At Abercrombie Caves in NSW I saw a Red Belly Black Snake when I was a kid, it was on a rock in a dried up river bed. I was wearing black jeans, black shirt and black steel cap boots - as soon as I saw it I stayed still. It saw me and went on its way. After it left I ran back the other way. I was told by my old man that it’s a misunderstanding between people thinking snakes will attack you. They are just doing what they have always done and snakes are a lot more scared of you then what you are of them. Since then I have always had a lot of respect for snakes. If something needs to be done for wildlife, I will call WIRES (which deals with random stray wildlife in need of help in NSW). Thank you for the informative video. 👍🏻
I was once sat at my desk in my room and I looked up to see a red bellied black snake come through the crack in the door from outside. I was new to Australia and assumed that red bellies were no different to browns or tigers. I thought that the snake would see me and feel cornered with disastrous consequences, so I stood on my desk and prayed that it would find its way out. Fortunately I had nothing to worry about. It simply looked around the room and went out the way it came. It turned out to be quite a beautiful experience.
I love these snakes, they are so chill and they prey on those arsehats called Eastern browns when they are small enough for red bellys to mung on them.
I blv he'd have anti-venine close by, either at the sanctuary, or a nearby hospital..the majority stock it for bites. He'd know how to wrap the bite being a handler....a lot of strikes are just a warning from the snake..they don't invenomate (is that a word?). They let you know when they're pistoff..flare up, or coil to strike. Brutus was pretty placid & obv used to handling.
@@nloc1929 hey mate, so we actually can’t carry or even buy antivenom these days, but local hospitals certainly have it I also never work with snakes without compression bandaged handy and a working cell phone, Whilst I’ve never had a bite, I’ve been around enough handlers who have been to want to always be prepared
Many years ago a black snake was trying to enter my father's house unfortunately he killed it and hung it on the fence ..my youngest son who is a snake lover like his dad couldn't help himself and touched the dead snakes fangs ......well that night he was as sick as a dog.. apparently I was told the venom can be absorbed through the skin is this correct? I reckon you can smell a black snake if it's in a room
@@billmago7991 Hope your son is well. To my knowledge, snake venom will, under normal circumstances, not pass through healthy skin. You could (in principle) have an otherwise lethal quantity of snake venom on your skin with no symptoms whatsoever. However, if there is a small injury like a scratch, envenomation is possible. I can only speculate, but it seems likely that your son might have had a scratch (or maybe got scratched by one of the fangs) and did not notice when he touched the fangs, such that residual amounts of venom caused him to feel sick.
@@paulvandersluys7412 I understand the idea, but I would kindly disagree here. A cool esky is not exactly a place for a snake. While yes, they will generally move slower, that does not necessarily mean that they are any less (or more) willing to deliver a defensive bite. Mind that this is coming from someone who did not handle any reptile other than a quite calm beardie, so take my statement with a grain of salt. Yet, I would rather see the snakes treated carefully and, if it is apparent they have a "bad" day, not handled rather than seeing them cooled down. I sure know it would not help my mode if I was being put into a fridge ;)
Hi there this is Ray here I know a bit about red bellies you are right on I have known them that they prefer to go away from you and when they do flare up they do push out around the head a bit like a cobra so thank you for showing this very interesting two people thank you Ray keep up the good work
A very good and informative presentation. I'm a Yank living in a very Rural area of Qld, and have had several Red bellied Black snake encounters of those I found them to not be aggressive at all. The first one I had slithered right between my feet and never tried to strike,I just stood there and let him/her go their way. I had so many people tell me Mate a good snake is a dead snake, being of native American stock on moms side, we have a saying Never kill anything that isn't trying to kill you. All the snakes I have had to deal with I had been able to catch live and release. I always tell my countrymen if you come to visit the land down under, and walk in the bush and see a stcik move, It isn't a stick WALK AWAY. Thanks for a great video brother Cheers.
During 60+ years working in the bush I've encountered many red-bellies. Provided that they have their motors warmed up, by the time you see them they are headed the other way. They will sometimes flatten their necks in bluff but always bolt. You'd have to be very unlucky to step on one and get bitten. Had a young calf that had been obviously bitten once. The slow progression of the venom up its leg took the best part of a day to kill it. Eastern Browns and Taipans are much nervier and ready to strike plus their venom works a lot quicker!
It's surprising how often you are in close proximity to a red belly and you just don't know it. They will quickly slither away from you, and you have no idea they were there.
It’s good advice for all snakes everywhere. Easiest way to get bitten by a snake is to go and muck about with something that doesn’t want to be bothered at all.
2:53 Brutus: "What u say about me? Them fighting words bro!" he is a beautiful snake. the ones i get here, tend to have more of a brighter shade of red. we leave them alone here on our farm. here we found that the ones here tend to be extremely territorial and chase all the other snakes away, which is why we leave them alone. we had one that lived under our house for 5 years. late every spring like clockwork all the mice would just disappear first from the house... then systematically... shed by shed... i can see why she was so territorial... she was protective of her source of food. its kind of interesting because i think they are a lot more intelligent than we think they are. usually when we spotted her she was often too fat and full of mice to move! we think she was she, because every year we would find babies. us kids learnt pretty quick to respect her and give her distance if we saw her sunbaking in the yard.
I have a juvenile resident red belly living in and around my suburban house in SE Qld. He made himself comfortable under the coffee table one day (glass top so wasn't hiding) after entering the house through the open garage door. I just got the wash basket and a length of bamboo to guide him into it then took him across to the creek for release. Months later he was seen in the garden again.... I'm guessing he likes the rodents attracted to my compost heap and the Striped Marsh frogs that live in my pond.....he is welcome in my garden.
Red bellies will be attracted to the frogs. Spilled bird and animal feed grain attracts the rodents and Eastern Browns - a totally different kettle of fish!
Not only beautiful but smart, thanks. Last time I watch your review of RBBS we a had 3 DNA certified pure desert dingoes, very sadly we lost our precious Sandy Maliki to one of these. Tho’ not sighted we are 100% convinced this was the culprit as every one of our 40 years on our wetland property on the NSW Central Coast we have either a pass thru’ or resident RBBS. I love them and know them to be very shy and it’s family practice to snake savvy thru summer. Got some great vid and photos of the hunting and catching frogs around our water features. Sadly in Sandies case the diagnosis was nearly 24 hrs late but she fought to the very end trying so hard to stay on her feet RIP SANDY MALIKI so always in my heart as only a dingo can. Thanks for the vid
Just stumbled upon your channel and so glad I did. I've lived in Victor Harbor SA for 43 years and seen a total of 3 or 4 brown snakes and only 2 red-bellies. The first red belly and I spotted each other at the same time and we both stopped in our tracks, I won't lie, I was petrified but it just turned around and went back the way he came. It got me curious, so I googled it and discovered that red bellies are not aggressive, as I had been led to believe and will retreat if left alone. 2 weeks later I saw another one and, again just stopped and gave him his space. I can happily say I don't hate snakes but I have a healthy respect and keep my distance. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos. Cheers from South Oz.
I don't live in Goolwa, but I've seen more snakes than that on the road or fishing spots on the way to the Barrage and the 19th Beacon in the last 30 odd years. I've seen a lot while camping on the river too. I live in Renmark now, since 2019, and I've yet to see one snake! Lots of lizards though. 🙂
RB Black is your typical S.A. personality - will turn the other cheek and I should know as S.A. my home state. Beautiful Victor Harbour and Granite Island, my childhood Christmas Day haunts. Many decades since seen ... give my love to it if you're down that way again !! Had first hand experience of rattled RBBS a few years ago here on my mid north coast NSW property. It reared up like a cobra with neck hooded and looking for a victim in the shape of my dog which I quickly removed from vicinity. Think it had just shedded and possibly had young. I gave it some space and studied it from a distance for a while. Was involved with snakes in SAfrica (Mamba, Rinkals, Python etc.), and this first time, very aggressive behaviour from locals ... much respect pays dividends !!
@@betkay1018 yes, I still live here, in my slice of paradise, Victor Harbor. If you haven't been here in decades, you would be surprised by the changes!! A new causeway to Granite island for starters but many more. You should visit Victor Harbor again!!
