Hi all,
I thought I would try and explain where some of these myths originated from. There are a few things to remember – the average person cannot tell the difference between a lizard and a snake. It will be re-accruing statement thought this post.
warren63
If a snake is scared it will grab its tail and roll away
This is true for the Armadillo lizard – see the links below. People are just applying what a lizard does to a snake.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armadillo_Lizard
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/armadillo_lizard.htm
SlothHead
Snakes dislocate their jaws to eat prey
SlothHead – don’t split hairs – for the average person (Who is not into snakes or does not have a degree in biological or medical sciences) saying dislocating the jaw is close enough.
Jozz
If you put a big prickly rope around your campsite, they won't go over it
Jozz this will work – A snake will not enter your campsite – wild snakes are scared of you. There will not be any prey at the site so there is no reason for them to enter. It will work by making people feel a ease a snake will not enter.
Nelly
"My mate/brother/uncle/neighbour has a carpet python. It's about 3 metres long and he just lets it roam freely around the house because it eats all the rats and mice. Doesn't have a cage or anything."
Nelly I have heard of much larger snakes been kept in sores in India, Thailand and other countries. I have seen sea snakes kept in temples and other places. I have heard repots of a 3 meter Scrub Python been given the roam of the house. The snake would curl up next to the wood fire near the front door and strike out at strangers. I will come back to this later in this post.
When growing up I once found a brown snake in the house (It was caught on the end of a dead mouse in a mouse trap). That dispels the heart beat myth. I think it was living in the house for some time before it got stuck on the mouse.
dickyknee
Sister inlaw told me if you chop a snake in half it just grows it's body back ........
Dickyknee yeah this is true for the legless lizard tail – I am sure you would agree a legless lizard looks much like a snake. Again people getting confused between lizards and snakes.
redbellybite
Yeah I often hear people calling common brown – King Brown. Just tell them – great it will be easier to remove because it is not as deadly. I have heard people say that common browns turn into king browns when they become large
elapid@
Mate when i was a kid i picked up wild tigers, blacks browns with my bare hands and let them slide all over me. They just never bit me, must be because they new i was a kid and i wasn't scared. if i was to do it know they probably bite me cause im bigger and they can smell my fear.
I know one guy who got the cane for putting a tiger snake in his pocket to hide it from the teacher – the teacher put his hand in picket and pulled out a snake. But seriously this person probably was handling a small brown/tiger/black or legless lizard. As a kid I have photos of me and a few snakes, lost a brown snake in my jacket when I stuck it in my pocket.
cris
Snakes like to be handled and have personal bonds with humans.
Some say they only tolerate been handled. I disagree with this statement – I have found some captive reptiles tend to seek out human company – I have seen this with my own and other people’s pets. My pets will seek out my girlfriend who then carries them around the house like a pet dog/cat. I once saw her with pet in one hand while she was cooking dinner, writing emails on computer…. When I put the pets on the ground – they will search the house for her. I have four rooms – bedroom, study, kitchen and living room. I put the pets on the ground in the living room. They will then go to the room where my girlfriend is or was just before she left the house (I think they follow smell). If this is not a bond, then what is? On the flip side of the coin, I have also seen some animals that hate been handled – it really depends on the animal – this goes for pet mammals, birds and reptiles. Your snake will tell you if it does not like been handled – it is your responsibility to act accordingly.
Snake get use to you – as I mentioned above – they will treat strangers differently than the owners. When away I went overseas my reptilian pets were very quiet and when I returned they were lively again. (Basically were happier). Snakes do form bonds with humans or at a minimum get use to/recognise their owners.
I have read (Not sure how true, but have no reason to not believe) about owner who sleep with their pet three meter Burmese python. I can see this happening as the bed would be the warmest place for the snake to stay the night.
The bottom line is (Some) snakes like a change and enjoy interaction with humans.
Snakes are cunning or smart
I would not say cunning or smart – but more they will do things by instinct that we think is cunning or smart.
Brown snakes chasing ppl long distances
I have seen a Brown trying to strike out at me at 20+ meters. But chaise – they will not travel much faster than a walk – most people can easily out run a snake.
Snakes can hypnotise their prey
Ok this one is interesting – snakes can be seen in a stand off with a bird. Where it will be sitting there and the bird (or other animal – I use bird as an example because I have witnessed this with a black bird) will stand there staring at snake waiting for it to strike (So it can get out of its way). This can go on for some time (minutes). This can be interpreted as hypnotism by some.
Snakes can be trusted
Umm all animals are unpredictable and the trust has its limits. Snakes – they are more predictable than trust worthy. This means they will “Warn” you before striking and if you know what you are looking then you can get out of their way. Pythons can be trusted not to bite their owner once they “bond” with their owner.