An Addition to the Christmas Tree - Not Mine, Thank Goodness

@JudyEv (342175)
Rockingham, Australia
December 19, 2016 1:40am CST
I am often telling people that Australia's reputation as a hot-spot for venomous creatures is not altogether deserved. While we might have some very 'beastly' creatures, the majority of us go through life without encountering too many of the nastiest. But I might have to review my opinion as the latest news tells of a lady in a Melbourne suburb who found a venomous tiger-snake in her home on Sunday (yesterday). But – guess where she found it? Wrapped round her Christmas decorations in her Christmas tree! The photo accompanying the article showed the metre-long snake making a very pretty addition to her baubles. The woman kept her cool and called a snake-catcher who relocated the animal to some bush well away from habitation. Anyone want to go check their tree for creepy crawlies? Photo is of one of our harmless skinks.
A Melbourne woman finds a metre-long tiger snake wrapped around her Christmas decorations.
46 people like this
47 responses
@LadyDuck (472078)
• Switzerland
19 Dec 16
Oh my goodness, what a terrible moment, I wonder what I would do if something like this should happen. I am going down and carefully check my tree.
6 people like this
@LadyDuck (472078)
• Switzerland
19 Dec 16
@JudyEv I always check twice to be sure to close the door of my laundry room. There is the gas furnace in that room and we are obliged to have a small windows that must be kept open, to be safe with the gas. I know that water snakes sometimes enter from those windows to hide behind the furnace to stay warm.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 16
I should think your tree will be perfectly safe, Anna.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 16
@LadyDuck Oh, so it is possible that there might be a snake in the room. I hope all is well.
2 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
19 Dec 16
Oh my, venomous would freak me out, I'm not afraid of any reptile so long as it's not poisonous.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 16
I would be giving it a wide berth too. They are very venomous but mostly just want to get away.
3 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
19 Dec 16
@JudyEv I remember buying a scrapped airconditioner left in a a grassy part of the yard and when we dismantled it there was a small sleeping constrictor inside, I had to convince the people it was not venomous cause a lot freak out with snakes.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 16
@louievill It seems nearly everyone on here freaks out! Our son lives in Ireland and a couple of visits ago he took back some gear which had been stored away for a while. In amongst it all was a redback spider who safely made the journey to Dublin!! (Except that it then got disposed of). Now when he goes home, his wife makes him unpack his case outside. :)
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
19 Dec 16
What a country! We have an arboreal grass snake in France, that can reach 1 1/2 m, and can climb on roofs, but it is completely inoffensive and shy. The dangerous ones do not climb on trees. Anyways I would not like to find a snake in a Christmas tree.
3 people like this
• Susanville, California
20 Dec 16
This reminds me of a video I saw of a snake who "flew" through the air by writhing in the air from one tree to the next! Crazy stuff.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 16
I wouldn't like to either but I've never heard of it happening before.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 16
@jhechorain At least we don't have them in Australia!
2 people like this
@yukimori (10148)
• United States
19 Dec 16
I suppose it's not all that much different than our encounters with the venomous rattlesnakes in our area. They tend to prefer areas away from human habitation but occasionally venture into a populated neighborhood. Is that the actual snake in the picture? It's really lovely... kind of similar to the patterning of our bull gopher snakes, although they aren't venomous. Aside from a few mice that found their way in through a hole in the wall last year, the worst we've had to deal with so far has been a centipede or two. We've also had a couple of adventurous lizards make their way in from time to time, but they're all hibernating at this time of year. I guess that's one good thing about celebrating Christmas in winter--the only snakes we're likely to find in our trees are probably going to be pets.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 16
The snake has lovely colouring doesn't he? He looks good in the tree. You seem to have much the same attitude towards the wildlife as we do. Not like some of the wimps here.
2 people like this
@xFiacre (13151)
• Ireland
19 Dec 16
@judyev Well now that's got me checking my tree, under my bed and inside my shoes. I always check the toilet for snakes anyway, but you're little tale has made me very vigilant even though we have none of those serpenty things in Ireland. This is why I quake at the prospect of returning to Malawi, India or Australia.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 16
You folks in the north! I'm surprised you managed to colonise half the world like you did! Man up, Fiacre!
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13151)
• Ireland
19 Dec 16
@JudyEv I've paid my dues as far as snakes are concerned! Nightmares always follow discussions about or sightings of serpents.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 16
@xFiacre Sorry about that. Nightmares are never nice.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
19 Dec 16
Yuck. Snakes creep me out. I would totally wig out if that were me!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 16
The snake-catcher said the woman was very composed - not like some who got hysterical. I guess you'd be in the latter category although I haven't heard of 'wig out' before.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112983)
• El Paso, Texas
19 Dec 16
I don't mind snakes as long as they aren't in my home, although I do wish there was one under my Mobile home so it could eat the mice and such.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112983)
• El Paso, Texas
20 Dec 16
I'm not sure @JudyEv we do have bull snakes, whose bite is harmless, and of course rattle snakes, of which I've seen neither over the past 20 years.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 16
Do you have carpet snakes there? They often live in sheds here and are great for keeping rodents in check.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 16
@rebelann Maybe bull snakes and carpet snakes are similar. Carpet snakes are very big and very long and 'bull' sounds pretty big too.
