Although a Trafford man was bit by a snake in Fayette County early Thursday morning, a local herpetologist said close encounters with reptiles are rare.

Chad Heasley, 39, was riding an all-terrain vehicle through the woods with friends when his vehicle got stuck in mud. State police said he went to get some rocks to help elevate his tires and a snake bit him. He was flown to Highlands Hospital and Health Center in Connellsville. A report on his condition was not immediately available.

Ken Stairs of Somerset, a field biologist, said trails go through scenic areas of high mountains where snakes live. Police had not confirmed what kind of snake bit Heasley, but there are copperheads and rattlesnakes in the woods near Connellsville, Stairs said.

“They are secretive and they like to go undetected and unmolested,” he said. “If you step on one or try to pick it up, you will get bit. The snake feels threatened.”

Snakes are often found around rocks or beside logs.

“Never be afraid to hike, but wear boots or sturdy shoes, not flip-flops,” he said. “Look carefully before sitting on the ground and don’t put your fingers on ledges without looking carefully. Step up on logs and look around the side before stepping over it. A snake may be lying on the ground near the log waiting for a chipmunk. Stay on the trail.”

It isn’t true that snakes travel in pairs. Adults that are hunting will be alone. Gestating females will be in groups — he once saw 46 together at a boulder. It isn’t true that snakes can strike a great distance. They can only strike about half of their body length or a little longer if they are on a rock. Their body length isn’t as long as people think, either.

“Snakes aren’t going to chase anybody,” he said. “They are looking for an escape route. Noise wakes them. If you hear a rattle, stop, look for the snake and sidestep around him.”

Ninety-five percent of snakes are nonpoisonous, Stairs said. Those bites are similar to scratches. Someone who is bitten by a poisonous snake can be treated in most hospitals and should be fine if he doesn’t have any underlying medical problems. It isn’t true that physicians need to know what type of snake bit you before starting treatment, he said. The medication is the same.

“Don’t take the snake to the hospital with you — it causes trauma in the ER,” Stairs said. “Thirty percent of bites are dry bites. Out in the southwest you may be further away from medical facilities and the snakes are bigger and have a higher toxicity. There a snake bite is more dangerous.”

Stairs was bitten by a snake once. He had wild-caught a western diamondback rattlesnake in Texas and brought it back with him. He was measuring the snake and it bit him on the thumb.

“It didn’t like being handled,” he said. “I spent seven days in the hospital.”

Venomous snake bites can cause tissue and nerve death. If you are bitten by a rattlesnake or copperhead snake, immobilize the limb at or above the heart if possible. If you are bit on the hand or arm, put your arm across your stomach and hold it there. If you have a cell phone with you, call 911.

“Remain calm — I know it’s hard, but keep your heart rate from going up,” Stairs said. “Get to the nearest medical facility as soon as you can, but don’t run. That raises the heart rate. If you are bit on the hand, remove any rings you’re wearing because your hand will swell. If you have a constricting band — not a tourniquet — put it above the bite. Don’t drink alcohol or take medications.”

The new antivenin serum is sheep blood based and has fewer side effects than the older one that was horse blood based.

About five years ago, he asked the state Health Department how many people in Pennsylvania died of bites from indigenous snakes. There were no deaths for 10 years prior to that.

Stairs and three other men are catching large male rattlesnakes and copperheads on a mountain in Bedford County where wind turbines are to be placed. Two-inch-long transmitters will be implanted in the snakes to track them to dens. The dens will be mapped so the wind turbines don’t break up the dens. The snakes will be caught again in the spring to remove the implants.

Dave Fox, Somerset County 911 coordinator, said people who hike on the trails or through woods need to be aware of where they are. They’ve had problems before with people having a medical emergency on the trail and because they are calling on an older cell phone or the tree canopy was interfering with reception, the 911 center couldn’t pinpoint their location.

“We asked one person where he parked his car so we’d have a starting point, and he replied ‘In a lot with a sign with a big P on it,’” he said. “You need to be aware of which trail you are on and where you went in. Try to know what direction you walked and about how far you walked. If you have a GPS that can be used while walking and a cell phone, take them along. Some people leave the main trail and are on footpaths. That causes problems. Never go alone. It’s like hunting season: You’re safer if you go in numbers. If you do go alone, tell somebody where you are going. People should also wear proper clothing in case they are stranded outside at night. Carry matches to start a fire. Take any survival gear you have.”

via Man bitten by snake in Fayette County woods – Johnstown’s Community Newspaper.

“Hey Dad, I’m riding a turtle.”

My 13-year-old daughter, Abby, was helping clear some of the weeds from our pond and was calling out to me while standing neck deep in weedy water.

I glanced over at her smiling face from where I was lifting out clumps of weeds. The claim didn’t make much sense to me and I figured this was going to be some kind of joke: “Nah, you’re not riding a turtle.”

“Well I’m standing on its back and it’s moving.”

“It’s probably a rock.”

“How much will you give me if it’s a turtle?” she persisted.

