Working in the paddy fields: simple habits that lower the risk of snakebite
Most serious bites in Sri Lanka happen during farm work. Footwear, light and a few minutes of planning make a real difference.
Published Sep 18, 2026
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Snakes use paddy bunds, irrigation channels and the edges of fields to hunt rats and frogs. That is why many bites happen to the feet and lower legs of people working in the fields, especially around dawn, dusk and after rain.
Wear closed footwear or boots where you can, and carry a torch when walking between fields in poor light. Tap the ground ahead with a stick on overgrown paths; most snakes move away when they feel vibration.
Keep stored grain, straw and rubble away from where people sleep and rest, because these attract rodents and the snakes that eat them.
If someone is bitten, keep them still, remove rings and tight clothing near the bite, and get them to hospital immediately. Do not cut the wound, apply a tourniquet or wait to see whether symptoms develop.