Drought driving deadly snakes into Australian cities
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by Staff Writers
Sydney (AFP) Jan 10, 2008

Australia's harsh drought is driving venomous snakes into urban areas in
search of moisture, resulting in an increasing number of attacks on
people, officials said Thursday.

Acting Victoria state Premier Rob Hulls issued the warning after a woman
and her dog were bitten in the garden of their Melbourne suburban home.
The woman was rushed to hospital where she is in stable condition, but
the dog died.

"There will be an influx of snakes and it's very important that people
stay away from them," he said, blaming the drought and high temperatures
for driving the reptiles from their natural habitat.

"They'll be found in places where they wouldn't normally be seen."

Hull said that in Victoria state alone, 197 people had been admitted to
hospital for treatment for snake bites over the past year -- 20 more
than in the previous 12 months.

Similar warnings were issued last January after several people were
killed by snakes in the early part of the southern hemisphere summer.