Foot Warmer

Dear Doc T,
On a recent hot summer trip to central Victoria I found that I had slept the night on a massive Red Bellied Black Snake. I had pitched my tent next to a dry creek bed leading into a dam and went off to have dinner. Just on dusk I returned to the tent and went to bed, tossed and turned to find a comfortable position and then went off to sleep. After breakfast I rolled up the tent and then lifted up my groundsheet and found to my great surprise the snake coiled up under where my feet had rested the night. I had rolled up the tent only centimetres from where the snake rested. It looked up at me and was probably just as surprised as I was. It didn’t want to move until a little bit of filtered sunlight moved around on to its back and after warming itself for 5 minutes it slithered off down the bank to find shelter and more warmth. Please Doc, could you assure me that the snake could not have fanged me through the tent during the night!?
Snake Charmer

Dear S.C.
This sounds like a close call to me and it just doesn’t bear thinking about. Crikey, what if you had sat on it or even used it as a pillow!? As for the snakes fangs penetrating the tent, well I could only guess! Most snakes will only attack humans if they are provoked, although if you are standing between the snake and its hidey hole that’s a different matter. The snake was probably near the water hole as water attracts food like native mice, frogs etc. which the snake would hunt. It may be preferable to pitch a tent out in the open, well away from any tussocky grass or undergrowth, and near a camp fire or dinner area, remembering that although snakes don’t have ears as such, they can still pick up sound vibrations and possibly the noise of jovial walkers may frighten them away. I also hope you were carrying a wide crepe bandage and knew the First Aid for snake bite.
Dr. T