Ways to avoid a snake bite when you're bushwalking

Does the thought of almost stepping on a venomous snake send chills up your spine? Snake behaviour and habitats There are over 100 venomous sea and land snakes in Australia but the chance of seeing one when you're bushwalking isn't as common as we think, says toxinologist Dr Timothy Jackson. "Snakes are very invested in hiding so it's relatively unlikely you'll see one," says the University of Melbourne professor. Dr Jackson says red-bellied black snakes are "pretty chill" and most bites occur from people picking them up or stepping on them. "In summer, the air itself is warm so there's no need to bask and some snakes even switch towards a more nocturnal pattern of behaviour and forage at night, like tiger snakes and brown snakes," Dr Jackson says.