@@carolhaddy4263 If time and opportunity permits I want to go back to SA and yes, Victor Harbour is on the list. There was an old bridge that connected G.I. to V.H. We spent Xmas day at V.H. munching on homemade roast chicken sandwiches, icecreams etc in the blazing heat - was about 10 at that stage. Am happy for your lovely life there. S.A. is still the best state as far as I am concerned. Was there briefly on returning from SAfrica then onto Vic then NSW. Stay safe, strong and happy 👍🍷
I LOVE red bellies. I had alot on my property in Copeland nsw, as i had a beautiful creek running through mu 80 acres, just down from my house. I had one living in my big vege garden out the back. The garden was made with stones from our property. Perfect combination for them. He was gentle as, would slide past, not scared of us and we weren't scared of him. He became part of our daily life. They can grow big, he was very chunky. 😊
I've always regarded myself as terrified by snakes especially the Red Bellied Black and Eastern Brown but seeing you handle Brutus like that has instantly made me respect how beautiful (at the least the RBB) is, I am very surprised and thank you for the great video.
my most favourite snake:)) there you go you answered i question i sent in...how the snake has adapted so that mtheir heads are smaller in areas where cane toads are...that is truly remarkable!
Very interesting information. It also answered why my snake keeping late father in the UK (I was raised in a house with Indian cobras, Russell's vipers, horned-vipers, various pythons and many other reptiles including two Mississippi Alligators!) told me many years ago that the red-bellied black snake was related to cobras. He must he picked it up seventy years ago when he was learning about snakes. When my first daughter was a year old we discovered a huge red-bellied black snake living under the decking outside the front door. I called the local snake catcher at least three times but it always managed to disappear under the decking before he could get near to it so I decided to catch it myself. As mentioned earlier, I grew up with snakes and have handled them often. The next time I saw the red-bellied black sunning itself I sneaked up on it and managed to grab it by the tip of its tail as it shot under the decking. However, I had to be quite rough with it to haul it out by which time it was pissed off in the extreme! It was also far longer than I realised, a little over 2 metres! (When I had seen it all curled up and basking I thought it no longer than 1.5 metres). Consequently it tried biting me and I had to use a long handled broom to keep the dangerous end away from my bare feet! It bit the broom a few times and left copious amounts of venom on it before I managed to slip it into a laundry bag and hand it over to the snake catcher. He said it was the biggest red bellied black he'd ever seen. He released it unharmed, and by now much calmer, back into a quiet area of the bush.
After a bad experience as a 4 year old I've been terrified of snakes ever since. I've got a photographic memory of every one I've every seen. But I'm up to 14 snakes now, and none of them have been aggressive towards me, so I'm getting better. The problem is they end up in places where you're not expecting them, like sitting on the warm concrete front doorstep when you're arriving home in the night without any lighting and the element of surprise on both sides is where the problem lies.
Yep. I had a bush camp with a chaff bag full of feed over by the rock wall. Went there one day to get a scoop of feed, opened the top and was about to plunge the scoop in when I saw the red belly black all coiled up in there... Bit of a shock....
A friend of mine was driving in his car, and a snake appeared between his legs. It happened so quickly that he couldn't even identify the snake, and he knew his snakes.
@@castleanthrax1833 Well done to not have a head on crash in that scenario. I've had huntsman drop on me when pulling the sun visor down. That was exciting enough
@@kerrynball2734 Well, he was on a dirt road so he was driving quite slowly. I've had a huntsman run onto my dashboard too, and I was on a bridge, so I had to continue driving for about a 100 metres before I could pull over. ✌️🇦🇺
Kerryball, that is exactly correct. You summarised it perfectly. People who do not live with deadly snakes can’t understand why we do not like them. It is not because they are aggressive - they aren’t (unless you upset them). The problem is they get in the way. I have nearly stepped on two black snakes. One was sunning itself on the concrete outside my door. You don’t expect to step on a snake as you leave your dwelling. I was lucky and the snake was as startled as I was. He was literally around my feet. Another time was almost as close. They have a bad habit of freezing when they see you which makes it even more likely to step on them. Living with deadly snakes is a pain in the neck, AND dangerous. Browns, blacks, I live with both types. We have alot of frogs and mice around, and water. It attracts them. You can’t leave any doors open or they will come inside. I always carry a torch at night, even if only stepping on my porch. To be about 3-5 metres or more from a wild snake is pretty routine for me and not upsetting. I go my way, they go theres. It is when you get within a meter that it gets scary. One time I was leaning over a water tub with my face about 1/2 a meter off the ground. I looked up and saw a black snake staring at me at the opposite side of the tub about 1 meter away, his eyes level with mine. He was raised up like a cobra with the neck flared. They do that often to see what is around. He was not upset, just frozen. I had not seen him as I walked to the tub. He must have been about to drink and froze when I came by. His mouth was closed so I knew he was chill. If the mouth is closed, all is good.
I have to congratulate you on a really sober presentation. Initially I couldn’t quite understand why that snake didn’t attempt to bite you, but I’m assuming it still has fangs, etc. and that they actually can be domesticated. Very interesting video and you are a very clear presenter so well done.
I love snakes and this species in particular for it's placid and often inquisitive nature. On more than one occasion I've sat still on a rock or log and had a juvenile red bellied black snake approach me and slither over and around my feet/legs. I never approach them of course being a wild and venomous creature but love to photograph and observe them. I didn't know any of the historical facts you mentioned in the video so thanks for sharing this info and keep up the great work.
Being an ozzy and running into these beasties on occasions in my adventures, I knew 3/5 th's buggerall as to what you explained. Thanks for a great rundown.
Wow, this was really cool! I only knew one of these facts (the fact that red-bellies are ovoviviparous), the rest were new to me! Usually in a “10 facts you didn’t know” style video the facts would be something like “red-bellied black snakes have black bodies with red bellies,” but this was really really good! Great work Nick! - Harrison and Evan
@@WickedWildlife excellent information really helpful. If a red belly black snake or tiger snakes that lays eggs ,how long if transplanted would it take to evolve to lay live young in colder climates and vise verse , could it be done in the same generation or require more?
Wow, a snake video where the guy holding the snake isn't being a drama queen, and is instead spittin' interesting, informative facts? Sign me up! Subbed.
Everytime I go helping here in Bendigo, I dream of these, but only ever see browns, although they are beautiful I keep a bit more room between us. Great video, Brutus is beautiful.
Hi Nick! I always love your work. Thanks! I did a 2021 Census drop-off and met a lovely woman who home-trains her three great kids and mentioned to her that Wicked Wildlife is a great educational, fun and useful TH-cam channel to subscribe to. She now has subscribed, as she always looks for ways to keep the children happy and growing. Let me tell you how cool these kids are: the daughter showed me a rabbit and I asked its name. She said: "Well we breed and sell them, and it is up to the buyer to name them, so we don't". I'm happy there are kids like this in this country and chasing our tails. If I had even two coins in my tin, my friend, I would give you one. That day will come. All good wishes, Rich
@@WickedWildlife Hi Nick! I'm helping a girl move house on Friday and will sell her on you and Wicked Wildlife. I saw a red-belly near the main street here in Bermagui and then she gave me red-belly facts... She'll end up being a subscriber for sure! I very slowly drove through the Bermagui Cemetery this morning, which has snake warning signs as you enter. I was looking for snakes but had no luck. Snakes seem very hard to see. But f'king ticks, they have no problem finding me... I'm putting up a fence in tick country tomorrow morning and went to the hardware store to buy some atomic-powered spray to kill them. I'll tell you how it goes... I live in an urban area but saw an echidna six feet away from my office window yesterday. I recently also saw a New Holland Mouse. Keep well and all my best wishes! Speak soon Mate! Rich
I came across a RBB a few years ago that must have just shed. About 5ft long, it was a deep, brilliant glossy black on top and vivid scarlet underneath. The ophiophobes may not agree, but it was the most beautiful snake I have ever seen. I hastily put my dog in the car, although they had shown no interest in each other up to then. Eventually I managed to scare it away and it disappeared into the bush. At the time, I had been hammering survey pegs into the ground - so much for the claim that vibrations in the ground will scare snakes away. I had a similar encounter about 50 years ago when swimming in the Lerderderg Gorge and turned around to find a black snake curled up on my transistor radio (Astor, Australian made from Australian components) which I had left playing on the bank. When the snake saw me it shot into the water and it got to be a race to see which of us could make it ashore first (black snakes are damn good swimmers!). Again, vibrations seemed to attract, rather than deter the snake. I used to handle venomous snakes quite often when I was much younger, but these days I prefer to leave them alone or observe them from a mutually safe distance. My usual sighting of snakes when walking along bush tracks is the last few inches/cm of tail disappearing into the long grass. I've only encountered two snakes that behaved aggressively. One was a tiger that someone had injured and did make attempts to strike and the other was an eastern brown encountered on a walking track which came at us rather than retreating when startled.
