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 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.

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...

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.

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 ;)

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!

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 👍🍷

In the wild they tend to run and move quickly for a snake. Makes it hard to grab their tales before bagging

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?

Thanks guys! This one took a fair bit of fact finding and double checking to keep as many of the facts new as possible!

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.

Don't assume ... watch the beginning he explains Brutus's story.

Lucky it wasn’t a brown! 😂

@@WickedWildlife Looking back on it, I was lucky 🤣

Incorrect

They can sure put on a show!

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.

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 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.

His a very cool snake!

Thanks Stuart! I think I had an idea for a conversation for Tuesday’s live

Looking forward to it Nick, see you Tuesday night

Thanks mate! Brutus is certainly an awesome snake

See them more in the hills just outside Bendigo

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

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.

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.

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.

Thanks for watching! And I’d love to visit the native snakes of Utah 😂

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!

Thanks Mark!

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

Thanks mate!

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.

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.

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.

I think it’s unlikely he’s trained this snake, but rather it just has a nice disposition. Every snake is different, and there are some you could hold every day and it would still be aggressive. This guy knows this animal well, and it’s a calm and friendly snake, but he is still very cautious when handling!