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This site is no longer updated please visit our new website WWW.SWISSCLUB.ORG.AU  Summer is a time for camping, bushwalking or traveling to country areas but it is also the time Australia’s most deadly snakes come out. Australia has some of the deadliest snakes in the world. This page is here is to educate you about snakes particularly those that are found in Western Australia. Snakes don't like or seek human company. Normally a snake will try to avoid confrontation with people. In fact you most likely may never come in contact with one unless by pure accident. If given a chance a snake will flee. So if you come across one just give it a chance to flee. Most bites happen when snakes are trodden on or touched while sleeping. The snake tries to defend itself. Use Common Sense  Do not touch any snakes in Australia unless you know what you are dealing with and what you are doing. Basically leave the snake alone. Do not attempt to handle the snake. In most cases the snake will very quickly disappear as soon as it senses you. Avoid anything that might threaten or scare the snake. If a snake feels cornered it will bite to defend itself. A lot of snake bites occur when people try to catch or kill snakes. Look where you put your feet and your hands. Don't stumble around barefoot in long grass, don't reach into dark corners where a snake might be hiding, or anywhere you can't see. It is important to wear solid shoes when bushwalking.If you need to walk outside at night in the bush use a torch. Snakes are very active on warm summer nights. Never put hands inside logs, thick grass or under woodpiles or building materials, without looking first! How To tell If A Snake Is Venomous You usually can't. The only way to tell if a snake is venomous is to identify the snake. There are no general rules. There are many Brown Snakes, King Brown, Dugite or python. Many harmless snakes such as the python have been killed for being brownish in colour. Other harmless Australian snakes died for being mottled or stripy. Not every striped snake is a Tiger Snake! Pythons are harmless as they aren't venomous, but they still bite when annoyed. Size is no indicator at all, a small snake can be just as venomous as an adult snake. The best option is to treat all snakes as venomous. By looking at photos displayed here you might be able to identify a snake when you see one. Deadly Snakes found in Western Australia The Brown  The Brown Snake may be found all over Australia. It has extremely potent venom, and although the quantity of venom injected is usually small, this snake causes more deaths in Australia than any other. The Gwardir is also known as the Western Brown snake, and the Dugite is a spotted brown snake found in Western Australia. When bitten by a brown snake you will need brown snake antivenom. The Dugite  The dugite a member of the brown snake family is coloured grey, green or brown. As with most snakes, the colours vary between individuals and are not a reliable way of identifying the snake. The most reliable method of identification is by the shape of the head. In the case of a dugite, the head is small compared to the neck. They prefer sandy areas and like most snakes will not normally approach populated areas. In Western Australia they are common in bushland areas, such as Perth’s outer suburbs.  Here is a grey dugite to show colour can be an unreliable means of identifying a dugite. Notice both snakes have the same body and head shape. It has been bought to attention that a creature that may have been a dugite was seen at The Swiss Club property at Gidgegannup. So be cautious when there during the summer months. Tiger Snake  The tiger snake lives in the temperate southern areas of Australia. The tiger snake bite is currently one of the most common snake bites in Australia, along with brown snake bite. Mainland tiger snakes are active on warm summer evenings, and are attracted to farms and outer suburban houses, where they hunt mice and rats, and where they may be trodden on by unwary people barefoot at night. They prefer swampy or marshy ground, and hunt frogs around creeks, rivers or dams. They are solidly built, with broad, flattened heads. When disturbed, tiger snakes may flatten their necks in a threat display. Adults are usually banded, and colour may vary from pale yellow to almost black. Occasionally, the bands may be absent, leading to difficulties with identification King Brown or Mulga snake  The king brown (or mulga) snake is found in all arid parts of Australia, and has the greatest venom output. It has a strongly defined dark crosshatched pattern on its scales, and is related to the black snakes not the brown as it’s name suggests. It feeds on rats, mice birds, lizards and other snakes. It is active at night, especially in hot weather. They may become aggressive and strike repeatedly if threatened. When bitten by a king brown snake you will need black snake antivenom. Death Adder  The death adder has a characteristic appearance and may be striped. Death adders are found throughout most of Australia. They are ambush predators, concealing themselves in leaves, sand or gravel and twitching the ends of their tails to attract prey. Prey consists of frogs, birds, lizards, mice and rats. It is mainly active at night. How to treat a Snake Bite. Bites by Australian snakes should be treated like bites by any other snake. Phone or send for medical assistance. Reassure the patient and encourage them to remain calm. Have the patient remain as still as possible. A pressure immobilisation bandage should be applied immediately. It will apply pressure over a wide area of the bitten limb. Bandage the limb about as firmly as you would a sprained ankle. An elastic bandage is ideal for this. Do not cut off the blood flow! Place the bandage over the bite and wrap the limb, first away from the heart, then back towards the heart. The finished bandage should reach from just above the fingers or toes as far up the limb as possible with the available materials. The limb should be immobilised using a splint. If the bite is to the trunk, apply firm pressure to the bitten area. Do no restrict chest movement. The person should avoid any movement. They must not attempt to walk! Where possible, help should be brought to the patient rather than moving the patient. Do not wash the bite. Venom on the skin is needed to positively identify the snake and administer the correct antivenin. Do not cut bitten area. Do not suck venom out of wound. Do not use a constrictive bandage/tourniquet. Do not try to catch or kill the snake. Applying a pressure immobilisation bandage Bites to Lower limb  Simply treat all Australian snakes with respect and use your common sense. Call a professional Snake Handler if you want one removed from your house or yard. Many people get bitten trying to remove or kill snakes they find in their yards. |
March 2010 - OUR WEBSITE HAS MOVED TO WWW.SWISSCLUB.ORG.AU |