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Ways to avoid a snake bite when you're bushwalking
ABC Everyday
/ By Tahnee Jash

https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/how-to-avoid-a-snake-bite-when-bushwalking/101705440

A red bellied black snake with its tongue out is curled up on a rock next to a bushwalkers walker's ankles.
Is your fear of snakes keeping you from exploring nature? We've got tips for you.(Adobe Stock: Ken Griffiths/ABC Everyday: Luke Tribe)
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Does the thought of almost stepping on a venomous snake send chills up your spine?

Australia has a reputation for being home to some of the world's most dangerous animals, including the eastern brown snake.

But we're also the home of beautiful rainforests, beaches and national parks — like the Blue Mountains.

If you're worried about getting bitten by a snake, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service conservationist Doug Beckers says it's more likely to happen at home than in the bush.

"Studies have shown only 11 per cent of snakebite victims [are] bitten in a bush or scrubland environment. Most people [31 per cent] are bitten near their house," Mr Beckers says.

Still not convinced? Here are a few tips to avoid a snake bite on your next bushwalk – and what to do if a snake bites you.
Snake behaviour and habitats

There are over 100 venomous sea and land snakes in Australia but the chance of seeing one when you're bushwalking isn't as common as we think, says toxinologist Dr Timothy Jackson.

"Snakes are very invested in hiding so it's relatively unlikely you'll see one," says the University of Melbourne professor.

Not every Australian snake is venomous but the common ones to keep your eye out for are brown snakes (there are a few types), red-bellied black snakes, tiger snakes, death adders, copperheads, and taipans.

Snakes usually hang out in areas where there is food, especially after hiding during the cooler months or after a flood. Knowing a little bit about their habitat can help you avoid them during bushwalks.
A brown and white tiger snake curled up on gravel with its head raised.
Tiger snakes are highly venomous and can be spotted near rivers, lakes and swamps.(Adobe: Fotolia Premium)
Tiger snakes and red-bellied black snakes

Live in bushes along the eastern states (QLD, NSW, VIC) and, according to the Australian Museum, tiger snakes are also found in Tasmania.
Love to eat frogs, so they're usually basking close to rivers and swamps. Baby red-bellied black snakes eat tadpoles so they can also be found in water holes and lakes.
Dr Jackson says red-bellied black snakes are "pretty chill" and most bites occur from people picking them up or stepping on them.

Brown snakes (eastern brown snakes)

According to Dr Jackson, brown snakes are responsible for around 60 per cent of venomous bites in Australia.
They're very common in regional areas and love to hide in fallen logs and in between rocks. You might find them in backyards, farms, or bushlands outside of busy towns across the eastern states of Australia (QLD, NSW, VIC, SA) — and some parts of the Northern Territory.

Death adder

Usually hides in "leaf litter" in woodlands or forests waiting to pounce on its prey — like a bird or lizard.
Mr Beckers says they're an "ambush predator". "I've seen them in sand dunes and parks around the Blue Mountains," he says. "Most of the time they are incredibly camouflaged."
Live in most states except Tasmania but are frequently spotted around NSW. If you're bushwalking near a lot of leaf litter, be careful where you're stepping in case there's a sleeping death adder.

Copperheads

Only found in cooler parts of Australia like high up in the alps of Tasmania, the Blue Mountains in NSW and parts of Victoria.
Love to eat frogs and small lizards, so you might spot them in bush scrub or resting near creeks.

Inland and coastal taipans

One of Australia's most venomous snakes, usually found across northern parts of Australia.
Inland taipans love dry habitats like deserts and dry bush but are rare to see. If you're bushwalking in arid parts of western Queensland, you might come across one.
Coastal taipans prefer coastal forests along northern NSW, Far North Queensland right across to parts of the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
Taipans love to eat small mammals and will often be hiding in burrows and fallen logs.

Preparing for a bushwalk
YouTube What to do if you see a snake

When you think about a snake biting you, you might imagine it clamping onto your leg and stabbing its fangs through your flesh, but Dr Jackson says that's not usually how it happens.

"A lot of brown snake bites are [like] a scratch … it may not even draw blood," he says.

Most snake bites happen on the legs and arms, so wearing the right clothes makes a big difference.

"One easy measure to reduce the likelihood of a snake bite is to wear long pants and a long shirt," he says.

Wearing enclosed shoes and a hat helps too.

If you're walking in dense bushland, it's a good idea to pack a snake bite bandage, which are different to the ones you'd find in typical first-aid kits (more on that below).

Mr Beckers also recommends downloading an emergency app developed by the Australian emergency services departments before you leave. This will help you share your location coordinates with an ambulance if you get stranded or injured.

Another free app Dr Jackson recommends is one for venomous bites and stings that will help you apply the right first-aid procedure.

When planning a bushwalk, spring "is the number one time" to see snakes, Dr Jackson says.

"[When] it's colder, they're not eating, they're not mating and are basically keeping to themselves," he says.

If you live in northern parts of Australia, snakes are more active as the wet season kicks off.

As we transition into summer, scorching heat can make it hard for snakes to regulate their body temperature. That's why some snakes are more active during cooler parts of the day, like the morning or night.

"In summer, the air itself is warm so there's no need to bask and some snakes even switch towards a more nocturnal pattern of behaviour and forage at night, like tiger snakes and brown snakes," Dr Jackson says.

If you're still feeling nervous about seeing a snake, try bushwalking in winter instead.
It's unlikely that a snake will 'chase' you

There's a common myth that snakes chase humans but Mr Beckers says this behaviour is often misunderstood.

It turns out, they're just as frightened of us as we are of them.

"They just want to get away [and] the easiest way to escape might be along the same track you're on," he says.

"If you corner them, they'll defend themselves to frighten you out of the way."

The best advice if you see a snake is to leave it alone.

Snakes usually move once they see you, so stay a couple of metres away to ensure it doesn't feel cornered and can find an escape route.

If there's a snake that won't move, it's a good idea to take an alternate path.

"Reconceptualise this: small animals are frightened for their lives whenever they see large, potentially dangerous humans," Dr Jackson says.

"We can't reason with them but we can shift our perspective. It wants nothing to do with [us] and, given the opportunity, it will keep well away but that doesn't mean they're not potentially dangerous or won't bite."

In terms of venomous bites in Australia that require treatment, it's around "500 or so ... out of the several thousands of bites every year," according to Dr Jackson.

Of those thousands of people, there are around "two or three deaths" a year.

Despite our snake reputation, it's not a major "public health concern compared to other countries".
What to do if a snake bites you
RFDS medic Shelley Le Cong demonstrates a compression bandage
A compression bandage can all but stop the flow of poison.(Supplied: RFDS)

On the rare occasion that you get bitten, the first thing to do is remain calm, stay as still as possible and dial 000.

The next step is to bandage the entire limb of the snake bite to stop the venom from spreading.

Starting at the end (like your fingers or toes) wrap the compression bandage tightly around your limb until you reach the top (groin or armpit).

"You need to of course test that you aren't compromising circulation," Dr Jackson says.

"If the finger goes white and stays white, you've compromised circulation and the bandage is too tight."

This is where a snake bite bandage comes in handy: it tells you if you've applied the right amount of pressure by using helpful markings on the outside of the bandage.

The second part is to immobilise the limb by attaching it to a splint (like a stick) or to another limb (bandage the legs together).

Immobilisation applies to your whole body so it's important to stay as still as possible until emergency services arrive.

*The medical advice in this article is general. You should always seek help from a professional.
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