Snakes aren’t really the most dangerous type of animal you can encounter out there. In fact, there are far, far worse animals that you can encounter. In the far-out wilds, you might encounter a crocodile near a riverbank. At home, you may run into a bear that is stumbling around and lost.
Both are certainly graver threats than one slow, slithering reptile. Sure, they have their famous venom that they can inflict from their fangs, but we usually have enough anti-venom now thanks to modern medicine, significantly reducing the chances that one remains untreated and dies as a result.
But this does not mean that you should outright ignore them either. Depending on where you live, snakes may live deep in the forests and jungles, far away from society, or quite possibly in your backyard without your knowledge! It’s the fact that snakes are really good at hiding themselves from plain sight, considering how low they are when slithering across the ground, coupled with the similarly colored grass and other foliage around.
And this is just when you’re in a more controlled environment like your house. What about when you’re out in the middle of a hiking trail with no antivenom on hand? Snakes certainly aren’t an uncommon sight out there either, showing up when you least expect it.
While snakes don’t pose as high a risk as a bear encounter might, there still is the possibility that you might encounter one and knowing what to do can save you from getting bitten and potentially having to go for treatment, causing you to take time out of your day or cancel the hiking trip that you’re currently in the middle of. So, what do you do when you encounter a snake?
Always be mindful of your environment
This more or less depends on where you live and how big the snake population in your area is (if there is any). For instance, if you are hiking in a location that has a well-known snake population, then always be alert for the chance that a snake might always be nearby, especially if the areas you are traversing in or nearby are grassy.
You don’t have to be right next to a snake for it to strike, you simply need to be in reach of its strike range. For this reason, if you’re hiking in a place with a known snake population, stay on the trail as much as possible. This is because you would pretty much be able to see a snake wriggling about in the trail easily, but they would be hidden very well if they were instead located under tall grass or shrubbery.
But grass is just one of many hiding spots that snakes use to slither around. Rocks and logs, for instance, are great hiding spots, and since they have a good number of blind spots, you may very well be struck by a snake that you didn’t even know existed inside a log.
But what if I run into one?
Despite safety precautions, you somehow come face-to-face with a snake. It may be right next to a grassy area, or you just so happened to run into one that is “sunbathing”. You don’t know if it is hostile or aggressive. What do you do?
Well, first thing’s first: Remain calm and don’t make any sudden movements. You don’t want to frighten the snake.
Usually, the best thing to do is to simply turn around and go in the other direction. No, really. Most snakes aren’t aggressive and would much rather avoid a confrontation with a human than a fight. If they see you, they are more than likely to head off in a different direction out of your way.
Simply do the same and avoid heading in the same direction as it. If the road behind you is blocked or inaccessible for whatever reason, then circle around the snake and try to go around it with as much distance between you and it as possible.
This advice pretty much applies to snakes encountered anywhere, from hiking trails or even your backyard.
Snakes only usually turn aggressive if threatened or cornered, as they perceive any potential threats as a danger for their survival.
But what if a snake ends up in your backyard?
Same thing, actually. Keep a good distance away from the snake, and make sure to keep your pets away from it. While cats and dogs aren’t usually in the diet of a snake, they are still opportunistic predators and may try to kill and eat your pets if they have the opportunity to do so.
Just don’t try to capture the snake on your own. Contact a professional. They may not be generally aggressive, but they still pose an immediate threat to you, especially if they decide to lash out.
Scaring the snakes away
One method you can use to frighten a snake away from your position is to stomp your feet loudly. Make a lot of noise. Snakes don’t really have ears, but what they do have is a sensitivity to vibrations.
This will usually cause them to slinker away in the opposite direction, away from you, and into a place that’s much more quiet.