"Always capable of inflicting a fatal bite"

My scientific inclination to explore the unknown and to collect that curiosity has been tempered by reality. On 19 September I wrote about my first brief and distant encounter with an Eastern Brown Snake, on the property here, and this lead me to consider how I might catch one. Now I must confess the whole conquer-the-world male-bravado-thing was in that idea. However, even a quick perusal of today's library borrowings on the subject show this ain't such a good idea, for they are "always capable of inflicting a fatal bite." Sharyn is quite pleased I have come to my senses which, arguably, needed some serious modification anyway.

Now, it seems these charming, creepy critters have the second most deadliest venom of the world's snakes, and they are known for their aggressive attacks and multiple bites, especially if cornered. They can knock you off in an hour if your bitten badly, and wearing calf-length rubber boots is no security as they can strike high up the leg due to their propulsive method of attack.

And to think we have these happy-little-chappies slithering about the bushes here (in which I am at least pleased to observe there are no corners). But they do like to find a home in sheds, and such, to catch rodents and lizards. Methinks I may have read too much for my own sanity, as I was about to clean out the shed in the next couple of weeks. But maybe there isn't one there otherwise the 4' long goanna probably wouldn't have gone in there early last week.

There are probably female Red-Backed Spiders there anyway, which, relatively speaking, are 'harmless' even though their venom "acts directly on the nerves, resulting in release and subsequent depletion of neurotransmitters." Nasty little ladies with their toxic tongues!

In the meantime I will have to brush up on First Aid for Venomous Bites. Pity about the following, though, "Brown Snake Bites to the head or neck: No first aid for bitten area. Keep the patient still", so they can die relatively peacefully, I guess, without much fuss. Seems the black snakes, taipan, tiger snakes, red-backed and funnel-web spiders will have to wait their turn.

Why am I writing this at 2:30am? 'Cause I have a migrane and can't sleep and have to distract my self with something which puts migranes into the context of life here. Australia for sure is a good place to live... and to die! Always good to know I have my eternal existence sorted for me, as at last reading the death rate is still running at 100%.