Urban expansion could be partly to blame for an increase in snake bites in parts of southeast Queensland including Brisbane's northern suburbs, an expert says.
Queensland ambulance figures obtained by AAP show 90 people reported being bitten in the service's metro north area, which spans from Roma St in the city to Kilcoy, last year.
That's a one-third increase from 2014 and comes despite the statewide figures growing by just four bites to 658 over the same period.
James Cook University biologist Dr Conrad Hoskin told AAP the increase could just be a coincidence.
But he noted the highly-populated region was the site of residential developments in former bush areas.
"More people are living there in an area of urban expansion," he told AAP.
"You bring more people into contact with snakes (with expansion)."
There were 100 fewer bites reported statewide in 2015 compared with two years prior.
Dr Hoskin said that's a surprising result considering Queensland's growing population.
He also said consistent annual rainfall could lead to more bites, which may help explain a 22-bite decline in drought-affected Townsville.
"In dry periods, snakes will just remain inactive," he said.
"They're almost more affected by rainfall than temperature."
The ambulance service figures did not distinguish between venomous and non-venomous bites.
Dr Hoskin said very few bites in Australia caused serious harm and most were the result of risky human behaviour.
