Snake Bite

Dark corners with covered with dead leaves and a nearby source of water, like in the picture, are ideal hiding places for many species of snake. Given these conditions it's difficult controlling snakes around homes and gardens.

For those of us who live in warmer climates coming face to face with a venemous snake is a most definite possibility. I live in Israel and for the most part we contend with the Palestinian Viper which is a highly venomous yet very secrative snake which does not actively seek to cross paths with the human population.

Some species of venemous snakes move within an area of about two to three hundred square meters in a day or night. Others can cover an area of about two square kilometers. Many of the poisonous species are slow movers with an ultra quick strike, this is especially true of vipers and adders. Many non poisonous snakes move very quickly as they have very strong body muscles. This is partly due to the strength they  require for constriction. This statement although generally true, is not hard and fast and there are a lot of exeptions on either side of the fence. Therefore do not trust a species to be non poisonous just because it moves fast unless you are very familiar with snakes in your area and recognize them very well.

In my area there are some species, both non venomous, semi venomous and venomous that are difficult to tell apart to the untrained eye. This could be a defence stategy of the non venomous varieties to warn would be predetors against attacking them.

In other parts of the world, humans and snakes do interact more. This is mostly due to the numbers of animals that snakes consider prey which live in or around human habitations. The reasons for this can be numerous. Firstly, grain and other foods may be stored in or next to habitations; secondly, there make be trees or plant life that give sustinance and shelter to rodents.  

On the whole though, with only a few exeptions, serpents like to keep themselves to themselves and avoid interaction which may get them into trouble and to keep their venom for what it was intended, and that is to catch thier quarry. The expenditure of energy to produce venom is quite high, therefore snakes do  prefer not to waste it.

We often notice differences from year to year in instances of interaction between snakes and humans. The reason for this may have several contributing factors; for instance, winter weather patterns, a very cold winter may slow down a snakes metabolism so much that they are not able to recover as the weather warms; secondly, numbers of rival predators often increase, animals such as foxes, mongoose, wild cats, tauny eagles and badgers are natural enemies of snakes. These animals will attack snakes if they think they can overcome them.

Where I live there may be several years without anybody being bitten by a poisonous snake and then there may be one year where two or three people may be bitten. In the following lens I will go into what to do if you or someone else is bitten and what to do it you discover a snake in the house or garden.

Snakes are a very enthralling subject that command a lot of interest but is also surrounded by a lot of folklaw. I intend to make order of all the myths.

Please look in on this site from time to time because when things quieten down a bit here in Israel I will be adding a movie of my friend, who catches serpents, doing just that. Remember, where venomous snakes are concerned you must know what you are doing. Never attempt to touch any snake. You may loose your life!