I come across them on tracks just sprawled out like a branch.. tigers. Scared the shit out of me badly once because my border collie essentially walked right over the top of it 🤦
Yes, people will often say a snake won't hurt you if you leave it alone, but I've found a few brown snakes that just being within 10 feet of, is enough of a provocation for them. They tend to be quite aggressive.
I was out prospecting on the weekend and spotted 2 x of these big beautiful snakes sunning themselves next to the river I was on. What an amazing snake they are! I decided to do a bit of research on them when I arrived home and stumbled on your channel. I have now watched a few of your videos with my kids and they are unreal! You have a new family here subscribed and will be watching all your well presented and enjoyable videos. Thanks for the great information on what is truly an iconic Australian snake.
Another great video Nick. Feels good too know Tuesday is coming, can’t wait for the “WICKED WILDLIFE LIVE @ 8:30pm AEST”. Do yourselves a favour people and tune in, better than anything on TV.
Great show! Here in the Far North Coast, I have watched the Red Belly Black snake numbers go up and down. We have a Creek on the back boundary, and have occasional visit from them. We watched two of them grapple each other behind the house , on the lawn. But have you done any shows on the Clarence River Rough Scale? Love your show!
We saw a large red belly at the beach where the Manning River goes into the sea. The snake slithered across the beach and swam out to sea! Ive seen them swimming in creeks but never in the ocean before. He swam out beyond the waves and looked very comfortable. Have you seen this?
We were camping on the edge of the Murray River and a red belly snake came right through the middle of us. We had kids dogs the lot. The red belly just wanted to get to the water and did not worry about us, other than to be fast. I was impressed that it was not aggressive at all.
I love snakes and still didn't know a lot of these. I love your presentation style, calm and clear. Not all that ridiculous hype and running through the bush you see elsewhere
Love the information- I have one question did Brutus get hurt at some point? Seeing that mark about 6 inches down from the head - was just curious thanks
I’m not sure where or how Brutus got his scar, his had it well before he came into my care. He came from a collection that included a few wild caught snakes that where legally collected for venom production, but it could also be from live feeding in captivity so I’ve never been able to get the story
@@johndelaney2957 possible He was gifted to me by a snake handler who was retiring. Was a wonderful bloke but had clearly lost track of individual history of his animals over the years
TH-cam just recommended this video to me and I got sucked in with "I bet I know the facts" and I didn't, so well done (other than the live young one). Red-bellies are the only snake (other than pythons) who stop and size me up (and pythons don't size me up, they just ignore me). Every other kind of snake I've encountered has been gone faster than I could breathe in but the few red-bellies I've seen while hiking will stop and check me out. Strangely enough each of those times has been while hiking solo (which I don't do much). I have a LOT of respect for them and definitely keep my distance, but it's interesting how they don't seem bothered by me unlike other snakes.
Excellent video. Have always had a soft spot for red belly black snakes. Caught my first one when I was about 5. Folks weren't happy 😋😋😋 Lived on a farm in Gippsland back then
The red belly black is good at fishing for small fish in creeks n watercourse s. . We had a estimated 80yr old one fat as your arm and bright red belly about 6ft . It would transverse over 2 gullys an not scared of people . This snake was in Aldgate valley and multiple generations of our family knew this snake. It is believed a new neighbours shot it . But I have my own experiences with the old snake. On another note Mylor goyders reserve has blue tigers , only seen one but are in the Onkaparinga Hills area. In the Mallee my favourite one is a banded brown snake possible the strap snouted brown with 6 or 7 bronze 2 in bands on a light brown. Majestic to follow . I could call it up by slowly idlleing my tractor and the thump of the idle it would turn up. So red belly and the strap snouted brown are my favorites
Great question, honestly anyone else who handles in the same way as me would likely get the same reaction, how ever I’d never feel comfortable someone else handling my venomous snakes in case something did go wrong
One reason why they may have been mistaken for the Cobra family is that when they are very young, they flare their necks out like a cobra when threatened. I rescued 2 that were born when their mother was run over, they were injured but survived. I had them for 4 months and they could still do it when I released them.
Thanks for sharing this. Such beautiful snakes, unlike what we have here in Utah, USA. I would love to have the chance to be around them some time in the fiture.
I have seen and encountered many black snakes. Only one of them had a hood like a cobra. It was very noticeable, not just the slight flattening seen in some black snakes. I have watched the territorial disputes or mating rituals where two black snakes coil around each other and rise up off the ground while wrapped up together. They fall over and separate, then do it again and again. I have also seen black snakes wrapped around peoples legs when they were walking through long grass, but they were not bitten. One person I know stepped on a black snake and was bitten, but he did not go in to the Dr., he said it was like a wasp sting, and he recovered without any treatment. One day, I saw a black snake on eight different occasions. I have no idea if it was one very active snake or many, but I saw it/them everywhere that I went while working at home. They like to dig in dry straw, especially when it is under a tarp, so care needs to be taken when handling that sort of material. I often find the young ones in compost heaps when the heaps are not too dense or wet. I always mulch the outside of my compost heaps to protect them from too much sun, and the young snakes like the warmth under the mulch. Thanks very much, I didn't know any of the facts that you shared, but I do believe these snakes are cobras. I call them the 'gentlemen of snakes', so I always say 'Greetings little brother or sister' while stepping over them barefoot. Hope I survive!
Thanks for sharing your stories Ken, they are amazing snakes! They 110% though are not cobras, infact even snakes like the King Cobra and the Rinkals, don’t fit into the “true” cobra family despite the facts they look almost identical
@@WickedWildlife OK, I am convinced. You are much more informed than me. But, the one I saw sure was a near cousin of a cobra. Love your show very much.
@@kenbellchambers4577 they can certainly be very cobra like! It’s just that what makes them fit into one family or another had more to do with genetics then physical appearance
Ken l also saw one face to face and the hood was just as large flat and flared out like any Cobra. Not saying it biologically was a Cobra but l tell you it was hands down identical to one l know that much.
A few year ago while walking along a track on a Gold Course at La Botany Bay I came across the biggest healthiest Red Belly Black I have ever seen. It was Spring time and this Red Belly was sunning himself in the middle of the pebble track. He was as thick as my forearms , and at least 2 meters long and had a shiny jet black body with the darkest deep red colour that I’ve ever seen on any Red Belly Black Snake. Needless to say I gave him A wide berth. There was a Mexican stand off for a minute or two before he decided to slither off into the bushes not far off the track. That bad boy was not lacking any food let me tell ya. I wish I had a camera to have taken a picture of it.
Thank you for the video showing my favourite Australian venomous snake love the video red bellieds are the reason I want to get into venomous thank you again for the video :)
I met one of these on a shortcut home across the creek at the food of The Dandenongs in Victoria when I was about 10, it was all bush in those days. I had already gone past him not knowing he was there when all of a sudden he reared up,at me like a cobra.I was so terrified that I forgot everything that I had been taught, stood there frozen then took off for dear life. All,of these decades later I will never forget my terror, and complete shock at him standing up at me. I had never seen that mentioned before and it was so frightening.
I trod on one in a overflow area of a dam. It was all over grown with grass and a recent flood event meant the over flow was in around 10cm of water. I was in bare feet and was walking through it when I trod on something that felt very different from what I had been stepping on. I looked down and there he was, a huge fat red belly who was moving off slowly, he didn't seemed concerned and didn't have a go. I'm 60 now and had lots of encounters as a kid here in South Australia with snakes, mostly Browns, but occasional Red Bellies, Mulga's and Tigers. By far I found the Browns more dangerous when it came to attitude, especially surprising them down a hole and they freaked out coming out backwards and we had dogs with us
I'm from the end of the Fleurieu Pen mate, we had so many of the buggas dad had a length of twisted wire on a nail at the front & back door. Browns & Tigers wd be killed on site (warming up on the concrete, or under the tankstand). Red Bellies we didn't really bother with, they'd usually give you a wide berth & live near the creek. Tigers on the other hand wd flare up at you on contact, bit crankier maybe... How we didn't get bitten as kids.. l dunno.
unfortunately I have no idea where Brutus got his scar from, his had it well before he came into my care. He came from a collection that included a few wild caught snakes that where legally collected for venom production, but it could also be from live feeding in captivity so I’ve never been able to get the story
I had one of my red cattle dogs bitten by a Red Belly, but I only found out 6 hrs later, on new years Day, when all the Vets are closed. My Vet said rush him in now, and the anti Venom injection cost $1000, plus to open the Clinic, lights, Aircon etc for the hr that I was there, plus also the ongoing treatment etc. Fortunately 6 mths later my red dog was back to about 95 %. But I must mention he had previously killed 3 browns, that entered his enclosure. Where as my dingoes intuitively know to keep away. They will still alert me, but not attack. And since I have a lot of snakes here, I just have to be aware at all times.
