Snake warning after bite scare

A Donnybrook woman is urging others to stay vigilant after she was bitten by a snake at her home last week while taking out her rubbish.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, said it took her a couple of minutes to realise she had been bitten.

“I actually didn’t see it,” she said.

“I am petrified of spiders, so whenever something touches me I do this dance to get it off me and by the time I realised it was a snake, it had already gone.”

She immediately called her husband who is a St John Ambulance officer and bandaged the area, before she was taken to Donnybrook hospital and then Bunbury for blood tests.

The first test determined it was a “dry strike” and the woman was able to return home after three further blood tests carried out at three-hour intervals.

She said it was important to stay calm if bitten and recommended having St John Ambulance’s snakebite kit on hand.

Harvey-based volunteer snake catcher Wayne McIntosh, who covers the area between Capel and Coolup, has already attended about 50 call-outs since September.

“This year is supposed to be the worst year we never really got a summer last year and it is all starting to take off now, so they will be out to get the extra heat,” he said.

Mr McIntosh said residents should prune the base of shrubs, mow grass short and keep backyards tidy to make them less snake-friendly.

For assistance, call the local shire or the Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9055.