(a) the mishna says - if snake is wrapped around is leg he does not have to stop --but a scorpion is different - does not the mishna in bava kama say a snake is mooad and not a tam--(moad lahzik)?
(b) also on that page 33 it says if see a shor tam --from 50 amos; run away --but we hold tam pays 1/2 nezak because "stam shevarim behezkat shemor "--- tam is docile and will not attack --yet the gemarain berachots clearly dissagrees
joe cohen, new jersey usa
(a) Your question is dealt with extensively in the Acharonim:
1. The Sho'el u'Meishiv (1:1:6) writes that we see from this that a snake is a Mu'ad for animals but not for people.
2. Other Acharonim (Tiferes Ya'akov on the Mishna in Bava Kama; Yesh Seder l'Mishnah on Berachos 5:1) write that as long as the Nachash is not angry he is not a Muad and therefore as the Gemara writes you need not be afraid of a quiet Nachash.
3. Other Acharonim write that only after the first attack they become Mu'ad Mitchilaso (retroactively).
D. Zupnik
(b) Even if a Tam is b'Chezkas Shamur, one doesn't play games with his life. Keep far away, and don't rely on the Chazakah.
M. Kornfeld