An elderly man bitten on the hand by a venomous snake Wednesday afternoon was flown to Savannah for treatment.

Bulloch County Public Safety Director Ted Wynn said the victim, reportedly bitten by a copperhead snake, was in stable condition as he left for the Savannah hospital.

Privacy laws prohibit the release of the man’s name, but 911 radio dispatchers and emergency responders speaking over the radio said the man was bitten in the Clito area near Maria Sorrell Road.

Wynn said snake bites are rare, and most people bitten go to the emergency room on their own. However, the victim’s age and the snake’s being venomous may have been reasons he was airlifted for treatment.

Weather prevented Air Evac from landing near the location where the man was bitten, but Bulloch County EMS transported the victim to the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport, where they met with the emergency helicopter.

Information from Internet website www.herpnation.com,  states copperhead bites are immediately painful, can cause nausea and vomiting, swelling, numbness and tingling, but are rarely fatal.

 Wynn shared information from the Savannah River Ecological Laboratory in Aiken, SC, which suggests watching your step, especially at night;  do not harass, capture or bother snakes; wear heavy boots or snake leggings if walking in tall grass and keep a safe distance, at least six feet, from snakes if one is spotted.

“Animal control does handle some snake calls this time of year as the temperature increases, and snakes begin to become more active,” Wynn said. “We always advise residents to give the snake a lot of room, and they will typically leave once discovered.”

Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.