“I’ll give you five bucks.” I was starting to think maybe she was really riding a turtle.

“If you’re really on a snapping turtle you’d probably better just swim away, those things have a bite.”

“I really want to catch him. Bring over a bucket so I can throw him in it when I get him.”

I waded over with a medium-sized bucket.

“That’s not big enough.”

I waded back with five gallon bucket. Abby paused. “What are you doing, Abby?”

“Praying.”

The next moment Abby went down under water while I stood with the bucket at the ready.

She came up with a huge snapping monster which she quickly pitched into the bucket.

We took this beast onto shore and surveyed him as he easily snapped off finger-thick sticks with lightning strikes from his powerful jaws.

I was picturing my daughter’s fingers.

“Abby, next time you’re riding a turtle just swim away. But, I have to say, I believe that’s a $10 turtle.”

Snapping turtles are just one of the dangerous creatures folks encounter in east Tennessee. However snappers almost never bother you unless you’re actively bothering them.

Let’s take a brief look at the other potentially dangerous creatures you might encounter around the woods, streams, ponds and backyards of our area.

Let’s start with snakes. There are four kinds of venomous snakes in Tennessee: northern and southern copperhead, timber rattlesnake, western cottonmouth and the western pigmy rattlesnake.

The copperhead is a relatively shy snake, but they account for the most reported bites each year in Tennessee.

Roughly 50 percent of their bites are dry bites; meaning that when they bite, no venom is injected.

Fatal bites are exceedingly rare in Tennessee. Although there are 50,000 deaths worldwide from venomous snakebites reported each year, only 12-15 are in the United States.

Within Tennessee, only four deaths from venomous snakebites have been reported since 1960.

If bitten, the best approach is to try to remain calm and get to a local emergency room. Remove all jewelry around or above the bite area, since there will probably be swelling. But do not apply a tourniquet, nor make cuts around the bite, nor try to suck out the venom. These are outdated approaches that can cause delay, tissue damage, and infection. Don’t try to capture the snake since anti venom is the same for all Tennessee snakes and trying to capture the snake only increases the chances of a second snakebite victim. On average, bites from copperheads result in a week of pain, eleven days of extremity swelling, and two weeks of missed work.

Moving to the smaller culprits, there are two spiders of concern: the black widow and the brown recluse. The black widow is black with a telltale yellow or red hourglass marking on its underside. They are often found in basements, woodpiles and rock walls. Symptoms of a bite may include profuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, and muscle spasms.

The brown recluse hides out in unused shoes, attics, closets and boxes. Its venom destroys tissue. Pain may occur at the bite site six to eight hours afterwards. At 48 hours, there may be itching, redness, blisters, and then a dark crust may form at the bite site followed by sloughing off of some tissue. A visit to the doctor would be wise after a bite from either of these two venomous spiders.

Tennessee is also home to two species of scorpion, the southern unstriped scorpion and the introduced striped Scorpion. Rocky hillsides, rock or brick walls, crawl spaces, and log piles are favorite scorpion habitats. The sting of these scorpions is considered mild. The sensation is a sharp pain that usually lasts for 15 to 20 minutes.

What about fish? The dorsal and pectoral fins of many species of catfish, particularly the small mad toms, have venomous spines that can inflict painful wounds, though generally not life threatening.

Then, of course, there are the red and the black fire ants, bees, wasps, and hornets.

If you should get bitten or stung by any of these creatures, be sure to get immediate medical attention if any of the following occur: Difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips or throat, slurred speech, chest pain, faintness, rapid heart rate, nausea, cramping, vomiting, or a known venomous snakebite.

In spite of all these worrisome critters, the outdoors is still hard to beat here in east Tennessee. So enjoy it! But keep your eyes open.

via Dangerous creatures could ruin a summer.

It is really hard to tell which animal is the most poisonous in the world. The one that has the most toxic chemicals? The one that kills the biggest amount of people a year? Or maybe the one with the biggest amount of poison?

First of all, I have to admit that the title is a bit incorrect, because there is a difference between poisonous and venomous animals. A poisonous animal carries harmful chemicals called toxins primarily used for self defense. Therefore venomous animals deliver their toxins by stinging, stabbing, or biting. So poisonous animals are passive killers, while venomous animals are active killers.

Nevertheless, theory aside, they are all really dangerous. So look really closely at each photo, cause next time you meet them can be the last thing you ever see.

1. Box Jellyfish

The top prize for “The World Most Venomous Animal,” would go to the Box Jellyfish. It has caused at least 5,567 recorded deaths since 1954. Their venom is among the most deadly in the world. It’s toxins attack the heart, nervous system, and skin cells. And the worst part of it is that jelly box venom is so overpoweringly painful, that human victims go in shock, drown or die of heart failure before even reaching shore. Survivors experience pain weeks after the contact with box jellies.

