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Comment by lll-o-lll | Hacker News Reader

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)

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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???

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.

Tasty tasty night parrot.

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