Glad your dog turned out ok We’ve had two dogs bitten here, one of my work dogs after $2500 recovered but her fitness never fully returned We also lost a malumute to snake bite
@@Dingosimon WE got him to the vet straight away BUT the first thing the vet said was "I hope he hasn't been bitten by a snake, cause I'm out of anti venom." This is a rural vet. My poor boy didn't have a chance. He was bitten on his face.
@@WickedWildlife and I'm now subscribed!! I have friends with a farm that we visit near Araluen, and it's a feature for me to go and watch the red bellies sunning themselves beside the creek.
There is! Firstly there’s no “yellow bellied” snake in the black snake family, sometimes green tree snakes are black with yellow bellies and often tiger snakes get this name, but there’s no species known officially as the yellow bellied black! The blue belly differs mostly in the fact it lays eggs, lives in drier habitats and generally grows larger but also comes in a speckled morph
I perform snake avoidance training professionally for around 400 dogs each year. Of all Victoria’s Major elapids they find the red bellied the easiest to find because their odour is stronger than the others. We think this means in the wild dogs will find it easier to find them because they come across the odour more frequently than the others. Meaning they sometimes miss the odour of animals that do not smell strongly. Hell, sometimes they miss strong odour too it’s just less likely.
Just watched this and I find it interesting that back in the 60's we were constantly on the lookout for copperheads and red bellies in conjunction with tigers and browns. Today you rarely hear about red bellies except in rural areas and I have not heard about a copperhead at all for a very long time. I don't live rurally but it seems urban spread has pushed them not only from the surrounds but also from our minds.
I grew up on the northern outskirts of Sydney in the 80s-90s where we would see red belly black snakes a few times a year. Now, 30+ years later I live in the inner south-west of Sydney, which is decidely urban with only pockets of bushland mostly around the creeks etc, and we still see red belly black snakes about once a year on average. On hikes in the national parks it is still common to come across snakes and we always keep an eye out in summer. On one canyon trip a few years back we saw a brown, tiger and RBB all within a few hundred metres of each other.
Yes, I think habitat destruction has definitely reduced their food sources, and hence them. I can remember seeing many of them in our yards (NSW central coast) but not since the 80s.
We had an encounter while camping over the weekend and I was a little taken back at how aggressive it was it came at one of our friends who was metal detecting in a partially dried up creek bed she came back up in an awful hurry and another friend and I went to investigate as we were concerned about the dogs with us, it then rushed up the embankment at us but turned back and then flanked around us and then turned at the last minute again, all I can think of is that it was nesting near by or something
I live on the banks of a swamp and was riding my new (untried) MTB bike along a track at the edge of the swamp when I came across a red belly stretched across the track. I unfortunately front-braked (instead of back-braking) to avoid it and started going over the handlebars but managed to slide the bike to the side and ended up on the ground about a metre from the snake who took one look at me and fled.
@@paulneri835 I had almost the exact same experience on a downhill single-track once. Skidded to a halt about a metre away from the snake. We stared at each other for a long moment, then he went one way and I went the other!!
Hi Nick. My home town translates to Red Bellied Black Snake in the local dialect. 40 years ago we saw them regularly, but have only seen one in the last ten years. We do have a lot of cane toads so maybe that has something to do with it.
@@Aquarium-Downunder A driver is even better, although almost any club will do in a pinch. For the benefit of the usual vegan virtue-signallers, it is not cruel, the toad dies instantly when hit properly.
I’ve come across a few red bellied black snakes over the years . One time I came face to face with one that was enjoying the sun on a rock platform in the bush.I think we both got a shock , the snake launched himself off the rock going from zero to missile speed in a blink of an eye. He landed on the ground with a huge thud and took off into the bush with me after him, hoping to get him on camera,alas he was too fast👍
They can move with incredible speed when they need to. When you see them they are moving slowly, conserving energy but most people don’t realise how quick they can be. They are also capable of getting airborne for a short distance. They can literally fly thru the air. A dog that takes on a black snake has no idea the trouble he is getting himself into. RIP.
This is absolutely fascinating. I certainly learned a few things from this video. I've grown up around black snakes in my area my whole life and have had to(while my heart is pounding) - remove more than a few from my house and near campsites. I do not recommend handling or moving one unless you know what you're doing. They may not be guaranteed death but will certainly ruin your day. Such a incredible species and your fella is a good healthy example and is clearly well cared for. Good on ya mate, got a new subscriber 👍
Great video! As a kid I once saw a large red bellied black snake that had caught a big frog (maybe a banjo frog) and was moving through the long grass with its head held up high so that it could see where it was going and the frog still in its mouth.
At Abercrombie Caves in NSW I saw a Red Belly Black Snake when I was a kid, it was on a rock in a dried up river bed. I was wearing black jeans, black shirt and black steel cap boots - as soon as I saw it I stayed still. It saw me and went on its way. After it left I ran back the other way.
I was told by my old man that it’s a misunderstanding between people thinking snakes will attack you. They are just doing what they have always done and snakes are a lot more scared of you then what you are of them.
Since then I have always had a lot of respect for snakes.
If something needs to be done for wildlife, I will call WIRES (which deals with random stray wildlife in need of help in NSW).
Thank you for the informative video. 👍🏻
I was once sat at my desk in my room and I looked up to see a red bellied black snake come through the crack in the door from outside. I was new to Australia and assumed that red bellies were no different to browns or tigers. I thought that the snake would see me and feel cornered with disastrous consequences, so I stood on my desk and prayed that it would find its way out. Fortunately I had nothing to worry about. It simply looked around the room and went out the way it came. It turned out to be quite a beautiful experience.
I love these snakes, they are so chill and they prey on those arsehats called Eastern browns when they are small enough for red bellys to mung on them.
They're like a long blue tongue, but totally calmer.
One eye on the snake, one eye on the camera. A wonderful representation of the respect you need to have even if you know the animal.
Does he carry antivenom with him or something?
I blv he'd have anti-venine close by, either at the sanctuary, or a nearby hospital..the majority stock it for bites.
He'd know how to wrap the bite being a handler....a lot of strikes are just a warning from the snake..they don't invenomate (is that a word?). They let you know when they're pistoff..flare up, or coil to strike.
Brutus was pretty placid & obv used to handling.
@@baabaabaa2293 I think the word you are looking for is envenomate, starts with an 'e'. Other than that, your comment was a good one.
@@lesfox2010 cheers Les....l knew it was a word, but my spelling let me down again mate.
@@nloc1929 hey mate, so we actually can’t carry or even buy antivenom these days, but local hospitals certainly have it
I also never work with snakes without compression bandaged handy and a working cell phone,
Whilst I’ve never had a bite, I’ve been around enough handlers who have been to want to always be prepared
I love how calm Brutus is! Such a beautiful snake.
Thanks for making this video! 10 great facts we should all know!
His certainly a star, so much so I’m constantly telling people not to expect all red bellies to be like him 😂
Many years ago a black snake was trying to enter my father's house unfortunately he killed it and hung it on the fence ..my youngest son who is a snake lover like his dad couldn't help himself and touched the dead snakes fangs ......well that night he was as sick as a dog.. apparently I was told the venom can be absorbed through the skin is this correct? I reckon you can smell a black snake if it's in a room
@@billmago7991 Hope your son is well. To my knowledge, snake venom will, under normal circumstances, not pass through healthy skin. You could (in principle) have an otherwise lethal quantity of snake venom on your skin with no symptoms whatsoever. However, if there is a small injury like a scratch, envenomation is possible. I can only speculate, but it seems likely that your son might have had a scratch (or maybe got scratched by one of the fangs) and did not notice when he touched the fangs, such that residual amounts of venom caused him to feel sick.
Harry Butler would keep the snakes in a cool esky before filming them .slows there metabolism right down.