You have virtually no chance to survive the venomous sting, unless treated immediately. After a sting, vinegar should be applied for a minimum of 30 seconds. Vinegar has acetic acid, which disables the box jelly’s nematocysts that have not yet discharged into the bloodstream (though it will not alleviate the pain). Wearing panty hose while swimming is also a good prevention measure since it can prevent jellies from being able to harm your legs.

Jelly box can be found in the waters around Asia and Australia.

2. King Cobra

The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the world’s longest venomous snake – growing up to 5.6 m (18.5 ft) in length. Ophiophagus, literally means “snake-eater” as it eats other snakes. One single bite of this deadly snake can easily kill a human. This snake is even capable of killing a full-grown Asian Elephant within 3 hours if the larger animal is bitten in a vulnerable area such as the trunk.

It’s venom is not as toxic as other venomous snakes, but King Cobra is capable of injecting 5 times more venom than black mamba and can result in mortality up to 5 times faster than that of the black mamba. It is quite widespread, ranging across South and South-east Asia, living in dense highland forests.

3. Marbled Cone Snail

This little beautiful looking Marbled Cone snail can be as deadly as any other animal on this list. One drop of its venom is so powerful that it can kill more than 20 humans. If you ever happen to be in warm salt water environment (where these snails are often found) and see it, don’t even think of picking it up. Of course, the true purpose of its venom is to catch its prey.

Symptoms of a cone snail sting can start immediately or can be delayed in onset for days. It results in intense pain, swelling, numbness and tingling. Severe cases involve muscle paralysis, vision changes and breathing failure. There is no antivenom. However, only about 30 human deaths have been recorded from cone snail envenomation.

4. Blue-Ringed Octopus

The Blue-Ringed Octopus is very small, only the size of a golf ball, but its venom is so powerful that can kill a human. Actually it carries enough poison to kill 26 adult humans within minutes, and there is no antidote. They are currently recognized as one of the world’s most venomous animals.

Its painless bite may seem harmless, but the deadly neurotoxins begin working immediately resulting in muscular weakness, numbness, followed by a cessation and breathing and ultimately death.

They can be found in tide pools in the Pacific Ocean, from Japan to Australia.

5. Death Stalker Scorpion

Contrarily to the popular belief most of the scorpions are relatively harmless to humans as stings produce only local effects (pain, numbness or swelling). However, the Death Starker Scorpion is highly dangerous species because its venom is a powerful cocktail of neurotoxins which causes an intense and unbearable pain, then fever, followed by coma, convulsions, paralysis and death. Fortunately, while a sting from this scorpion is extremely painful, it would be unlikely to kill a healthy, adult human. Young children, the old, or infirm (with a heart condition) are at the biggest risk.

Death stalker scorpions are spread in North Africa and Middle East.

6. Stonefish

Maybe Stonefish would never win a beauty contest, but it would definitely win the top prize for being “The World Most Venomous Fish”. Its venom causes such a severe pain that the victims of its sting want the affected limb to be amputated. It is described as the worst pain known to man. It is accompanied with possible shock, paralysis, and tissue death. If not given medical attention within a couple of hours It can be fatal to humans.

Stonefish stores its toxins in gruesome-looking spines that are designed to hurt would-be predators.

Stonefish mostly live above the tropic of Capricorn, often found in the shallow tropical marine waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans, ranging from the Red Sea to the Queensland Great Barrier Reef.

7. The Brazilian wandering spider

The Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria) or banana spider appears in the Guinness Book of World Records 2007 for the most venomous spider and is the spider responsible for most human deaths.

This spider is believed to have the most potent neurotoxic venom of any living spider. Only 0.006mg (0.00000021oz) is sufficient to kill a mouse. They are also so dangerous because of their wandering nature. They often hide during daytime in highly populated areas inside houses, clothes, boots, and cars.

Its venomous bite causes not only intense pain, the venom of the spider can also cause priapism – uncomfortable erections lasting for many hours that lead to impotence.

8. Inland Taipan

The prize for “The World’s Most Venomous Snake” goes to the Inland Taipan of Australia. Just a single bite from this snake contains enough venom to kill 100 human adults or an army of 250,000 mice. Its venom is at least 200 – 400 times more toxic than a common cobra. The Inland Taiwan’s extremely neurotoxic venom can kill an adult human in as little as 45 minutes. Fortunately this snake is very shy and there have been no documented human fatalities (all known bites were treated with antivenin).

9. Poison Dart Frog

If you ever happen to be running through the rain forests somewhere in Central or South America, do not ever pick up beautiful and colorful frogs – it can be the Poison Dart Frog. This frog is probably the most poisonous animal on earth.The 2 inch long (5cm) golden poison dart frog has enough venom to kill 10 adult humans or 20,000 mice. Only 2 micrograms of this lethal toxin (the amount that fits on the head of a pin) is capable of killing a human or other large mammal. They are called “dart frogs” because indigenous Amerindians’ use of their toxic secretions to poison the tips of their blow-darts. Poison dart frogs keep their poison in their skins and will sicken or kill anybody who touches or eats it.

