Copperhead Snakes Strike Again, This Time At 7-Year-Old Boy In Hoover

HOOVER, AL - For the second time in as many weeks, a small child has fallen victim to one of nature's predators, a copperhead snake. After a Mountain Brook girl was hospitalized last week after being bitten twice by a copperhead, a 7-year-old boy was taken to Children's of Alabama this week after a copperhead bit him in the front yard of a Hoover home.

According to Alabama Media Group, The boy was bitten on the toe Thursday night at approximately 7 p.m. The family immediately rushed him to a nearby fire station, and from there, he was taken to the hospital. The child and his family are visiting friends from out of town. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Birmingham Patch morning newsletter.)

A growing number of copperhead sightings have been reported in the Birmingham metro area. For the last few summers, the number of snake sightings in residential neighborhoods throughout Birmingham has seemed to have increased exponentially. While one may not be too surprised to find a snake in the woods, or in a lake, sightings in people's backyards and driveways have become more common in Birmingham. While many people can tell you a story about finding a snake in the yard, not quite as many can tell you what to do when you find a snake, and how to prevent more snakes from entering your property.

Experts say few snakes are actually dangerous, and that most will not bite unless they are stepped on or feel threatened.

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