@@paulvandersluys7412 I understand the idea, but I would kindly disagree here. A cool esky is not exactly a place for a snake. While yes, they will generally move slower, that does not necessarily mean that they are any less (or more) willing to deliver a defensive bite. Mind that this is coming from someone who did not handle any reptile other than a quite calm beardie, so take my statement with a grain of salt. Yet, I would rather see the snakes treated carefully and, if it is apparent they have a "bad" day, not handled rather than seeing them cooled down. I sure know it would not help my mode if I was being put into a fridge ;)
Hi there this is Ray here I know a bit about red bellies you are right on I have known them that they prefer to go away from you and when they do flare up they do push out around the head a bit like a cobra so thank you for showing this very interesting two people thank you Ray keep up the good work
man red bellies never disappoint they are such an extraordinary an beautiful animal, Love these videos man really informative
A very good and informative presentation. I'm a Yank living in a very Rural area of Qld, and have had several Red bellied Black snake encounters of those I found them to not be aggressive at all. The first one I had slithered right between my feet and never tried to strike,I just stood there and let him/her go their way. I had so many people tell me Mate a good snake is a dead snake, being of native American stock on moms side, we have a saying Never kill anything that isn't trying to kill you. All the snakes I have had to deal with I had been able to catch live and release. I always tell my countrymen if you come to visit the land down under, and walk in the bush and see a stcik move, It isn't a stick WALK AWAY. Thanks for a great video brother Cheers.
During 60+ years working in the bush I've encountered many red-bellies. Provided that they have their motors warmed up, by the time you see them they are headed the other way. They will sometimes flatten their necks in bluff but always bolt. You'd have to be very unlucky to step on one and get bitten. Had a young calf that had been obviously bitten once. The slow progression of the venom up its leg took the best part of a day to kill it.
Eastern Browns and Taipans are much nervier and ready to strike plus their venom works a lot quicker!
It's surprising how often you are in close proximity to a red belly and you just don't know it. They will quickly slither away from you, and you have no idea they were there.
“Be nice to snakes, leave them alone!” is just about the best snakey advice for anyone visiting or living in our fair country I’ve ever heard!
It’s good advice for all snakes everywhere. Easiest way to get bitten by a snake is to go and muck about with something that doesn’t want to be bothered at all.
For sure leave em be.
THERE AINT NOTHING "FAIR '" about being COERCED , HARASSED or FORCED to submit to an experimental JAB. .... got that ?
The vast majority of bites occur when someone is trying to kill it.
I leave them alone but if I find a dangerous one in my fully fenced yard he will be getting the sharpened spade...
They literally are so beautiful. My 3rd fav snake. Love them ❤
Every black l've ever seen is going away from me..l regard them as beneficial, as they predate on Browns, which tend to be aggressive.
Red bellys and Death Adders are beautiful snakes and a lot more chill than you would think
snakes are not beautiful , snakes can not be toilet trained ,,
2:53 Brutus: "What u say about me? Them fighting words bro!"
he is a beautiful snake. the ones i get here, tend to have more of a brighter shade of red.
we leave them alone here on our farm. here we found that the ones here tend to be extremely territorial and chase all the other snakes away, which is why we leave them alone.
we had one that lived under our house for 5 years. late every spring like clockwork all the mice would just disappear first from the house... then systematically... shed by shed... i can see why she was so territorial... she was protective of her source of food. its kind of interesting because i think they are a lot more intelligent than we think they are.
usually when we spotted her she was often too fat and full of mice to move! we think she was she, because every year we would find babies.
us kids learnt pretty quick to respect her and give her distance if we saw her sunbaking in the yard.
Great video and very interesting. Many thanks for this.
You just popped up for the first time in my recommendations. I'm seriously impressed! Thank you!
brutus is such a gorgeous snake! i love snakes so i'm just watching a bunch of your videos now
I’ve always loves how beautiful and oddly calm/peaceful RBBs are, it’s amazing to see you handling one! Also I loved all the facts
In the wild they tend to run and move quickly for a snake. Makes it hard to grab their tales before bagging
I have a juvenile resident red belly living in and around my suburban house in SE Qld. He made himself comfortable under the coffee table one day (glass top so wasn't hiding) after entering the house through the open garage door. I just got the wash basket and a length of bamboo to guide him into it then took him across to the creek for release. Months later he was seen in the garden again.... I'm guessing he likes the rodents attracted to my compost heap and the Striped Marsh frogs that live in my pond.....he is welcome in my garden.
Red bellies will be attracted to the frogs. Spilled bird and animal feed grain attracts the rodents and Eastern Browns - a totally different kettle of fish!
Not only beautiful but smart, thanks. Last time I watch your review of RBBS we a had 3 DNA certified pure desert dingoes, very sadly we lost our precious Sandy Maliki to one of these. Tho’ not sighted we are 100% convinced this was the culprit as every one of our 40 years on our wetland property on the NSW Central Coast we have either a pass thru’ or resident RBBS. I love them and know them to be very shy and it’s family practice to snake savvy thru summer. Got some great vid and photos of the hunting and catching frogs around our water features. Sadly in Sandies case the diagnosis was nearly 24 hrs late but she fought to the very end trying so hard to stay on her feet RIP SANDY MALIKI so always in my heart as only a dingo can. Thanks for the vid
I see red bellies all the time but so far they are happy we go our seperate ways.....
Never seen a brown snake though and hope it stays that way..
Just stumbled upon your channel and so glad I did. I've lived in Victor Harbor SA for 43 years and seen a total of 3 or 4 brown snakes and only 2 red-bellies. The first red belly and I spotted each other at the same time and we both stopped in our tracks, I won't lie, I was petrified but it just turned around and went back the way he came. It got me curious, so I googled it and discovered that red bellies are not aggressive, as I had been led to believe and will retreat if left alone. 2 weeks later I saw another one and, again just stopped and gave him his space. I can happily say I don't hate snakes but I have a healthy respect and keep my distance. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos. Cheers from South Oz.
Mr
I don't live in Goolwa, but I've seen more snakes than that on the road or fishing spots on the way to the Barrage and the 19th Beacon in the last 30 odd years.
I've seen a lot while camping on the river too. I live in Renmark now, since 2019, and I've yet to see one snake! Lots of lizards though. 🙂
RB Black is your typical S.A. personality - will turn the other cheek and I should know as S.A. my home state. Beautiful Victor Harbour and Granite Island, my childhood Christmas Day haunts. Many decades since seen ... give my love to it if you're down that way again !!
Had first hand experience of rattled RBBS a few years ago here on my mid north coast NSW property. It reared up like a cobra with neck hooded and looking for a victim in the shape of my dog which I quickly removed from vicinity. Think it had just shedded and possibly had young. I gave it some space and studied it from a distance for a while. Was involved with snakes in SAfrica (Mamba, Rinkals, Python etc.), and this first time, very aggressive behaviour from locals ... much respect pays dividends !!
@@betkay1018 yes, I still live here, in my slice of paradise, Victor Harbor. If you haven't been here in decades, you would be surprised by the changes!! A new causeway to Granite island for starters but many more. You should visit Victor Harbor again!!
@@carolhaddy4263 If time and opportunity permits I want to go back to SA and yes, Victor Harbour is on the list. There was an old bridge that connected G.I. to V.H. We spent Xmas day at V.H. munching on homemade roast chicken sandwiches, icecreams etc in the blazing heat - was about 10 at that stage. Am happy for your lovely life there. S.A. is still the best state as far as I am concerned. Was there briefly on returning from SAfrica then onto Vic then NSW. Stay safe, strong and happy 👍🍷
ive seen 2 magnificent red belly black snakes in the wild.
Beautiful
I LOVE red bellies. I had alot on my property in Copeland nsw, as i had a beautiful creek running through mu 80 acres, just down from my house. I had one living in my big vege garden out the back. The garden was made with stones from our property. Perfect combination for them. He was gentle as, would slide past, not scared of us and we weren't scared of him. He became part of our daily life. They can grow big, he was very chunky. 😊
Interesting Fact 11.. That snake is always checking out and got his eyes on that free, waving -bout hand.
so says a snake
I've always regarded myself as terrified by snakes especially the Red Bellied Black and Eastern Brown but seeing you handle Brutus like that has instantly made me respect how beautiful (at the least the RBB) is, I am very surprised and thank you for the great video.
my most favourite snake:)) there you go you answered i question i sent in...how the snake has adapted so that mtheir heads are smaller in areas where cane toads are...that is truly remarkable!
Saw a young one today at home on the Sunny Coast.
Fascinating.
Thankyou.👍
Great presentation! Thank you. I learned a lot from it. I love Red Bellies! They've always been very sensible when I've encountered them bushwalking.
Great vid, very informative.
Very interesting information. It also answered why my snake keeping late father in the UK (I was raised in a house with Indian cobras, Russell's vipers, horned-vipers, various pythons and many other reptiles including two Mississippi Alligators!) told me many years ago that the red-bellied black snake was related to cobras. He must he picked it up seventy years ago when he was learning about snakes.