10. Puffer Fish

Puffer Fish are the second most poisonous vertebrate on earth (the first one is golden dart Frog). The meat of some species is a delicacy in both Japan (as fugu) and Korea (as bok-uh) but the problem is that the skin and certain organs of many puffer fish are very poisonous to humans.

This puffy fish produce rapid and violent death..Puffer’s poisoning causes deadening of the tongue and lips, dizziness, vomiting, rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, and muscle paralysis. Victims die from suffocation as diaphragm muscles are paralyzed. Most of the victims die after four to 24 hours. There is no known antidote, Most deaths from fugu happen when untrained people catch and prepare the fish.

Statistics show that there were 20 to 44 incidents of fugu poisoning per year between 1996 and 2006 in all of Japan and up to six incidents per year led to death. Since Fugu’s poison can cause near instantaneous death, only licensed chefs are allowed to prepare it.

via The World`s Biggests: 10 Most Poisonous Animals in the World.

TAMPA – Growing up in Tampa, Mike Hendershot thought he knew snakes. He's even been bitten by non-poisonous ones a couple of times.

So Sunday night when he and his friends saw a foot and a half long snake under their car, Mike thought it was harmless.

“I've messed with snakes before. I saw this one, it looked like a garden snake to me. I just tried to, I was messing around. I tried to grab it,” he said.

But the snake turned its head, striking him. Its fangs pierced Mike's middle finger on his right hand.'

“It was as if someone hit me with a hammer on the finger. And then a needle. It was just a stinging, numbing pain,” he recalled, from his hospital room at University Community Hospital, in Tampa.

The 22-year-old recent FSU grad said he and his friends went on the internet and saw a picture of the snake. It turned out it was a water moccasin, a highly venomous snake.

Mike's friends rushed him to UCH, where he received 12 vials of anti-venin.

Hospital staff have had a lot of experience in venomous snake bites.

Last year, UCH treated the most poisonous snake bites than any other hospital in the country, with 15.

Jim Maister, a clinical pharmacist with UCH, said this is the season for snakes.

“Yes, it is the season. Summertime. They are cold-blooded animals, so they do need to warm themselves in the sun. It's one of those things, we have to be careful and we have to respect their environment too,” Maister said.

He's particularly worried right now too.

“Because this week, next week, all the kids get out of school. And there are lots of areas that are under construction. Areas that are plowed out or mowed over. These animals need some place to go, so they are going to end up in your garage, under your car,” Maister said.

Maister also says we all need to respect these animal's environment, and Mike Hendershot agrees. He admits it wasn't as easy as he thought to detect the differences between the poisonous snakes and the harmless ones.

“Don't grab them, that's for sure. Just don't even get around them,” Hendershot warned.

via Poisonous snakebite sends man to ER.

Link

Be careful and don’t ever try to handle a rattlesnake – even the pros get bitten.

It’s Snake Season: Clarkdale snake catcher bitten by rattlesnake

CLARKDALE — Mother’s Day had been a really good day for Kevin and Katie Keller’s family of Clarkdale. Kevin wasn’t thinking about rattlesnakes. Sometimes he does because Kevin has a sideline business of catching them for other people. But Sunday afternoon he was simply adjusting a drip-head on an irrigation line next to a rose bush.

He didn’t feel anything. But he did notice a little blood on his ring finger. Then he noticed a couple of bite marks. He’d been struck! Without knowing the snake was there.

Within 10 minutes Katie had Kevin at Verde Valley Medical Center’s emergency room. In about an hour, the medical personnel had the anti-venom powder mixed with saline solution and flowing into Kevin.

With rattlesnake bites, Kevin has been told, “time is tissue.” He was being treated about as quickly as any rattlesnake bite victim could be. 

Even so …. “It was gut-wrenchingly painful,” Kevin said. “I was in the ER and got seven shots of morphine.”

Kevin said the excruciating pain lasted for about 12 hours. He said the medical staff at VVMC was awesome. “I started out in the ER, and they moved me to ICU for two days.” He said the pain was the worst part of the ordeal. “I had no sweats, no nausea, no hives, no nightmares.”

“One thing they were watching for was edema,” Katie said. If the swelling gets bad, it’s likely VVMC would fly Kevin to Phoenix. Katie said swelling could cause a snakebite victim to lose an arm or leg.

Wednesday morning Kevin was home. But he isn’t entirely out of the snakebite woods yet.

“For the next three weeks, he has to get his blood checked every 48 hours,” Katie said. 

She explained that Kevin is being watched for either a reaction to the anti-venom or — once the anti-venom leaves his system – for a reaction to the original snake venom. “He could have to go in for more anti-venom,” Katie said.

Robert Barth, director of Emergency Services for VVMC, said snakebite victims are sometimes transferred to Banner Poison Control Center in Phoenix if symptoms are serious. Initial treatment takes place at VVMC. In Kevin’s case, he was able to stay at VVMC.

