The Virginia Beach Department of Emergency Medicals Services (VBEMS) and the Police Department’s Bureau of Animal Control reminds citizens not approach any snake they may come upon.  Since June 2009, there have been five (5) cases of snakebites to humans in Virginia Beach requiring transportation to a hospital.  The Bureau of Animal Control offers the following safety tips should you encounter a snake:

1. If you see a snake, walk away from it, or take a route that goes around the snake. Do not approach the snake.
2. Do not attempt to grab or hit a snake with a stick, pole, or shovel. Some snakes have a long striking distance and can bite from several feet away.
3. If left alone, most snakes will go away.
4. Trim bushes, clear walkways, and remove debris from your property to limit areas where snakes may hide.
5. Learn to recognize poisonous and non-poisonous snakes native to Virginia by logging onto the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Website:  www.dgif.state.va.us. 
6. Call Animal Control at (757) 385-4444 should you find a snake in your house or in any living areas.   Animal Control Officers are trained to safely handle and remove snakes.
7. If bitten, call 911 immediately. All snakebites should be considered an emergency.  If possible, try to identify the snake, or any special markings, and advise emergency and medical personnel.

Many venomous species of snakes inhabit Virginia Beach including: cottonmouth, copperhead, and rattlesnake. Snakes, by nature, are reclusive and will usually not bite a person unless provoked.  The best snakebite prevention is to leave a snake alone.

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