When my first daughter was a year old we discovered a huge red-bellied black snake living under the decking outside the front door. I called the local snake catcher at least three times but it always managed to disappear under the decking before he could get near to it so I decided to catch it myself. As mentioned earlier, I grew up with snakes and have handled them often. The next time I saw the red-bellied black sunning itself I sneaked up on it and managed to grab it by the tip of its tail as it shot under the decking. However, I had to be quite rough with it to haul it out by which time it was pissed off in the extreme!
It was also far longer than I realised, a little over 2 metres! (When I had seen it all curled up and basking I thought it no longer than 1.5 metres). Consequently it tried biting me and I had to use a long handled broom to keep the dangerous end away from my bare feet! It bit the broom a few times and left copious amounts of venom on it before I managed to slip it into a laundry bag and hand it over to the snake catcher. He said it was the biggest red bellied black he'd ever seen. He released it unharmed, and by now much calmer, back into a quiet area of the bush.
After a bad experience as a 4 year old I've been terrified of snakes ever since. I've got a photographic memory of every one I've every seen. But I'm up to 14 snakes now, and none of them have been aggressive towards me, so I'm getting better. The problem is they end up in places where you're not expecting them, like sitting on the warm concrete front doorstep when you're arriving home in the night without any lighting and the element of surprise on both sides is where the problem lies.
Yep. I had a bush camp with a chaff bag full of feed over by the rock wall. Went there one day to get a scoop of feed, opened the top and was about to plunge the scoop in when I saw the red belly black all coiled up in there... Bit of a shock....
A friend of mine was driving in his car, and a snake appeared between his legs. It happened so quickly that he couldn't even identify the snake, and he knew his snakes.
@@castleanthrax1833 Well done to not have a head on crash in that scenario. I've had huntsman drop on me when pulling the sun visor down. That was exciting enough
@@kerrynball2734 Well, he was on a dirt road so he was driving quite slowly. I've had a huntsman run onto my dashboard too, and I was on a bridge, so I had to continue driving for about a 100 metres before I could pull over. ✌️🇦🇺
Kerryball, that is exactly correct. You summarised it perfectly. People who do not live with deadly snakes can’t understand why we do not like them. It is not because they are aggressive - they aren’t (unless you upset them). The problem is they get in the way. I have nearly stepped on two black snakes. One was sunning itself on the concrete outside my door. You don’t expect to step on a snake as you leave your dwelling. I was lucky and the snake was as startled as I was. He was literally around my feet. Another time was almost as close. They have a bad habit of freezing when they see you which makes it even more likely to step on them. Living with deadly snakes is a pain in the neck, AND dangerous. Browns, blacks, I live with both types. We have alot of frogs and mice around, and water. It attracts them. You can’t leave any doors open or they will come inside.
I always carry a torch at night, even if only stepping on my porch.
To be about 3-5 metres or more from a wild snake is pretty routine for me and not upsetting. I go my way, they go theres. It is when you get within a meter that it gets scary. One time I was leaning over a water tub with my face about 1/2 a meter off the ground. I looked up and saw a black snake staring at me at the opposite side of the tub about 1 meter away, his eyes level with mine. He was raised up like a cobra with the neck flared. They do that often to see what is around. He was not upset, just frozen. I had not seen him as I walked to the tub. He must have been about to drink and froze when I came by. His mouth was closed so I knew he was chill. If the mouth is closed, all is good.
Extremely interesting and very well presented. Enjoyed watching and learning !
I have to congratulate you on a really sober presentation. Initially I couldn’t quite understand why that snake didn’t attempt to bite you, but I’m assuming it still has fangs, etc. and that they actually can be domesticated. Very interesting video and you are a very clear presenter so well done.
Don't assume ... watch the beginning he explains Brutus's story.
Love watching it move in its natural environment. The snake and the handler seem to be pretty relaxed.
I love snakes and this species in particular for it's placid and often inquisitive nature. On more than one occasion I've sat still on a rock or log and had a juvenile red bellied black snake approach me and slither over and around my feet/legs. I never approach them of course being a wild and venomous creature but love to photograph and observe them. I didn't know any of the historical facts you mentioned in the video so thanks for sharing this info and keep up the great work.
I've been tempted to do that if one approached me as they are regular visitors to my home (on the banks of a swamp):
i.ibb.co/5n5bvzf/snake-2.jpg
They really are some of the most stunning looking snakes as well. Such fabulous colouration.
Great informative video. Thank you!
Being an ozzy and running into these beasties on occasions in my adventures, I knew 3/5 th's buggerall as to what you explained. Thanks for a great rundown.
Great, interesting and useful info… thanks
Wow, this was really cool! I only knew one of these facts (the fact that red-bellies are ovoviviparous), the rest were new to me! Usually in a “10 facts you didn’t know” style video the facts would be something like “red-bellied black snakes have black bodies with red bellies,” but this was really really good! Great work Nick!
- Harrison and Evan
Thanks guys! This one took a fair bit of fact finding and double checking to keep as many of the facts new as possible!
I found this very informative, thanks for sharing!
I've heard these snakes are heavy.
Rumour has it, old mate's balls are significantly heavier.
your a great passionate teacher mate love your vids 👍
Can see how they were mistaken for cobras- came across one last year, and it flattened its hood good n proper.. Great video..
They can sure put on a show!
Very unique and interesting facts. Thank you!
Hi Nick. That was a really good choice to do 10 facts on. Brutus is so calm, just amazing like the 10 facts about them. Thank you 🐍😊🐍💕
Thanks TC I’m thinking it might be time to go over some other species we had featured years ago
@@WickedWildlife excellent information really helpful. If a red belly black snake or tiger snakes that lays eggs ,how long if transplanted would it take to evolve to lay live young in colder climates and vise verse , could it be done in the same generation or require more?
Wow, a snake video where the guy holding the snake isn't being a drama queen, and is instead spittin' interesting, informative facts? Sign me up! Subbed.
Everytime I go helping here in Bendigo, I dream of these, but only ever see browns, although they are beautiful I keep a bit more room between us. Great video, Brutus is beautiful.
Thanks mate! Brutus is certainly an awesome snake
See them more in the hills just outside Bendigo
I'm from SA and knew nothing about these snakes apart from seeing a photo now and then, until this clip. Many thanks for the interesting facts.
Hi Nick! I always love your work. Thanks! I did a 2021 Census drop-off and met a lovely woman who home-trains her three great kids and mentioned to her that Wicked Wildlife is a great educational, fun and useful TH-cam channel to subscribe to. She now has subscribed, as she always looks for ways to keep the children happy and growing. Let me tell you how cool these kids are: the daughter showed me a rabbit and I asked its name. She said: "Well we breed and sell them, and it is up to the buyer to name them, so we don't". I'm happy there are kids like this in this country and chasing our tails. If I had even two coins in my tin, my friend, I would give you one. That day will come. All good wishes, Rich
Wow! Thankyou so much mate! I’m stoked to hear you, or anyone really, enjoys my videos!
@@WickedWildlife Hi Nick! I'm helping a girl move house on Friday and will sell her on you and Wicked Wildlife. I saw a red-belly near the main street here in Bermagui and then she gave me red-belly facts... She'll end up being a subscriber for sure! I very slowly drove through the Bermagui Cemetery this morning, which has snake warning signs as you enter. I was looking for snakes but had no luck. Snakes seem very hard to see. But f'king ticks, they have no problem finding me... I'm putting up a fence in tick country tomorrow morning and went to the hardware store to buy some atomic-powered spray to kill them. I'll tell you how it goes... I live in an urban area but saw an echidna six feet away from my office window yesterday. I recently also saw a New Holland Mouse. Keep well and all my best wishes! Speak soon Mate!
Rich
Really informative video didn't know most of these facts thanks
I came across a RBB a few years ago that must have just shed. About 5ft long, it was a deep, brilliant glossy black on top and vivid scarlet underneath. The ophiophobes may not agree, but it was the most beautiful snake I have ever seen. I hastily put my dog in the car, although they had shown no interest in each other up to then. Eventually I managed to scare it away and it disappeared into the bush. At the time, I had been hammering survey pegs into the ground - so much for the claim that vibrations in the ground will scare snakes away.
I had a similar encounter about 50 years ago when swimming in the Lerderderg Gorge and turned around to find a black snake curled up on my transistor radio (Astor, Australian made from Australian components) which I had left playing on the bank. When the snake saw me it shot into the water and it got to be a race to see which of us could make it ashore first (black snakes are damn good swimmers!). Again, vibrations seemed to attract, rather than deter the snake.
I used to handle venomous snakes quite often when I was much younger, but these days I prefer to leave them alone or observe them from a mutually safe distance. My usual sighting of snakes when walking along bush tracks is the last few inches/cm of tail disappearing into the long grass.
