>>247510>Do you use a walking stick?I have, at times. When going through thick jungle a stick can be useful to prod the ground in front of you if it looks sketchy, and you can use it to hit small trees and leaves (if you have to) and thus knock off or expose animals of danger.
>Do bells or some kind of noise maker help scare them away?No, snakes can't hear. They don't have eardrums like you and I, but they can sense vibrations in the ground. Mostly snakes are not super aggressive, and rely on opportunity to capture meals. Something like a fer de lance eats small rodents, mostly, frogs etc., and so it has no interest in coming after something big like a human.
Also, with their amazing camouflage you can bet they want to use it. This means that they are most likely to hold tight and wait for the threat (human walking) to pass by. In general animals with great camouflage will use it rather than risk being seen by running (or slithering) away.
>What kind of boots do you recommend?I've had great success with rubber boots - even cheap ones. They'll keep your feet dry and offer protection from snakes and other things like that. Centipedes, spiders and ants are all liable to bite you through your socks, so if you have high rubber boots you'll have less exposed area.
Hiking boots are okay too, but if they get wet (and they will), they take forever to dry. In some of the forests I've been in nothing will ever dry, and so rubber boots with a bunch of socks is the way to go.
If you'll be out there for a long time bring talcum powder to put on your feet, balls and body. It'll stop you from rotting away (still no guarantee).
seal up your boots, or hang them upside down on sticks in the ground outside of your hammock for the night. be sure to bash them out and check in the morning for scorpions, spiders and snakes. I've had them in my boots in the morning... things that could kill me.
important - clear the area under your hammock. brush leaves and sticks out.
