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Woman bitten by Tiger snake

A Victorian woman has spent the night in hospital after a backyard encounter with a baby snake.

Anne Playnsek spotted the baby reptile in her Seaholme backyard yesterday morning, and thought it was harmless.

She put it in a box for her nephews, but when it bit her on the finger, she realised it was a Tiger snake and called an ambulance.

"I just thought it was a cute little snake, not realising that it could cause any danger," she told Seven News reporter Laurel Irving.

She took the snake with her to the Western Hospital where she was treated for the wound.

Snake handler Adam Sapiano was called into help.

"It's the first time I've been called to the emergency department of a hospital," he joked.

Woman has nasty encounter with this backyard encounter. Photo: 7News
Woman has nasty encounter with this backyard encounter. Photo: 7News

The Tiger snake is one of Australia's deadliest, and even a baby snake could kill an adult.

Luckily for Anne, its fangs did not pierce her skin, but experts say call Triple 0 immediately if you are bitten, and do not panic.

"If you become anxious, you become Tachycardia, and that actually pushes the venom through your body a lot quicker," paramedic Jess Hansen said.

Medical staff are also keen to stress that hospitals now carry venom detection kits which can tell them which anti-venom to use.

"It means if you are bitten, then there's no need to bring the offending snake in with you," Ms Hansen added.

Experts say snakes may be active until the end of the month.

Anne wants others to learn from her mistake.

"Just call somebody straight away rather than handle the snake yourself," she said.

If you come across wildlife in your backyard, call Wildlife Victoria on 1300 094 535.