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RE: The Puff Adder: Taking Camouflage to a Whole New Level
It's funny that you mention the death adder...I had to go back and edit the post because I kept writing death adder instead of puff adder!
I do cover a few Australian snakes now and then (I've hit on the tiger a couple times and your copperhead). Since it's winter here, I focus a little more on articles like these since there aren't many herps out and about!
A friend of mine is involved in native animal rescue and he specialises in snakes. He tells me that two of the most common venomous snakes we have in the North, the King Brown and the Red Belly Black are mortal enemies. The Brown has a bad reputation because they are very aggressive, where as the Red Belly is quite shy. However as snakes are very territorial, the Red Bellies will kill and eat the Browns. Thus the Red Bellies are kind of welcome because they keep the aggressive Brown snakes away.
Haha we have some similar species of snakes with a similar dislike for one another. It is always fun when people ask me how to keep venomous snakes away from their homes and I tell them that keeping other less-dangerous snakes around is the best method xD
My aforementioned snake rescue friend also has unpopular advice for people. Leave the venomous snakes where they are. University studies have show that by the time you first see the snake around your house, it would have already seen you some 40,000 times. It knows your routines and does its best to keep out of your way. The problems arise when you remove it from its territory, a new one will move in, that does not know your routines and you might give each other a nasty surprise. Snakes do not like nasty surprises, and thus react defensively.
His summation is, unless you are small enough to eat, or an attractive snake it would like to breed with, they don't want to know about you and would rather keep out of your way.
Of course, if they become too close and personal and move into your house or shed, then, they have to be removed. That's where he comes in.