Finding Bigfoot - Page 32

Originally Posted by JLibourel 

I see that Tiger Snakes are protected in most Australian states. I consider myself pretty eco-sensitive, but that's a bit much for me. Certainly, if I found one around my property, I 'd merely "shoot, shovel and shut up." Actually, hacking it with a shovel or hoe would probably be more efficient and certainly less noisy.

That snake is a real heller! On googling the most dangerous snakes, I note that it made everybody's list although the lists seemed to vary greatly in their rankings.

I actually owe my existence to the forbearance of a venomous snake: When my father was a little boy on the island of Java back in 1920, he was discovered playing with a krait in the alley. Krait venom is is among the very deadliest of all terrestrial serpents'. Had the snake nailed him--he was only five at the time--he almost certainly would have died. He wouldn't have sired me, and I never would have existed. Kraits tend be very sluggish by day but are more active and aggressive by night, which is probably what saved my future father's life.

The eminent herpetologist Joe Slowinski died as the result of a seemingly superficial bite from a very small Banded Krait in northern Burma. This would have probably garnered more attention had it not occurred on September 11, 2001.

Originally Posted by legorogel 

or maybe it is an elephant?

Originally Posted by Fang66 

Yeah, it is difficult to say which snake is the most dangerous, toxicity of venom, dose delivery, aggressiveness, proximity to large populations etc all come into play. Of the terrestrial snakes I think the Coastal Taipan is one that I would least like to have try to snack on me. Inland Taipans and possibly Blue Kraits and Brown Snakes have slightly more toxic venom based on their mouse lethal dose, the Coastal Taipans however are big aggressive fuckers and can deliver a massive dose. I believe that before the development of an antivenin no one ever survived a bite. Although with the Blue Krait something like 50% of victims still die even with antivenin, this however may be related to the fact that bites often occur in remote areas without rapid access to medical treatment.

Originally Posted by JLibourel 

Yeah, sea snakes are extremely venomous, much more toxic venoms than any terrestrial snake. However, unless you are a fisherman who gets one tangled in his net, your chances of being bitten by one are about zero. I believe most skin divers in regions where they are found are very insouciant about the proximity of sea snakes. You are obviously too large for the them to eat, so they just leave you alone.

Re the tracks in the snow above, remember I commented on the previous page that tracks often get distorted by snow melting and re-freezing. The "Devonshire Devil" was a famous case of this sort in 19th century Britain. I suspect the tracks above may have been made by a coyote, fox or bobcat bounding through the snow.