I've only encountered two snakes that behaved aggressively. One was a tiger that someone had injured and did make attempts to strike and the other was an eastern brown encountered on a walking track which came at us rather than retreating when startled.
I come across them on tracks just sprawled out like a branch.. tigers. Scared the shit out of me badly once because my border collie essentially walked right over the top of it 🤦
Yes, people will often say a snake won't hurt you if you leave it alone, but I've found a few brown snakes that just being within 10 feet of, is enough of a provocation for them. They tend to be quite aggressive.
I was out prospecting on the weekend and spotted 2 x of these big beautiful snakes sunning themselves next to the river I was on. What an amazing snake they are! I decided to do a bit of research on them when I arrived home and stumbled on your channel. I have now watched a few of your videos with my kids and they are unreal! You have a new family here subscribed and will be watching all your well presented and enjoyable videos. Thanks for the great information on what is truly an iconic Australian snake.
Another great video Nick. Feels good too know Tuesday is coming, can’t wait for the “WICKED WILDLIFE LIVE @ 8:30pm AEST”. Do yourselves a favour people and tune in, better than anything on TV.
Thanks Stuart! I think I had an idea for a conversation for Tuesday’s live
Looking forward to it Nick, see you Tuesday night
Great show! Here in the Far North Coast, I have watched the Red Belly Black snake numbers go up and down. We have a Creek on the back boundary, and have occasional visit from them. We watched two of them grapple each other behind the house , on the lawn. But have you done any shows on the Clarence River Rough Scale? Love your show!
We saw a large red belly at the beach where the Manning River goes into the sea. The snake slithered across the beach and swam out to sea! Ive seen them swimming in creeks but never in the ocean before. He swam out beyond the waves and looked very comfortable. Have you seen this?
Thankyou for the educational lessons, in learning about red belly black snake.
We were camping on the edge of the Murray River and a red belly snake came right through the middle of us. We had kids dogs the lot. The red belly just wanted to get to the water and did not worry about us, other than to be fast. I was impressed that it was not aggressive at all.
I have a big one living in my Horse feed shed, slithers past me now and again, keeps the Mice down and now trouble at all.
Yeah it's not like Jaws. Snakes don't go around looking for people to bite. They have their own things to deal with. 😂
I love snakes, have researched much - but - most of what you've stated was new to me - fabulous footage.
Hi Nick my absolute favourite Australian elapid, gorgeous snake. Cheers again mate take care
I love snakes and still didn't know a lot of these. I love your presentation style, calm and clear. Not all that ridiculous hype and running through the bush you see elsewhere
Love the information- I have one question did Brutus get hurt at some point? Seeing that mark about 6 inches down from the head - was just curious thanks
I’m not sure where or how Brutus got his scar, his had it well before he came into my care. He came from a collection that included a few wild caught snakes that where legally collected for venom production, but it could also be from live feeding in captivity so I’ve never been able to get the story
@@WickedWildlife well at least he’s living his best life now -
I was going to ask the same question, looking at it he might have been caught in a fence maybe..
@@johndelaney2957 possible
He was gifted to me by a snake handler who was retiring. Was a wonderful bloke but had clearly lost track of individual history of his animals over the years
@@WickedWildlife all that matters is now he’s got it made - right?
TH-cam just recommended this video to me and I got sucked in with "I bet I know the facts" and I didn't, so well done (other than the live young one). Red-bellies are the only snake (other than pythons) who stop and size me up (and pythons don't size me up, they just ignore me). Every other kind of snake I've encountered has been gone faster than I could breathe in but the few red-bellies I've seen while hiking will stop and check me out. Strangely enough each of those times has been while hiking solo (which I don't do much). I have a LOT of respect for them and definitely keep my distance, but it's interesting how they don't seem bothered by me unlike other snakes.
Excellent video. Have always had a soft spot for red belly black snakes. Caught my first one when I was about 5. Folks weren't happy 😋😋😋 Lived on a farm in Gippsland back then
Lucky it wasn’t a brown! 😂
@@WickedWildlife Looking back on it, I was lucky 🤣
Incorrect
New favourite snake! So interesting 🤔
The red belly black is good at fishing for small fish in creeks n watercourse s. . We had a estimated 80yr old one fat as your arm and bright red belly about 6ft . It would transverse over 2 gullys an not scared of people . This snake was in Aldgate valley and multiple generations of our family knew this snake. It is believed a new neighbours shot it . But I have my own experiences with the old snake.
On another note Mylor goyders reserve has blue tigers , only seen one but are in the Onkaparinga Hills area.
In the Mallee my favourite one is a banded brown snake possible the strap snouted brown with 6 or 7 bronze 2 in bands on a light brown. Majestic to follow . I could call it up by slowly idlleing my tractor and the thump of the idle it would turn up.
So red belly and the strap snouted brown are my favorites
What do blue tiger snakes look like?,?
@@taleandclawrock2606 blue Tiger snakes look like normal tiger snakes generally a bit smaller and have a blueish grey tones
great video as always Nick! Is Brutus as friendly with others as he is with you? Or do you only trust him to be handled by you?
Great question, honestly anyone else who handles in the same way as me would likely get the same reaction, how ever I’d never feel comfortable someone else handling my venomous snakes in case something did go wrong
One reason why they may have been mistaken for the Cobra family is that when they are very young, they flare their necks out like a cobra when threatened. I rescued 2 that were born when their mother was run over, they were injured but survived. I had them for 4 months and they could still do it when I released them.
Thanks for sharing this. Such beautiful snakes, unlike what we have here in Utah, USA. I would love to have the chance to be around them some time in the fiture.
Thanks for watching! And I’d love to visit the native snakes of Utah 😂
I have seen and encountered many black snakes. Only one of them had a hood like a cobra. It was very noticeable, not just the slight flattening seen in some black snakes. I have watched the territorial disputes or mating rituals where two black snakes coil around each other and rise up off the ground while wrapped up together. They fall over and separate, then do it again and again.
I have also seen black snakes wrapped around peoples legs when they were walking through long grass, but they were not bitten. One person I know stepped on a black snake and was bitten, but he did not go in to the Dr., he said it was like a wasp sting, and he recovered without any treatment.
One day, I saw a black snake on eight different occasions. I have no idea if it was one very active snake or many, but I saw it/them everywhere that I went while working at home. They like to dig in dry straw, especially when it is under a tarp, so care needs to be taken when handling that sort of material. I often find the young ones in compost heaps when the heaps are not too dense or wet. I always mulch the outside of my compost heaps to protect them from too much sun, and the young snakes like the warmth under the mulch.
Thanks very much, I didn't know any of the facts that you shared, but I do believe these snakes are cobras. I call them the 'gentlemen of snakes', so I always say 'Greetings little brother or sister' while stepping over them barefoot. Hope I survive!
Thanks for sharing your stories Ken, they are amazing snakes! They 110% though are not cobras, infact even snakes like the King Cobra and the Rinkals, don’t fit into the “true” cobra family despite the facts they look almost identical
@@WickedWildlife OK, I am convinced. You are much more informed than me. But, the one I saw sure was a near cousin of a cobra. Love your show very much.
@@kenbellchambers4577 they can certainly be very cobra like! It’s just that what makes them fit into one family or another had more to do with genetics then physical appearance
Ken l also saw one face to face and the hood was just as large flat and flared out like any Cobra. Not saying it biologically was a Cobra but l tell you it was hands down identical to one l know that much.
Bloody good video mate 👍
A few year ago while walking along a track on a Gold Course at La Botany Bay I came across the biggest healthiest Red Belly Black I have ever seen. It was Spring time and this Red Belly was sunning himself in the middle of the pebble track. He was as thick as my forearms , and at least 2 meters long and had a shiny jet black body with the darkest deep red colour that I’ve ever seen on any Red Belly Black Snake. Needless to say I gave him
A wide berth. There was a Mexican stand off for a minute or two before he decided to slither off into the bushes not far off the track. That bad boy was not lacking any food let me tell ya. I wish I had a camera to have taken a picture of it.
Thank you for the video showing my favourite Australian venomous snake love the video red bellieds are the reason I want to get into venomous thank you again for the video :)
I met one of these on a shortcut home across the creek at the food of The Dandenongs in Victoria when I was about 10, it was all bush in those days. I had already gone past him not knowing he was there when all of a sudden he reared up,at me like a cobra.I was so terrified that I forgot everything that I had been taught, stood there frozen then took off for dear life. All,of these decades later I will never forget my terror, and complete shock at him standing up at me. I had never seen that mentioned before and it was so frightening.
