An Addition to the Christmas Tree - Not Mine, Thank Goodness
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326601)
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.
47 people like this
48 responses
@LadyDuck (460346)
• 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
@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
@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.
, I had to convince the people it was not venomous cause a lot freak out with snakes.3 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• 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. :)
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
.
! 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
@jhechorain (1198)
• 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 (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 16
@jhechorain At least we don't have them in Australia!
2 people like this
@xFiacre (12496)
• 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
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
20 Dec 16
@JudyEv No, certainly not for man-made excitement like the terrorist act that happened yesterday in Berlin. A truck with two men raced into a Christmas market killing 12 people and injuring many more. The two drivers were foreigners. I pity all good foreigners who will now be looked at with suspicion by stupid people.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 16
Ooohhhh. I'm touching wood for you, Malu!! Be careful what you wish for. (I know you're not wishing for some excitement - are you?) 
@teamfreak16 (43419)
• Denver, Colorado
19 Dec 16
Yuck. Snakes creep me out. I would totally wig out if that were me!
2 people like 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 (326601)
• 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
@yukimori (10143)
• 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
@jhechorain (1198)
• Susanville, California
20 Dec 16
I've heard about a lot of scary creepy crawlies all around Australia . . .
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Dec 16
I would have totally lost it if I found that on my tree.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130292)
• 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 (130292)
• India
20 Dec 16
@JudyEv Once bitten twice shy is what will happen to all of us with such experiences. 
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
@JudyEv (326601)
• 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
@jhechorain (1198)
• 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
@Hate2Iron (15730)
• Canada
25 Dec 16
Good heavens... that would have turned me off Christmas Trees for life!!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• 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
