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Comment by pard68 | Hacker News Reader

Half the month, in really dark places, the moon is sufficient.

> Half the month, in really dark places, the moon is sufficient

Came here to say this. Unfortunately, most people in urban environments have no idea. I spent literally decades walking at night in an area with no streetlights. Your eyes adjust to the dark, and anyone who comes along with a flashlight really annoys you.

Edit: I should note, that in all my time doing this, the only time I ever ran into a problem was when a herd of deer came running at me in the darkness. I don’t think a flashlight would have helped.

light would have stopped them in their tracks

I guess you are correct, but I was too busy enjoying the night sky.

Yeah, not so much in Australia. We have a crap ton of dangerous snakes, and you need that torch to be able to see them on the path.

“Don't ever step on a snake

Or you're making a big mistake!

For the sake of your protection

I suggest you change direction

Get out of there for good, for

goodness sake!” (Don Spencer)

That's fair. Our only really dangerous snake is a cottonmouth. Even our rattlers and copperheads are mostly nonlethal and nonaggressive.

I was limbing a tree in the pasture, looked down after dropping a limb and a copperhead was just sitting next to my foot. Wasn't ready to strike, just watching me like dudes come out with chainsaws and cut trees next to him on the daily.

It depends on the time of year, the temperature, the area, and the time of night. I used to wander about in the country as a kid by moonlight in certain areas/times/etc, but I knew it was basically safe. Other times it would’ve been literal suicide.

I don’t think any snake is genuinely “aggressive”, but most will bite if you step on them. It’s one of those funny things about moonlight; you can see, but you can’t see detail.

The rattlers around here could fuck you up, particularly if you can't get medical attention within a few hours because you're disabled on the ground alone at night. But fortunately, rattlers rattle (usually) so the snakes actually help people avoid this sort of accident.

Unfortunately, may people kill rattlesnakes when they become aware of them, which is usually after the snake started rattling. So there is now a selective pressure on rattlesnakes to stop rattling. Very misguided.

In my limited experience, streetlights encourage snakes. streetlights bring insects, insects bring birds, birds bring snakes. The snakes are not always under the light but in the trees around the area.

But even with streetlights, you are absolutely right, always bring a torch. Ive seen a snake get stepped on, but fortunately have never done it myself.

> birds bring snakes

Where do you live that snakes hunt birds at night? Or what about birds attracts snakes???

Tasty tasty night parrot.

Birds nest near food sources. Snakes live near birds. The whole ecosystem takes a while to build, its not immediate.

Thank you for the laugh though, I visualised the whole sequence taking place one after another and it was hillarious.

My rule for night hiking is only in places I already know.

Moonlight is sufficient if I'm familiar with a trail or street.

There's no way I'd try it somewhere new. Not enough detail.

But I would encourage anyone who has a familiar trail they feel is safe to try hiking it after dark (assuming it's allowed). Really unique experience.

Weather permitting too, but yes. Moonlight is quite bright once your eyes have adjusted to it.

When you look at those darkness maps where I live is about as dark as the darkest places in the USA. For us the moon is the real light pollution. Accidentally look at the moon directly and your night vision is shot for a few minutes.

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