The Kellers have lived in the Clarkdale foothills for three years. Rattlesnakes are common in the area. “The first year we were here, we had 17 rattlesnakes on this property,” Kevin said. The second year wasn’t as bad, but the Kellers saw the first rattlesnake this year in February. 

“All of our neighbors are getting them in their yards right now,” Kevin said. “Lately, I’ve been seeing 48- and 50-inch snakes.”

The one that got Kevin was small, only about 12-inches long. And contrary to popular belief, that little, hard-to-see snake didn’t rattle until after it bit Kevin.

Kevin catches snakes for his neighbors and for other local people. He has all of the safety equipment, a snake pole, boots and gloves. When he’s called to catch a snake, he doesn’t worry so much about being bitten. 

“I believe that at least 50 percent of the risk factor is just knowing they’re there,” he said. 

“I’ve got to be more careful,” Kevin said, “that’s what I learned.” But he doesn’t intend to quit catching snakes for a fee. That isn’t where the danger is. “If you go to remove a snake, nine times out of 10 you know where the snake is.”

Kevin warns that snakes are more aggressive in the spring and in the fall. He recommends keeping brush and junk cleared from property near a home. He and Katie are taking out all of their rose bushes and non-native landscaping. Kevin said the snakes love water, and irrigation systems tend to attract them.

He also warns that it is a myth that rattlesnakes always rattle before striking. His didn’t rattle until after Kevin was bitten. “Out of all the snakes I’ve seen and removed,” Kevin said, “only one of them rattled.”

Kevin’s “Snake Catcher” service can be reached at (949) 636-1841.

What to do after snakebite

Robert Barth, RN, MSN, and director of Emergency Services at Verde Valley Medical Center refers snakebite victims to a website at Banner Poison Control Center for information about what to do after being bitten by a poisonous snake. The control center is part of Banner Health in Phoenix. The site can be reached at www.bannerhealth.com. Go to Rattlesnake Bite Treatment. A few guidelines to help if you are bit: • Don’t panic: Stay as calm as possible. If bitten on the hand, remove all jewelry immediately before swelling begins. • Don’t apply ice to the bite site or immerse the bite in a bucket of ice. • Don’t use a constricting band/ cloth/ belt or tourniquet. Do not restrict blood flow in any manner. • Don’t cut the bite site or try to suck out the venom. Leave the bite site alone. • Don’t use electric shock or stun guns of any kind. • Don’t try to capture the snake to bring to the hospital. Time spent capturing a snake delays arrival at the emergency department, and may result in additional bites. Identification of the snake is not necessary for treatment. The physicians treat the symptoms as they occur and modify the anti-venom and treatment as needed. Treatment is not snake specific. Each year, more than 150 rattlesnake bites are reported to the Banner Poison Control Center.

Link

Admittedly, not a lethal situation by any stretch, but still a story worth telling. And, at the very least, more proof that snakes and other animals can show up in the most unusual places – not just in the “wild.”

Snake Bites Man Sitting
on Toilet

Updated: Tuesday, 12 May 2009, 1:49 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 12 May 2009, 1:43 PM EDT

• By ANTHONY BARTKEWICZ

(MYFOX NATIONAL) – “Toilet snake” has one meaningfor plumbers and a very different meaning for a Taiwanese man who was bitten on the genitals by a snake as he sat on his toilet. The Taipei Times reportsthat the man now suffers from a phobia of toilets.

According to the Daily Telegraph , the 51-year-old man, who has only been identified by the last name Lin, “suddenly felt a knife-like pain and reacted instinctively by standing up” as soon as he sat down. When he looked down, he saw a snake sitting in his toilet. The yellow and black snake is believed to be a species of rat snake, which is not poisonous. “If it were a poisonous snake, Lin would be lucky to be alive,” his doctor was quoted as saying in the Taipei Times.

It is believed that the snake entered Lin’s toilet through a crack in the lid of his septic tank. Considering the nature of his injury, Lin is being surprisingly gracious to the snake, which was released into the wild. “It was the snake’s signal for help when it bit me,” he said. “If it hadn’t, maybe it would have been stuck in the septic tank and either suffocated or starved to death. It looked like an accident but it was actually fate.” 

Link

Snake season approaches
Posted: May 6, 2009 04:03 PM

Updated: May 6, 2009 04:52 PM

 

By Adam Hooper - bio | email

LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) – It is beginning to feel more and more like summer every day. But with the warmer weather comes the start of snake season. More often than not people try and avoid those slithering serpents, but it is important to note snakes are a vital part of our ecosystem. They feed off of rodents and insects.

But it is never a bad idea to be safe by steering clear of venomous snakes. In Louisiana there are six, the Diamond Back Rattle snake, found in eastern Louisiana, the Coral snake, the Canebreak snake, the Cotton Mouth snake, the Pigmy Rattler, and the Copper Head.

“All poisonous snakes have slits for eyes, cat eyes. They also have vents in the front of their head, where the venom is stored,” said John Robinette, with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

An old tire is a perfect example of where you might find a snake looking for food, like rodents and bugs, but snakes are not limited to these areas. You can find them anywhere, from your front yard, to the inside of your home.

