Hi Guys,

I just went out into the Thai kitchen area at the back of the house to be greeted by a 1 metre Cobra. Closed the door and called the local builders for help. They ran across and tried to catch the Cobra, which at that point had gone underground. They waited around a bit and the Cobra re emerged and started to attack the garden rake that they were using to try to scare it out. Eventually it was pinned down and beaten to death. I have never seen anything like this before and to be honest it's a bit worrying having snakes around. Anyone got any experience of this and also are they likely to be more?
We have a young Thai nephew staying with us at the moment and I am thankful that he was not the first to find it.

Cheers, Rick

Dont know where your house is, however there are 2 possible reasons.
First, due to the amount of rain we have had recently.
Second and more likely, kitchen area at back of house, if not cleaned properly and food left around, this will attract rats and other vermin which in turn attract the snakes.

what part of the city do live Rick? need to know whether or not to carry a rake with me when I go out.

Sorry guys maybe a bit misleading. I lived in a condo in Bangkok for over 10 years and recently moved to house in Jomtien. Is it possible to change my nickname?
The kitchen is at the back of the house and there is a large grassed area behind it, so my guess is it came from there. The kitchen is always kept clean and there was no food lying around, but I do take your point and will be vigilant in the future.
Having lived in a condo I have never come across these kind of problems before, so know nothing about them. We had a Scorpion in the bathroom last week, which scared the living daylights out of me.
The Thais don't seem to be at all phased by these siuations, maybe it's my Englishness coming out.

Cheers, Rick

Don't like snakes of any variety.When neighbors said they saw a poisonous green tree viper emerge from our patio one night I got on the internet looking for snake repellant. I now have crushed mothballs spinkled on and around our patio. Looking for the plant " Mother-N-Law Tongue". Used that around my home in Florida,USA with apparent success. They say where there is one snake there are more. I suggest you seal any available snake access points into you home and use any deterrants available. If you are not a cat or dog owner I'd reconsider. One method I used in Florida was to bunch old fishing nets around my garden area. Caught many snakes this way. I really don't want to kill them but I don't want to share my space with them. They serve a purpose in nature's game plan. Good luck and watch your step.

I believe it is possible to change your nickname, but more importantly, you can change your location as set in your profile. Go to your profile page (click on your nickname at the top-left of the page where it says "Logged in as: bangkokrick", or in the left margin of any of your posts). Then select the "Enter your location" drop-down menu in the left column. Note that this menu will show up as "Bangkok" since that is what it is currently set to. You can edit it to say "Jomtien" or whatever you want.

If you still feel some attachment to the nickname bangkokrick, I would say there's no need to change it. After all, Bangkok contributed to 10 years of your life!

This post has been edited by oevna: 2009-10-22 14:39:14

Last week seems to have been a snake week out here at my house. Keelbacks all over and one cobra in my kitchen ( Thai style ) trying to attack a frog. The ants had a go with the cobra who had slithered into the ant hill while attacking the frog..intresting to watch..
Anyway, the locals told me it was due to the heavy rains as of late.

This week not one sighted yet.

I'm out in the middle of the jungle, 10 klicks outside Prachinburi and they seem to be common.( snakes ).) My wife's mother's sister is the one who catches them here and she's pushing late 70's..funny to see an "old" woman looking like Steve Austin!

There hasn't been a day here in several years I haven't looked into every room I've ever entered in the morning peering around for a snake or scorpion awaiting me. I worry I may be irreparably spooked if I ever get up close and personal with one, especially a cobra all flared up and evil looking . The huge centipedes here set my wife berserk but I have adapted to being able to kill them now without palpitations taking over. Yes, I also have some English (and Scottish) in me and I guess it shows! Not many of these lovelies back home.

Changed my location, thanks for the help.

Cheers, Rick

I know that I will be the same as you from now on. I have never seen either a scorpion or a snake in the flesh, other than in a zoo.

Cheers, Rick

I use my automatic BB gun on the snakes found around the house. Does the trick. The first time I saw the father in law going after a cobra with a rake....

I thought to myself.... "Oh no, I don't like to play on equal grounds with any snakes." So I went out and bought one of those fancy BB guns, and had it re-sprung to shoot at 460-480 FPS and mounted a laser on it....

Presto, instant equalizer. That is at least if I see it before it sees me.

Supergran!

You have given me a lead with your story. Just of late there have been many frogs in the garden and yard. It never occurred to me that this is what the snake was probably looking for.

Just need some frog repellant now!

Cheers, Rick

get rid of the mossies and ants first, frogs will leave, then the snakes.....

Maybe the rake idea would work for me, thinking about it more. Surely the Cobra would die from laughter seeing me, as a dangerous farang, attempting to control him with a measly rake (while I was pissing my pants)!

But actually I really love the rapid repeater BB gun idea! "Feeling lucky today, Punk? (snake)" Oh macho me! Like the time Dirty Harry blew away some freaky wierdo jerk hiding in a loft with a friggin bazooka -- Loved it! But the BB gun will have to do.

This post has been edited by ThailandLovr: 2009-10-22 16:24:35

Up in my missus village a few weeks ago a young boy of 10 was killed after being bitten by a snake in his sleep, not sure if it was a cobra, but it pays to be vigilant by the sound of it.

We had a large python outside the house a few weeks back, in central Bangkok. This was during the afternoon. The snakes like to feed on pets, so if you have small, dogs, cats, chickens etc you can be sure to have reptillian visitors.

in other words, pave your yard.

i honestly don't see the big deal.

The yard is paved. It is a big deal for me as I don't have experience with these things. Is it OK to call you to deal with it next time I have a Cobra visiting?

Cheers, Rick

I like that..if not for anything else, a great way to pass the time!

It's not the cobra's that bother me ( saw a 2 meter long one last week ) they'll usually flee when they can if they "feel" ya around ( remember..snakes do not have ears ) but my house is very close to a small creek surrounded by bamboo and rice paddies..full of KRAIT. Those get my heart a pumpin'..normally docile, but a bite IS fatal.
I always have a bamboo stick with me if I'm out at night..

But soon gunna get that BB gun ...