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
25 Dec 16
Oh that is so scary! ..
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
25 Dec 16
@JudyEv I wondered about how they could get inside the house .. I told my husband about this article and told him that maybe we should checked everywhere if there's a snake in the house .. I'm a bit paranoid now ...
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Dec 16
I don't know they manage to sneak into a house without anyone noticing them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Dec 16
@epiffanie I'm sorry if I've made you worry about snakes. I'm sure this is a very unusual occurrence.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
19 Dec 16
nd I've always thought Melbourne a safe place to visit.
1 person likes this
• Susanville, California
20 Dec 16
I've heard about a lot of scary creepy crawlies all around Australia . . .
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
20 Dec 16
@JudyEv oh, o have fun with your son in Melbourne. Pity I can't just fly over to say hullo
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 16
We're heading there on Thursday and the house Bren lives in has plenty of gaps to the outside. I'll be doing a careful reccy too. :)
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
21 Dec 16
Oh, how creepy! It gives me goosebumps just to see it in the tree. She did the right thing by contacting snake catcher.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
22 Dec 16
@JudyEv Absolutely but I am deathly afraid of snakes so I would be terrified.
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Dec 16
It is the unexpectedness of it that is so frightening I think.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
21 Dec 16
Oh dear - I dont think I shall watch the youtube because it might have me looking at my own tree a little differently
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
21 Dec 16
@JudyEv we have mole snakes that fall from the skies every now and then - but dont like them that much to hang them out as tinsel
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Dec 16
Nah, I wouldn't bother. It's just a snake. I guess you'd be quite used to the odd serpent or two too wouldn't you? :)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Dec 16
@Inlemay Mole snakes? I've never heard of them. :)
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
20 Dec 16
I would have freaked out big time. That is one of the reasons I do not want to visit Australia! I saw this on facebook blimey what a shock!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
20 Dec 16
@JudyEv They are not poisonous Judy!
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 16
Snakes aren't exactly thick on the ground here! What about the monkeys on Gibraltar? I wouldn't like them much. :)
1 person likes this
@just4him (317238)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
21 Dec 16
Oh my, that looks like a large snake too.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317238)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
21 Dec 16
@JudyEv That's huge. I'm glad it was wrapped around a tree ornament and not a person. I'm also glad they got rid of it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Dec 16
It looks pretty fat doesn't it? It was a metre long so quite a big one.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Dec 16
I would have totally lost it if I found that on my tree.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Dec 16
It wouldn't be everyone's cup of tree - sorry, cup of tea!
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Dec 16
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137821)
• India
20 Dec 16
I shared your link on FB (lol) I wonder if Cheryl would keep looking at the tree every moment until she brings it down on Jan 6 (l;ol)
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137821)
• India
20 Dec 16
@JudyEv Once bitten twice shy is what will happen to all of us with such experiences.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 16
I'd be tiptoeing very carefully around it! :)
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
20 Dec 16
That is so scary . It's a good thing that for how many years now our Christmas tree is a golden triangle no need for decoration . At least there will be no creepy thing that will be hiding in it .
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
20 Dec 16
@JudyEv It's an easy to put up and store Christmas tree.
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 16
It would give me such a fright to see this! I'm glad nothing can disturb yours. :)
1 person likes this
@jhechorain (1198)
• Susanville, California
20 Dec 16
I've heard about all of the different types of scary poisonous things in your area! It is almost enough to make me never want to visit if I get the chance. This story is especiallly scary because this snake was trying to disguise itself. I am glad it was spotted before something happened and someone got bit.
1 person likes this
• Susanville, California
20 Dec 16
That's a good thing at least. I suppose I'm blowing the information out of proportion but it is still a little scary knowing how many are there in Austalia
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 16
And did you read that most of us never come across most of these things? :) All snakes try to hide in some way. Being out in the open would be putting themselves at great risk. They just to live - like most of us. Have a great day?
1 person likes this
@Hate2Iron (15727)
• Canada
25 Dec 16
Good heavens... that would have turned me off Christmas Trees for life!!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Dec 16
Yes, I can understand that.
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
21 Dec 16
Cripes - I'm glad I don't live where that's likely to happen!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Dec 16
Not the best thing to find in your lounge. :)
1 person likes this
@Hari101 (1123)
• Chennai, India
20 Dec 16
Wow. It does look pretty difficult to find out as it has blended nicely with the tree. Thank god, she found out and nobody is hurt. :)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 16
If she hadn't found it, it might just have slithered outside again. It looks good in the tree doesn't it?
1 person likes this
@Hari101 (1123)
• Chennai, India
21 Dec 16
@JudyEv Yup :)
1 person likes this