“They like dense areas. Pretty much where you think a snake would be. High grass, firewood, trashy areas,” said Robinette.

But, if one does find its way into your home, Calcasieu Parish Animal Services says not to remove it yourself.

“If a snake does get into your home or on your porch just call us. We will come out and remove the snake,” said Rita Cavenaugh, with Calcasieu Parish Animal Services.

But snakes are not mean like you may think. They are just as scared of us as many of us are of them.

“Snakes do not want to bite. They would rather get away. They will not usually bite unless you put them in a position to bite,” said Robinette.

 

Link

Staying safe: Valley hospitals see spike in snake bites

Patrick Hotchkiss spent his second night in the hospital Monday night.  He was flown by helicopter to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center after being bitten by a rattlesnake on Sunday afternoon.  “It was like a couple pieces of glass stabbed into you and snapped off. It was very clean and sharp,” said Hotchkiss.  Doctors at the hospital said they’ve seen eight snakebites in the past week. Four happened over the weekend.  “Number wise, Arizona is probably has the most poisonous snakes compared to any other states,” said Dr. Michael Levine. Bites can be deadly but it’s rare.  Symptoms often include significant swelling, immediate pain that intensifies over time, and venom from a bite can lead to other complications.  “It affects your blood and makes you bleed a lot more and really makes your blood a little too think and effects the ability to form blood clots,” said Levine.  Levine said a lot of snakebites happen when someone teases or tries to pickup a snake.  He encourages people to avoid snakes or walking around them.  Levine said anyone bitten by a snake should avoid wrapping or putting a bandage on the bite.  He also discourages anyone from sucking or trying to cut out the venom.  Instead, Levine said anyone bitten should leave the bite alone and call for help immediately.

Link

Copperhead Snake Bites Student On School Camping Trip

According to one of the commenters, who appears to be an aunt of the victim, “He cannot bear any weight on his leg without a great deal of pain still, so if any of you folks out there could find it in your heart to perhaps say a little prayer for him, Jacob and our entire family would be so grateful!” Good thing he’ll be all right eventually!

Greensboro, NC– Nine year old Jacob has a ‘snake’ of a tale to share with classmates when he returns to his school next week.

Jacob was bit by a Copperhead snake while on an overnight camping trip. He was with other students and staff from Elon Elementary schoolwhen the incident happened.

The group spent the night in Harp’s Park Thursday and Jacob was bitten Friday morning when he was walking. “My foot sunk into a hole and I was trying to get away but the snake jumped up and bit me,” said Jacob.

His mom and twin brother Joseph are with him at a local hospital while he recovers. The twins will turn 10 on Monday.

Jacob admits the bite is a lesson he’ll never forget, and a warning he wants to share with his brother and friends: “Watch the ground for holes,” he says. Because there could be snakes in there.

North Carolina is home to 37 different species of snakes, but only six are venomous.

While it’s unlikely a dangerous snake will bite you, because of the numbers the Copperhead is the greatest potential danger.

Here’s advice from the North Carolina Cooperative Extension:

Venomous snakes have a large triangular head, and vertically elliptical pupils, like cat eyes. They also have long fangs.

If you are bitten by a venomous snake, the bite will look like two puncture marks. You should seek medical attention immediately.

A non-venomous snake bite will look like a horseshoe of tiny scratches. You should wash it with soap and water.

Link

Poisonous snakes in town

By Kevin Davis

KOSSE – They hide in the grass, in garbage, and they’re very poisonous. They’re Copperhead snakes, and with recent floods pushing them out into the open, they are dangerously multiplying in Kosse.

Residents of Kosse say they’ve seen a lot of snakes recently….and they’re getting brave — slithering down the main part of town.

But the county has no animal control official, meaning the residents of Kosse will have to take care of the mess. According to James Kays, a resident of Kosse, “the city has asked everybody to clean up their property… even help people clean property adjacent to their own to try to keep the snakes out.”The city has started issuing citations to people who aren’t clearing their land of potential snake havens.

But for James Kays, he has one message for the snakes — bring it on.

“A snake’s a snake to me. If he’s green, yellow, brown, whatever color, I’ll kill him if i can.”

The first round of citations for not removing snake havens are going out next week.

Link

Rattlesnake Season Is Upon Us

Reported by: Jerry Olenyn  Email: jolenyn@khsltv.com  Last Update: 5/01 10:40 am

Summer is close at hand, that means kids and pets playing in the park.  But with that summer fun comes the threat of encountering a rattlesnake in North State parks.   Only one or two Californians die of rattlesnake bites each year.  But you need to know how to react if it  happens to you. Neal Kline of Enloe Fight Care said “the chances of being immobile is pretty good, snakes’ toxins digest your skin.”  Upper Bidwell Park in Chico is a haven for rattlesnakes in Butte County.  Most of the reports of rattlesnake bites are from pet owners who don’t keep their dogs on a leash.  Here are some do’s and don’ts if you’re bitten. DO: Keep the bitten area still, remove jewelry near the bitten area because it cuts off blood flow, keep the bitten area lower than the heart, head to the hospital. DON’T: Don’t try to cool down the bite, do not open the wound and suck out the venom, don’t use a tourniquet because you could lose a limb.

