QAS treats man bitten by snake at Bucca near Bundaberg

Snake season has hit its peak in the Bundaberg region and across south east Queensland, with the third reported snake bite in the Rum City in two weeks.

A man in his 70s was taken to Bundaberg Hospital after the third reported snake bite in the greater Bundaberg region in just over two weeks. (File photo of a snake)

A man in his 70s was taken to Bundaberg Hospital after the third reported snake bite in the greater Bundaberg region in just over two weeks.

Earlier this month, a schoolgirl had to be taken to hospital after being bitten by a snake at Kalkie,. and just three days ago in the Lockyer Valley a man in his 60s died after being bitten by a snake in his back yard.

On Sunday, a woman at a highway rest stop north of Bundaberg was choppered from the scene after also suffering a snake bite. Reptile catchers have warned of a new wave of hatchlings amid increasing call-outs to homes near new developments.

At 8.20pm Monday, a man in his 70s was bitten on the foot at a private residence at Bucca.

He was taken to Bundaberg Hospital in a stable condition.

Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers contractor Heather McMurray told the Courier Mail earlier this week snake season was at its peak across South East Queensland.

“We are flat out at the moment especially as the babies start to hatch,” she said.

“(Snake season) starts in October and goes through to about April in Queensland.

“The heat and the humidity is certainly bringing (snakes) out – the pythons are loving the humidity and the brown snakes are loving the hot, dry days.”

Lockyer Valley Snake Catcher Chris Jennings said the destruction of habitats for new developments had been driving snakes into nearby established properties.

The previous last reported fatality in Queensland was in November 2022 after a woman in her 50s was bitten in the North Burnett.