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Original poster

A bit freaked about the snake

102 replies

FlatandFabulouslyFestive · 27/12/2020 07:43

Moved to Oz in 2007, severely arachnophobic, did the usual shake shoes, check car visors, never go outside barefoot thing for years but gradually got over it so now I'm pretty blasé. On Christmas Eve DS, wife and baby came over, DS nearly stands on a baby brown snake in the driveway. DH beheaded it with a spade, drama over. BUT, I realised after that if I had seen it I wouldn't have known what it was. Obviously you are not going to go near any snake but the fact that it is one of the world's deadliest snakes and was slithering round my garden has freaked me out a bit.

OP posts:
fallfallfall · 27/12/2020 07:49

Arachnophobia is fear of spiders...
But I know what you mean. Always be aware and maybe find out what you do if bit?

Soutiner · 27/12/2020 07:53

Poor snake!

Jellysplat · 27/12/2020 07:53

Why did your DH behead it? They’re a protected species and killing them is illegal. Why didn’t you call a snake handler to remove it?

TheQueef · 27/12/2020 07:53

There are far too many dangerous animals in OZ they lure you with fluffy, dopey koalas and then bam!
Everything can kill you. Sad

MadisonAvenue · 27/12/2020 07:54

@fallfallfall

Arachnophobia is fear of spiders... But I know what you mean. Always be aware and maybe find out what you do if bit?
I think the OP knows that and the precautions she took were in case of spiders, not snakes.
Soutiner · 27/12/2020 07:54

I’m not googling it but can’t you buy an I Spy type of book on what are the most common but deadly creatures so you are aware of what creatures habitats you have moved into?

HighHeelBoots · 27/12/2020 07:55

Cruel fucker

ShinyGreenElephant · 27/12/2020 08:11

How disgusting of your DH, he should be ashamed. Hope you all get done for it and a massive fine

Soutiner · 27/12/2020 08:26

If your husband had a spade to hand, why didn’t he scoop the baby snake up and flick it into the undergrowth?

Deathraystare · 27/12/2020 08:26

This is why I could never live there.

We had the opportunity to go there when I was a teen but I really didn't want to . non of us kids did. I suspect the only one that did was Mum. She was mad on Australian Nurse romances!!!

My Dad was more scared than I am of snakes (in fact it was finding out about his fear that made me get scared!). Mum was ok with spiders and wasps etc but show her a mouse or a bird!!!

14ScottsRoad · 27/12/2020 08:26

If you have lived in Oz for 13 years you know that snakes are everywhere pretty much all the time. They keep out of human way because humans are the most dangerous and deadly animal on the planet.

Walking around your garden in likely areas, well you stamp your feet loudly as you walk. They hear the vibrations and scuttle off.

Oh- and they are protected.

My parents are in their 70s and only once (and they live in the bush) ever had a snake inside the house and they called a snake handler. In the garden- you just wait and let it go it's way. The snake in the hosue was actually brought in my my mother as she had left her washing basket on the ground outside overnight with tea towels in it. Now she hangs it up.

14ScottsRoad · 27/12/2020 08:27

(to be clear, the snake (it was a baby brown too) had crawled into the washing basket, which is how my mum brought it in.

14ScottsRoad · 27/12/2020 08:30

Oh and PLEAEE make sure you teach your children how to behave if they see a snake-0 if they run they will be in danger., If they are bitten please teach them how to deal with bites (tourniquet, don't move etc) because most people do NOT die of snake bites nowadays.

landoshalo · 27/12/2020 08:30

Your ds needs to be more observant.

user1471499545 · 27/12/2020 08:38

You know its illegal to kill a snake in Australia right? There are sizable fines.
I have lived here all my life, you walk away and just leave them be. More people get bitten trying to kill or harm them, than they do just walking away.

14ScottsRoad · 27/12/2020 08:39

Honestly Op- I can understand how freaked out you are (personally huntsman spiders send me into a screaming frenzy). I would recommend finding out everything you can about the snakes in your local area, what attracts them to particular habitats and all that plus get loads of informaiton about them, how to deal with worst case scenarios etc. Knowledge is power. The snakes are not going anywhere sadly so it might help you if you know all you can about them.

That said, I have lived in the UK for 5 years and I STILL check all my sheets and pillowcases before getting into bed in case of spiders [shudder]

Original poster
FlatandFabulouslyFestive · 27/12/2020 10:03

God MN really is full of nutters. Sure, we should have let one of the most poisonous snakes in the world just slither off into the garden and hope it didn't come out again. Maybe we should have pointed it towards the house next door with a couple of small kids, I'm sure their parents would have agreed about how outrageous it was to kill it. I'm getting this thread taken down now so you can take your misguided bleeding hearts elsewhere. Thanks to those who realised it was just a bit of an I'm shaken thread.

OP posts:
TheQueef · 27/12/2020 10:05

Taken down for what?
Because someone said you were wrong so you're taking the ball home?

14ScottsRoad · 27/12/2020 10:08

OP it;s not going to be the only one in your garden. Don't kid yourself really!

I would just learn what you can about them and how to stay safe.

user1471499545 · 27/12/2020 10:28

Ummmm. That is exactly what you do. I have small children and live near a huge forest. If Iwas to kill
every snake that slithered into our yard then I would be a very busy person. You just ignore them.
They won't come near you unless they see you as a threat.

Hollybutnoivy · 27/12/2020 10:33

You chose to live somewhere with poisonous snakes. You are in their territory. If there was one, there'll be others. Are you going to kill them all?

landoshalo · 27/12/2020 10:34

@FlatandFabulouslyFestive

God MN really is full of nutters. Sure, we should have let one of the most poisonous snakes in the world just slither off into the garden and hope it didn't come out again. Maybe we should have pointed it towards the house next door with a couple of small kids, I'm sure their parents would have agreed about how outrageous it was to kill it. I'm getting this thread taken down now so you can take your misguided bleeding hearts elsewhere. Thanks to those who realised it was just a bit of an I'm shaken thread.
You might think that MN is full of nutters but at least my garden is not full of snakes like yours is Grin
SmidgenofaPigeon · 27/12/2020 10:35

Yeah but a snake is not a psychopath murderer is it?! It’s not going to sneak around your house having singled you out and plotting ways to kill you.

What a dickhead. Seriously that was such an idiotic reaction.

CandyLeBonBon · 27/12/2020 10:36

Blimey OP. It's all a bit 'full throttle' isn't it?

ApolloandDaphne · 27/12/2020 10:37

It would be fine to come and say you were shaken but it seems your DH did something which is illegal and considered out of the norm for where you live. I understand why you are not getting the responses you were looking for from people who live where you do.

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