Snake Season in Australia: What To Do When Bitten by a Snake

Experts advise people to exercise caution if they come into contact with a snake because they are more active during the summer in Australia, and there have been two deaths from snake bites in recent months. Here is a mini snake guide for locals and tourists alike during the snake season.

A 60-year-old man is believed to have died from a snake bite on Saturday in Queensland. On that morning, at about 70 kilometers west of Brisbane, on private property in Kensington Grove, it is thought that a brown snake bit his hand.

The local council urged residents to be extra cautious against the threats of snake bites throughout the summer months after a second fatal snake bite occurred in Gayndah, Queensland, in November 2022.

Fatal Snake Bites in Australia

More than 200 species of snakes, about two-thirds of which are venomous and only about a third of which are considered dangerous, - this means their bites could be fatal, are found in Australia, according to the CSIRO.

The highest rate of fatal snake bites has been found in sub-Saharan Africa as well as south and south-east Asian nations.

While it has been discovered that South Africa records an average of 476 deaths from snake bites each year, Australia typically only records two to three snake bite deaths each year.

Seeing Snakes

After learning how to catch snakes from his father, Matthew Stopford has been doing so for most of his life. He now owns and operates a snake-catching business on the Central Coast of New South Wales.

While he acknowledged that every situation was unique, he advised people to keep their distance from snakes in the wild and try not to startle them.

Stepping Backwards. Take a few steps backward, Stopford commanded. Some people might be able to snap a few pictures, but they must keep their distance and move on.

He also added that Although they won't chase people, snakes, especially brown snakes, will stand up and approach people if they become startled.

Watch Your Step. According to Stopford, a snake will typically only bite a person if they step on it or attempt to catch it because doing so will make the snake feel threatened.

Call a Pro. Stopford also advises contacting a qualified professional to get rid of any snakes that are discovered on a person's property or even inside their residence.

License. Without a permit, killing a snake is against the law in New South Wales and carries a $10,000 fine as well as possible jail time.

Eyes on the Prize

Finding Snakes. According to Stopford, the biggest error people make when there is a snake in their home or yard is to turn their attention away from it.

He advised that it is better to keep an eye on where it goes and what is happening. This is because snakes are excellent at hiding, and if the snake is not carefully watched, the snake catcher may not find it when they arrive.

Catching Snakes. Picking up snakes by the tail is Stopford's preferred method of capture, and he claims to have never been bitten. Within 20 kilometers of where they were taken, he places them in a bag and moves them to Crown land.

Venomous. According to Stopford, who predicted that roughly half of the snakes he captured would be poisonous, it's crucial that people treat all snakes as though they are venomous.

Bitten By A Snake

Regardless of the type of snake involved, Queensland Health tells people to call an ambulance right away.

Don't Move. Stopford advised anyone who has been bitten by a snake to limit their movement, even though it was important to get away from any immediate danger.

Jewelry. Remove any tight jewelry from your body because the bitten body part will swell two or three times.

Pressure Bandage. The best treatment, in Stopford's opinion, is a pressure bandage that is wrapped around the bite site two or three times, down to the bottom of the limb, and then back up again, SBS News reports.

Queensland Health said to mark the bite site on the bandage after it has been applied with a pen or another mark-making material. If there are no markers, applying some mud or dirt to the bandage will suffice.

Do Not Suck. Although the general public still accepts these antiquated practices, WebMD says they could delay timely medical attention, contaminate the wound, or harm blood vessels and nerves. Even though the general public still embraces these outdated procedures, they run the risk of delaying prompt medical care, contaminating the wound, and damaging blood vessels and nerves.