What to do.
- Only move the victim if absolutely required for victim or group safety.
- Assuming you have been bitten on a limb (arm/leg), or if you think you have been bitten, then firmly (but >not< so super-tight to cut off blood flow!) bandage the limb. Start at bite, wrap up towards the torso, then back down to and past the bite. So it's wrapped about even distance both sides of the bite. You can use a second bandage to extend or supplement bandaging coverage.
- DO mark the outside of bandaging to show the place of the bite. This will allow medics to cut access to the bite without having to remove the bandaging.
- Immobilise the limb. Such as by using another bandage to tie the limb to a stick, or to another part of the victim's body.
- Keep victim still and calm, and wait for paramedics to come to you. (Only move victim if you can do so without the victim's assistance, or if it is absolutely necessary for paramedic access.)

- DO NOT try to chase, catch, or kill the snake. It's a good way to antagonise the snake and get someone else bitten too!
- DO NOT cut, bleed, or try to suck venom from a bite. These methods don't work.
- DO NOT apply a tourniquet, or do anything that cuts off blood supply to the limb. (limb will be permanently damaged without adequate blood supply)

A. (another Aussie)

[Apparently Australia has 9 of the 10 most venomous species of land snakes in the world. Despite that very few people actually get bitten, and when treated properly and early very, very, very few people die from snake bites.
You're much, much more likely to be killed or injured while driving in your car. Fear of snakes is vastly over-proportional to the risk of being bitten. Fear of car crashes is low because we've become used to the risk, or de-sensitised to it. We drive 'every day' (usually) without any crash event, and we perceive we are in a position of control and (incorrectly) that it allows us to alter the riskiness.]

Snakes we see are usually stretched out across the trail sunning. Stretched snakes can’t strike; it’s the coiled ones in the brush at the side you have to watch out for. You won’t even know those are there unless you stop and put a foot down off the trail.

- I once saw a bear on the trail in AF Canyon climbing back to the summit parking lot on Deer Creek South Fork. The bear turned and ran as soon as he saw me. Every time I ride that section I imagine the bear is coming back with his buddies to make up for being scared of me.

Short answer: you’ll never fully get over it. It’s not the full trail though – just in the section you saw the snake.

As far as the bite – I’m sure you’ve heard of this experience:

My buddy and I were riding and he got bit by a rattlesnake right on his snipe.

Fortunately we were in cell range and I called 911 who gave me the number for poison control.

I told the operator that we were several miles from civilization and asked the operator what to do.

She said that I had to suck the poison out immediately to save his life.

My friend asked frantically: What did they say.

My answer: Sorry man, they said you are gonna die.

I’ve seen plenty of snakes out on the trails (but that is fairly common here in Aus), and I’m yet to see a snake that actually wants to be anywhere near you. You would have to be pretty damn unlucky to get bitten – keep a distance and let them get of the trail in their own time. Snakes respond to vibration/sound, so bikes can be a bit of a surprise for them.

When mountain biking in Tasmania late last year I probably saw more snakes in a week than I have in years. Most of them were Eastern Brown snakes too – 2nd most venomous snake in the world EEEEP! One guy was laying in the sun across the track, we stopped and waited about 15 minutes for him to decide to get out of the way.

It made me really think about riding on the trails in Austin, especially given all the rattler sightings lately!

I always get a little freaked out after seeing one, but I just go back to what a lot of people have said and realize the chances are small (knocking on wood).

Get out of danger, stay calm, keep the affected area lower than the heart and call for help.

Happy riding!