TWO young boys have been bitten by snakes within a couple of days of each other in the Central Midlands region.
Cooper Helms, a three year old boy from Dandaragan was bitten by a snake on Sunday, it is believed he was at home playing his sandpit.
Soon after on Monday a six year old Felix Carter from Watheroo, both boys were taken to Moora Hospital.
Cooper was then flown by helicopter to Royal Perth Hospital and his condition was described as stable.
He was later transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital and is still being monitored.
At 2.30pm Monday, Felix was flown to Perth by the Royal Flying Doctor Service and was released yesterday.
Felix had been playing in his driveway it was believed he was bitten.
While the animal disappeared before being seen, parents Liam and Danielle found two puncture wounds and took Felix to the emergency room immediately.
“If it was a snake, it didn’t get any venom in,” Danielle said.
“Once doctors found no venom in his blood they released him.”
Felix was in good spirits on the trip down and shared hot chips with his dad in hospital.
“He really enjoyed the plane ride and the hot chips,” Danielle said.
Danielle hopes that Felix’s incident will remind people to be careful of snakes in the upcoming months.
“It’s a good reminder to everyone that it is snake season coming,” she said.
“Doctors told us even if you don’t see the snake it’s good to rush down and get the process started.”
On Sunday another snake was found in the dog-yard of a family on the south east end of Moora in a semi-rural area, the snake was killed by the property owner.
Earlier this year in February an eight year old girl from Jurien Bay was bitten and a 29 year old man from Morawa in September.
Wildlife officer Emma Lipianin said snake encounters would increase as reptiles emerged from winter hibernation to bask in the sun.
“Snakes are most active over the next few months and we expect the number of calls from concerned residents who come across a snake will rise sharply,” she said.
She also urged dog owners to be particularly careful when walking their pets near wetlands and bushland as dogs rarely survive a venomous snake bite.
Parks and Wildlife nature conservation coordinator Stephen Butler said snakes prefer to avoid contact with people and bites are uncommon.
“When out in the garden or bush be alert for the presence of snakes,” he said. “A snake that feels threatened may hiss or rear up and the best thing a person can do is back away slowly and keep watching it.
“Do not attempt to handle or kill snakes as these actions are the main cause of bites.”
There were 92 snake bites reported in WA last year, down from 99 in 2012 but more than double the 41 reported in 2008.
