den: (Default)
den ([personal profile] den) wrote2006-03-11 09:35 pm
Entry tags:

Let the Darwinism commence.

I received a call on the rescue line today from a lady in Parkes. Her son had brought home a baby snake. I asked her to describe it to me, and she said it was 12" long, almost white on the stomach, pale brown on top and had a dark brown head with orange markings.

"Where is it?" I asked.

"My son is playing with it in the kitchen."

"It's a baby eastern brown snake."

"Oh! They grow up to be poisonous, don't they!"

I almost told her that of the world's 14 most poisonous snakes, it's number 14. Instead, I said "They're venomous when they hatch. You're lucky the mouth and fangs are too small to bite a finger, or you'd be up in the hospital now."

"Why"

"Your son would be getting antivenein there."

I heard her put the phone down then scream out "DAVID PUT THAT BLOODY THING DOWN NOW!" She came back and asked me what to do. What I wanted to say was the eastern brown snake makes an excellent pet and enjoys being cuddled. I told her to take it to the edge of town and let it go. I had to.

[identity profile] tropism.livejournal.com 2006-03-11 11:06 am (UTC)(link)
You'd think that, with Australia the way it is with venomous snakes, people would get it drilled into their heads that you shouldn't touch 'em.

[identity profile] dewhitton.livejournal.com 2006-03-12 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah you'd think that, wouldn't you.
ext_4917: (Default)

[identity profile] hobbitblue.livejournal.com 2006-03-11 11:14 am (UTC)(link)
She's not twigged to the fact that everything in Australia is lethal with the exception of some of the sheep, then? Sounds *such* a pretty snakey-poo though... apart from that whole instant death from the cute widdle fangs aspect, I mean.

[identity profile] dewhitton.livejournal.com 2006-03-12 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
They are a very pretty snake when young and seen from a reasonable distance.

[identity profile] oceansedge.livejournal.com 2006-03-11 11:17 am (UTC)(link)
you'd think Australians would be USED to the idea they live in a country thats bloody well tryin to kill, or at least maim em.

[identity profile] eozarth.livejournal.com 2006-03-11 11:25 am (UTC)(link)
Oh Den... you gave up the perfect opportunity to pare down some of the stupid people population :(

[identity profile] dewhitton.livejournal.com 2006-03-12 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
I know. Sorry.

[identity profile] tatterdemalion.livejournal.com 2006-03-11 12:12 pm (UTC)(link)
stupid bint..

frith: Cosgrove/Onuki (anime retelling) (Default)

[personal profile] frith 2006-03-11 12:46 pm (UTC)(link)
At least they sounded like nice idiots. Right? Like, they could'a been pokin' pins in the scaley critter or something, but they weren't. Anyway, with all that arid Outback, gotta have something to keep the population in check.

[identity profile] dewhitton.livejournal.com 2006-03-11 01:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm surprised they didn't kill it.

It's not so arid here, desipte what you see on tv.
ext_56720: (Default)

[identity profile] mortonfox.livejournal.com 2006-03-11 01:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Playing with snakes... yikes! I stay away from all snakes around here, even though only a few kinds are poisonous.

[identity profile] dewhitton.livejournal.com 2006-03-12 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
I like pythons a lot. They're mostly harmless and keep the rodents under control.

[identity profile] happiestsadist.livejournal.com 2006-03-11 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Heehee! And for the "cuddle" idea. I love you.

[identity profile] dewhitton.livejournal.com 2006-03-12 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
*bows*

[identity profile] ursulav.livejournal.com 2006-03-11 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
The stupidity, it burrrrrns...

[identity profile] dewhitton.livejournal.com 2006-03-12 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
Sometimes you just have to shake your head and turn away.

[identity profile] ka-crow.livejournal.com 2006-03-11 04:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Cuddled... snerk.

Maybe .au needs a whole lot of billboards that say in large red letters, "Don't Pick Up Any Fucking Snakes."

[identity profile] janetmiles.livejournal.com 2006-03-11 05:50 pm (UTC)(link)
So the celibate ones are safe, then?

[identity profile] jim-lane.livejournal.com 2006-03-12 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
No, since (like certain priests) snakes LIE...

*hehehehe!!!!*

[identity profile] dewhitton.livejournal.com 2006-03-12 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sure it's the celibacy that makes them dangerous, poisonous animals. At least the snakes are born that way.

[identity profile] weyrdbird.livejournal.com 2006-03-11 04:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Good lord! I've heard enough to know by now that when you go to australia, you don't pick up anything, let it fall on you, or rub up against your legs even if you think it's benign;). You just wear full body armor and run a lot:D.

Too bad the snakes don't have markings that read venom scale from 1 to "can kill an entire village just by looking, you'd be stupid to handle me without a special suit and goggles, mate." Maybe dumb people would leave them alone, but with our luck, they couldn't read either8/.
ext_59934: (Default)

[identity profile] taldragon.livejournal.com 2006-03-11 05:34 pm (UTC)(link)
*points and laughs*

[identity profile] annvole.livejournal.com 2006-03-11 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
quote:
The unidentified inspector had no idea of the danger he was in. But luckily he had quick hands.

"He grabbed hold of the snake by the tail, picked it up. They found a water jug close by and they put him inside that,"

...

"If it bites you with a full amount of venom, if you didn't have immediate access to anti-venom you'd die within five, 10 minutes or so,"

Link:
http://www.cbc.ca/ns/story/ns-viper-port20060301.html

[identity profile] breckan.livejournal.com 2006-03-12 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
Oh god oh god oh god...

I'm glad there wasn't a tragedy.

That aside, I don't think I've laughed at an LJ thread so much for weeks :)

[identity profile] dewhitton.livejournal.com 2006-03-12 01:13 pm (UTC)(link)
The mouth and fangs of a snake that size are tiny. A cricket would be a big feed for them. At that size human skin is far too think. HOWEVER, should the snake bite a cut the venom could still soak into the blood, and then it's a quick trip to hospital.