Link

Don’t be so quick to kill that snake — chances are, it won’t hurt you

BY HOPE A. SMITH | EDITORIAL COLUMNIST
Published: May 1, 2009

What is the first thought in your mind when you happen upon a snake in your yard?

Do you look for the nearest garden implement so you can kill it?

You shouldn’t.

For years, snakes have been one of the most misunderstood animals. Believe it or not, most snakes indigenous to Virginia are harmless. Unless you absolutely adore the mice that defecate around your home (and can produce 50 offspring per year), leave the snake alone — he’ll take care of your mouse problem.

There are many misconceptions about snakes in general. First and foremost, it’s likely that snakes in the wild are more scared of you than you are of them. Secondly, snakes only strike, or bite, out of fear of if they think you’re food.

Incidentally, snakes are perceptive enough to know if you’re a mouse (or some other form of smaller wildlife) and small enough for them to eat. Finally, snakes do not “chase” people — most likely, when you see this perceived “chasing,” they’re probably trying to get the heck out of Dodge.

Sometimes it can be difficult to identify whether a snake is venomous. And, yes, they are “venomous” not “poisonous.” Generally speaking, venom is injected, whereas poison is ingested.

According to “A Guide to the Snakes of Virginia,” published by The Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, each year bee stings, lightning strikes and horses kill more people in Virginia than venomous snakes do.

Only five deaths in Virginia have been attributed to venomous snakebites since 1948, and three of those involved people intentionally handling snakes. Of the three venomous varieties in Virginia, copperheads have the least potency. Bites from cottonmouths and timber rattlesnakes are potentially deadly if left untreated.

One of the most common snakes we see sunbathing on roads and cruising through our yards is the ratsnake, aka blacksnake. Contrary to urban legend, blacksnakes cannot mate with copperheads; it is biologically impossible. Blacksnakes lay eggs, whereas copperheads give live birth.

As adults, ratsnakes can grow up to 80 inches long. We used to have a “pet” snake that lived in our barn when I was growing up. We let him live in there, because he kept the mice and rat population at bay. We even named him Harvey — although we wouldn’t go near him.

Many snakes are misidentified, mostly because of the different areas from which they are indigenous. For example, the venomous cottonmouth is confused with the non-venomous northern watersnake a lot of times. And although the copperhead is found throughout Virginia, other snakes are usually misidentified as being copperheads, such as cornsnakes, milksnakes, juvenile ratsnakes or mole kingsnakes.

Do you think you’ve seen a cottonmouth? Think again. They mostly live in swamps and freshwater marshes of the lower Coastal Plain region.

There is a wonderful zoo right down the road in Luray. Our good friends, Mark Kilby and Jenn Westhoff, run the zoo, and they perform hands-on, interactive educational presentations. They present the animals, then dispel myths and give you the facts about many fascinating creatures, including snakes.

When I met my husband 16 years ago, he told me he had a few snakes as pets. Folks, I was raised with a “healthy fear” of snakes. I couldn’t be in the same room as one, even if it were caged. I have to give my hubby serious props, because he educated me about snakes and dispelled some of the myths I’d heard.

Sixteen years later, we have a nice snake collection, and two are even mine (Piper and Mag). Our daughter has grown up with them, with a healthy respect instead of fear.

Link

Apparently there may have been a previously undiscovered toxin in this bite. Crazy.

New toxin discovered in Southern Pacific rattlesnake’s venom

By Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer

Posted: 04/29/2009 10:40:51 PM PDT

Mike Zerwekh was surprised how quickly he started to feel the rattlesnake’s bite.

The dryness in the mouth, the tingly sensation throughout his body. And then he began to have muscle spasms, a reaction that surprised him.

Fortunately, he was only about 100 yards away from his vehicle when the snake struck him as he walked alone in tall grass in the Santa Ana Mountains in Orange County’s Cleveland National Forest on the unseasonably sweltering day in mid-April.

Always careful in his footsteps, Zerwekh, a field biologist, hadn’t seen the snake coming. There was also no rattle before the twin fangs tore into his left calf.

Only after the attack did he catch a glimpse of the retreating black snake, about 3 feet long.

Inside the car and driving toward help, Zerwekh, 26, struggled to steer the vehicle as the muscle contractions became increasingly violent. It was the battle of his life to stay on the road.

He didn’t know it at the time, but those spasms are unique to the type of rattlesnake that bit him – the Southern Pacific.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before he came upon law enforcement and ambulance personnel who were on the road ahead, responding to a traffic accident.

Dr. Sean Bush, a professor of emergency room medicine and emergency room physician at Loma Linda University Medical Center and venomous snake expert, said that when Zerwekh was brought into the ER, his “bizarre muscle movement” was a reaction he’d seen before, but only from some Southern Pacific rattlesnake bites.

