John of Kansas opens with a sentence that's relevant here in Australia. Meeting a snake is much more dangerous for the snake. Several of our snakes come out as being the among the most deadly in the world if their venom is measured under test conditions. This is good for scaring people and for killing mice. Because of the shy nature of our snakes and the angle of their fangs they have trouble injecting enough venom to kill a human. And why would they want to? We're too big to eat. Under certain conditions usually involving multiple bites people can die but it's very, very rare. Most people are bitten when they attack a snake. Having said that some of us get bitten by mistake. I crossed the path of a big Copperhead while wearing the wrong clothes for long-grass walking. It was trying to get away and it bumped into my leg, giving me a reflex nip. I spent a night in hospital under observation, after giving myself first aid, but very little venom actually got into my bloodstream.
To answer your question, Joe, we live with snakes that are a welcome part of our ecosystem. We see them all the time but they flee as soon as they feel our presence. A big Tiger Snake flattened its neck like a Cobra when I startled it in the hen-house the other day. It fled a few seconds later as they always do -- if they can.
We live with Tiger Snakes, Brown Snakes, and Copperheads.
Silly stories about snakes abound in Australia.
Poor Snakes. It's very unfair. Bees, and horses, and dogs, kill far more people.
Cheers, Joy