A Cobb County man bitten by a copperhead snake Friday morning is expected to survive, according to the Cherokee County Fire Department.
A 22-year-old Acworth man clearing brush and debris in Canton was bitten on the finger by a snake and transported to Northside Cherokee Hospital, authorities say.
The man's co-worker told officials that he and the victim were working outside a home near Univeter Road when they noticed a snake on the back of their landscape truck. The victim was attempting to pick up the snake when he was bitten, according to fire department officials.
This is the first known instance of someone being bitten by a snake in Cherokee County this year, Tim Cavender, Cherokee County Fire Department spokesman, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
"If you see a snake, the best thing to do is to leave it alone," Cavender said. "Don't try and pick it up."
Residents concerned about a snake spotted in their neighborhood are encouraged to call animal control.
If bitten by a venomous snake, officials encourage people to call 911 and have emergency service personnel advise if hospital treatment is necessary.
It's vital for people to learn the difference between venomous and non-venomous snakes, Cavender said.
"People who are afraid of snakes will go and kill even what we call the 'good snakes,' the kingsnakes who will usually eat the venomous snakes," he said.
While copperheads are commonly found on the east coast, studies show Georgia's copperhead population is increasing. The fire department attributes the rise in copperheads to the decline in kingsnakes.
Spring and summer are popular seasons for snake activity, scientists say. Doctors advise people to familiarize themselves with potentially life-saving techniques for snake bites.
Ealier this month, school officials brought in exterminators to clear overgrown brush near a Milton elementary school after a student was bitten by a snake.
