like to hide. He knows that snakes can bite and we never try to touch or hurt one (the majority of people who get bitten were trying to kill it). If he ever gets bitten he needs to tell me straight away for first aid. If he sees one and it is too close to walk away from just stay really still (and yell for me) and hopefully it will just move away. And for you, make sure you know first aid for snake bites and keep the appropriate bandages and contact numbers on hand.
I can't really remember thinking about it too much when I was a kid even though we lived on acreage.

[Aussiegirl777]

We spent most of our younger years growing up backing onto the bush. We had alot of snakes in our yard as kids and thankfully no bad incidents to talk about. We were taught to wear shoes where possible, and when walking in scrubby areas to take solid heavy steps. Snakes can't hear but they feel vibrations - most are quite timid by nature and when they feel you coming they retreat. Keep the yard tidy as I remember one year we put our Christmas tree laying down just outside our front door until council clean up and when we lifted it up 6 little baby brown snakes were living underneath!! For some reason when we were kids I remember not really looking for snakes but always being aware and on the few times that I did come face to face with one, I seemed to sense that one was there. I have know idea why that was. Also if you have a dog they can usual let you know that there is a snake around because they bark like crazy. Well ours did. And recently we had a snake here at this house too and our dogs went beserk. I hope this helps. It's about having respect and may the two never meet.

[beckoes]

thanks both!! very helpfull! krys: need to learn some snake first aid! and aussie girl you so right, its about respect!

[Epacris]

A great question! This is a passion of mine. Krys and Aussie have made some excellent suggestions.

My tips are:
- All snakes are protected and it is illegal (and immoral IMO, and dangerous) to kill them.
- Snakes are much more scared of you than you are of them.
- People are almost always bitten when they are trying to kill a snake.
- Be cautious around snake habitat, long grass, piles of logs.
- Always wear sensible shoes when in snake habitat (and leather gloves if appropriate).
- Learn as much as you can about snakes. Get yourself a snake identification book.
- Learn the correct first aid for snake bite.
- Always carry 4 compression bandages (not crepe bandages) when in snake habitat.
- If you are lucky (IMO ) enough to see a snake, remain calm, walk away.

I have always loved these comments from Brian Bush, a passionate snake advocate:

In the past 40 years I have met many people who believe tiger snakes have chased them. However, I have yet to meet someone that has been caught by one!

More people die each year in Australia from horse riding related accidents than snakebite. We do not go around hitting horses on the head with a shovel! Nor do we have as negative an attitude to Australia's deadliest venomous animal: the honeybee, an exotic introduced from Europe!

Not sure if I’m allowed to post the link, just google “Brian Bush Snakes”.

HTH

[beckoes]

Epacris: awesome!!! thanks so much! off to google i go!