Boots, long pants and vigilance

It’s only a glimpse that I catch. A flicker of movement on the side of the trail. Instantly I know exactly what it is. ‘Snake!’ I say and point. It’s already gone. Slithered off into the undergrowth. In that moment of seeing it, I noticed the thickness of the body just before it tapers to its short tail. I noticed the yellow banding stretching up from the pale belly to wrap short stripes on the glossy black scales. Tiger snake. Common around here. Deadly.

Tiger snakes cop a bad rap. They have a reputation for being aggressive. In my experience they are just like other snakes, Australian ones at least. They prefer to get out of the way.

They know you are there before you know they are. Usually, I only see them as they move away. Sometimes I wonder how many I don’t see, hidden on the side of the path or slipped away before I notice. Moving away from the vibration of my feet on the ground, an indication to them that something big is heading their way.

I know they are around now. The warming weather is bringing them out. It’s also making the wildflowers bloom. Blue skies, bird song, and flowers draw me out, despite the reptilian activity.

I walk with long pants, boots, and vigilance.