As I was walking near the tennis courts, I came around a bend to see a black snake about 2 m long crossing the track. I stopped 10m away, as did the snake. We watched each other warily, as I beamed "nice snakey" thoughts towards it. After a few seconds it turned around and went back into the grass on the side it had come from. Hidden in the grass, it continued to watch me with its head high.
I proceeded carefully past its hiding place hoping that the generally accepted wisdom was true that black snakes are generally not aggressive. It does seem to be true.
They are quite a pretty creature (apart from the fact that they are venomous) with the sleek black skin and bright red belly. I'm told that the last fatality from this snake was a toddler about 100 years ago, so they are not too dangerous for humans. Their best point is that they are said to be very hostile to the much more dangerous brown snakes. I'm led to believe that ducks and kookaburras will attack them ferociously.
Snakes, like spiders, are a fact of life in Australia. I still prefer to keep my distance though!
Footnote: The photo was found on the Warringah Council's web-site.
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