Awesome Info! Your a great advocate and your natural passion for our natural worlds infectious =)
I trod on one in a overflow area of a dam. It was all over grown with grass and a recent flood event meant the over flow was in around 10cm of water. I was in bare feet and was walking through it when I trod on something that felt very different from what I had been stepping on. I looked down and there he was, a huge fat red belly who was moving off slowly, he didn't seemed concerned and didn't have a go. I'm 60 now and had lots of encounters as a kid here in South Australia with snakes, mostly Browns, but occasional Red Bellies, Mulga's and Tigers. By far I found the Browns more dangerous when it came to attitude, especially surprising them down a hole and they freaked out coming out backwards and we had dogs with us
I'm from the end of the Fleurieu Pen mate, we had so many of the buggas dad had a length of twisted wire on a nail at the front & back door.
Browns & Tigers wd be killed on site (warming up on the concrete, or under the tankstand). Red Bellies we didn't really bother with, they'd usually give you a wide berth & live near the creek.
Tigers on the other hand wd flare up at you on contact, bit crankier maybe... How we didn't get bitten as kids.. l dunno.
Great info,thanks for all the facts.
Wow, that's a gorgeous snake! I noticed a scar here and there though. Is the poor fella a rescue? He's amazingly well behaved.
unfortunately I have no idea where Brutus got his scar from, his had it well before he came into my care. He came from a collection that included a few wild caught snakes that where legally collected for venom production, but it could also be from live feeding in captivity so I’ve never been able to get the story
@@WickedWildlife Well he looks plenty happy and healthy now, so I'm sure he's glad to be in your care. Thanks for all the educational videos!
Excellent presentation Nick! mesmerising too watching Brutus continually on the move
I had one of my red cattle dogs bitten by a Red Belly, but I only found out 6 hrs later, on new years Day, when all the Vets are closed.
My Vet said rush him in now, and the anti Venom injection cost $1000, plus to open the Clinic, lights, Aircon etc for the hr that I was there, plus also the ongoing treatment etc.
Fortunately 6 mths later my red dog was back to about 95 %.
But I must mention he had previously killed 3 browns, that entered his enclosure.
Where as my dingoes intuitively know to keep away.
They will still alert me, but not attack.
And since I have a lot of snakes here, I just have to be aware at all times.
Glad your dog turned out ok
We’ve had two dogs bitten here, one of my work dogs after $2500 recovered but her fitness never fully returned
We also lost a malumute to snake bite
@@WickedWildlife that's sad man.
My dingo x was killed by a RBBS. Broke my heart.
@@rotkatzeredcat4284 Couldn't get to then Vet in time ? IT certainly does. to lose any animal
@@Dingosimon WE got him to the vet straight away BUT the first thing the vet said was "I hope he hasn't been bitten by a snake, cause I'm out of anti venom." This is a rural vet. My poor boy didn't have a chance. He was bitten on his face.
Great video mate. Didn't know most of that so thanks!!
Brutus is such a lovely chilled boy. You do have some beautiful snakes in Aus.
His a very cool snake!
Super-knowledgeable - thanks for sharing.
My pleasure!
@@WickedWildlife and I'm now subscribed!!
I have friends with a farm that we visit near Araluen, and it's a feature for me to go and watch the red bellies sunning themselves beside the creek.
Good Luck to the man under the Hat. Interesting stuff every time.
Thanks Mark!
Excellent video Nick as always will share
Thanks mate!
Are there any significant differences between , blue, yellow and red bellied black snakes, please?
There is! Firstly there’s no “yellow bellied” snake in the black snake family, sometimes green tree snakes are black with yellow bellies and often tiger snakes get this name, but there’s no species known officially as the yellow bellied black! The blue belly differs mostly in the fact it lays eggs, lives in drier habitats and generally grows larger but also comes in a speckled morph
Very interesting 😊
Thank you for your education
I perform snake avoidance training professionally for around 400 dogs each year. Of all Victoria’s Major elapids they find the red bellied the easiest to find because their odour is stronger than the others. We think this means in the wild dogs will find it easier to find them because they come across the odour more frequently than the others. Meaning they sometimes miss the odour of animals that do not smell strongly. Hell, sometimes they miss strong odour too it’s just less likely.
Love a good red bellied black snake video!
Have had myne since she was a month old and they grow quick!
Just watched this and I find it interesting that back in the 60's we were constantly on the lookout for copperheads and red bellies in conjunction with tigers and browns. Today you rarely hear about red bellies except in rural areas and I have not heard about a copperhead at all for a very long time. I don't live rurally but it seems urban spread has pushed them not only from the surrounds but also from our minds.
I grew up on the northern outskirts of Sydney in the 80s-90s where we would see red belly black snakes a few times a year. Now, 30+ years later I live in the inner south-west of Sydney, which is decidely urban with only pockets of bushland mostly around the creeks etc, and we still see red belly black snakes about once a year on average. On hikes in the national parks it is still common to come across snakes and we always keep an eye out in summer. On one canyon trip a few years back we saw a brown, tiger and RBB all within a few hundred metres of each other.
Yes, I think habitat destruction has definitely reduced their food sources, and hence them. I can remember seeing many of them in our yards (NSW central coast) but not since the 80s.
Lovely looking snake especially in sunlight
We had an encounter while camping over the weekend and I was a little taken back at how aggressive it was it came at one of our friends who was metal detecting in a partially dried up creek bed she came back up in an awful hurry and another friend and I went to investigate as we were concerned about the dogs with us, it then rushed up the embankment at us but turned back and then flanked around us and then turned at the last minute again, all I can think of is that it was nesting near by or something
U didnt pay much attention . They dont nest and lay eggs. They give birth to live young.
I live on the banks of a swamp and was riding my new (untried) MTB bike along a track at the edge of the swamp when I came across a red belly stretched across the track. I unfortunately front-braked (instead of back-braking) to avoid it and started going over the handlebars but managed to slide the bike to the side and ended up on the ground about a metre from the snake who took one look at me and fled.
@@paulneri835 I had almost the exact same experience on a downhill single-track once. Skidded to a halt about a metre away from the snake. We stared at each other for a long moment, then he went one way and I went the other!!
You answered both my questions about cane-toads and RBB snakes.
Thanks
We had a population of redbellies on Moreton Island..as I recall, they seemed to be a deeper red than Brutus..I could be mistaken.
The intensity of the red does vary from place to place, and northern populations often have a brown tip to the nose
well done. Pleasantly surprised to hear facts and quality information. Thank you.
Hi Nick. My home town translates to Red Bellied Black Snake in the local dialect. 40 years ago we saw them regularly, but have only seen one in the last ten years. We do have a lot of cane toads so maybe that has something to do with it.
Buy a 2 iron golf club and have fun
What's the name of the town? You've got me super curious!!
@@Aquarium-Downunder A driver is even better, although almost any club will do in a pinch. For the benefit of the usual vegan virtue-signallers, it is not cruel, the toad dies instantly when hit properly.
@@allenjenkins7947 But if you have a lot, just use a lawn mower
@@Aquarium-Downunder Victa?
I think most of those facts were pretty new to me! I grew up in an area where seeing red bellies wasn’t uncommon, but always stayed well clear.
I’ve come across a few red bellied black snakes over the years . One time I came face to face with one that was enjoying the sun on a rock platform in the bush.I think we both got a shock , the snake launched himself off the rock going from zero to missile speed in a blink of an eye. He landed on the ground with a huge thud and took off into the bush with me after him, hoping to get him on camera,alas he was too fast👍
They can move with incredible speed when they need to. When you see them they are moving slowly, conserving energy but most people don’t realise how quick they can be. They are also capable of getting airborne for a short distance. They can literally fly thru the air. A dog that takes on a black snake has no idea the trouble he is getting himself into. RIP.
Thanks for the heads-up 🐍♥️
I love that cane toad fact. Pretty sure you mentioned this in the original.
I’m sure I did, but it’s a great topic to cover 😂
That was a really good video.
This is absolutely fascinating. I certainly learned a few things from this video. I've grown up around black snakes in my area my whole life and have had to(while my heart is pounding) - remove more than a few from my house and near campsites. I do not recommend handling or moving one unless you know what you're doing. They may not be guaranteed death but will certainly ruin your day. Such a incredible species and your fella is a good healthy example and is clearly well cared for. Good on ya mate, got a new subscriber 👍
Great video! As a kid I once saw a large red bellied black snake that had caught a big frog (maybe a banjo frog) and was moving through the long grass with its head held up high so that it could see where it was going and the frog still in its mouth.