A snake moving towards a person is not necessarily pursuing them. It may be heading for shelter, including shelter behind the person. Snakes can also advance defensively, so “they never come towards you” is too simple an answer.
What did researchers observe?
A field study near Leeton recorded 455 close encounters between eastern brown snakes and a human observer. About half ended with the snake retreating. In most of the remaining encounters, the snake relied on remaining concealed.
The researchers recorded 12 advances during the initial approach, of which three were classified as offensive. This was a study of eastern brown snakes in one agricultural setting, not a guarantee about every snake or every encounter.
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Why might it look like a chase?
The Australian Museum’s red-bellied black snake account describes a simple possibility: a snake heads for its nearest retreat, but that retreat is behind the observer. Its direction of travel can then look like an attack.
The same account describes defensive displays when escape is blocked. Those displays and movement towards cover are different behaviours, even if either looks alarming from nearby.
What should you do with that information?
Give the snake space and an unobstructed way to leave. Do not follow, corner or touch it to find out how it will react. A brief sighting cannot tell you its intended destination.
If it is inside a building, the snake in the house guide explains the next steps. The home range guide covers why snakes may move between familiar shelters.