And antivenom treatments will do nothing to stop it.

“He was twitching like worms were under his skin,” said Bush.

Zerwekh recalls medical students throughout the hospital streaming into his room to observe the painful, involuntary motions that racked his body.

The twitching subsided significantly the following day, and was gone the day after that, Zerwekh said.

Mature snakes in this rattlesnake species, indigenous to a vast section of Southern California, are often coal black. Sometimes a diamondback pattern is faintly visible; sometimes not. The snake’s dark coloration allows them to survive better at higher elevations than other rattlesnakes, Bush said.

Southern Pacific rattlesnakes are likely the most common variety of rattlesnake in area mountains and have been found at elevations as high as 11,000 feet. They are also seen along rolling coastal hills, Bush said.

These snakes are potentially the most dangerous of the rattlesnakes found in Southern California, Bush said. Even more dangerous than the Mojave green, which has a neurotoxin that can halt breathing or the much larger Western Diamondback, found in the desert near the Arizona border.

The twitching reaction Zerwekh experienced can likely be traced to a new toxin discovered in the Southern Pacific’s venom earlier this year named hellerase.

Further analysis may prove hellerase to be a previously unknown neurotoxin, he said.

The reason Bush calls the Southern Pacific the most dangerous area snake is because it is potentially a triple threat with three types of venom.

It has the traditional rattlesnake venom that attacks red blood cells and tissues. It can have the newly discovered hellerase toxin. And some groups of Southern Pacific rattlers have also been found to have the lethal neurotoxin found in the Mojave green rattlesnakes.

Southern Pacific rattlesnakes in the San Jacinto Mountains have the Mojave Green’s neurotoxin, in addition to the blood attacking chemical, which Mojave Green rattlers don’t have, Bush said.

Southern Pacific rattlesnakes in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains don’t seem to have this neurotoxin, Bush said.

Bush stressed that the behavior of the Southern Pacific rattlesnake does not make it more dangerous than others.

“It is not particularly a biter. It does not go after people,” he said.

Having recovered from the likely hellerase-induced spasms and able to slowly walk in the hospital, Zerwekh, a Moreno Valley resident, was not out of danger early last week.

Doctors wanted him to remain in LLUMC so they could watch and regulate his platelet count so that he did not suffer massive bleeding, Zerwekh said.

He was discharged Friday.

---

Snake season tips

Wear boots that cover the ankle;

Step back from the sound after hearing a rattle;

Stay on trails;

Be alert for a snake hiding at edge of a trail;

Don’t go where you can’t see where your feet are landing;

Don’t reach over a rock where you can’t see.

Source: Bruce Lamarche – Sierra Madre search and rescue team

Link

Rare, but not unexpected.

Rattlesnake roundup in Chicago area

The last known rattlesnakes still living in the Chicago area are being rounded up in an emergency species survival rescue effort.

A massasauga rattlesnake, caught last week, is checked by staff of Lincoln Park Zoo on Tuesday. (Tribune / Kuni Takahashi)
   

Jointly conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Lincoln Park Zoo, the roundup is sending snakes to the zoo and an eventual captive breeding program likely to take a decade or more. The idea is to breed the reptiles, eastern massasauga rattlesnakes, back to a large and healthy enough population so they can be restored to area wilderness locations, including forest and nature preserves.

The native species is so shy and retiring that it has managed to remain here from the city’s frontier beginnings through today.

“They aren’t a very rattling rattlesnake,” said Joanne Earnhardt, a population biologist at Lincoln Park Zoo who chairs the North American species survival plan for the snake. She said there are few recorded instances of them biting humans. 

“They only grow up to 2 feet long and are very shy, something you don’t expect in a rattlesnake,” Earnhardt said. “They have a behavior of being very quiet and still, even if you are within inches of them, hoping you will go away.”

In Cook, DuPage, Will and Lake Counties over the next month and in springtime over the next several years, biologists will systematically search for the rattlesnake at sites where it was known to live in the past.

The massasauga (pronounced massa-SAW-guh) was relatively common in the four counties until a few decades ago, but annual searches for them that began in 2005 found them in only one isolated wetland area. Fearing pet collectors or vandals might descend on that location and remove or destroy the snakes, officials decline to identify where it is.

“We have been studying them for years and have watched their dramatic decline,” said Joe Kath, the state Natural Resources Department’s endangered species project manager. “We came to the difficult realization that we had two choices: We either watch them completely disappear from northeastern Illinois, or we take this action and bring them back to a healthy, viable population.”

On Friday, biologists conducting the rescue search found an adult female massasauga at the single isolated area, and on Monday, they found an adult male there.

“It is a beautiful snake,” Earnhardt said. “It is beige, black and gray with large dark splotches on its skin that are different on each snake.”

In long summer grass in the wetlands, ponds, swamps, fens and grasslands where they normally live, their camouflage is so perfect they are extremely difficult to spot, she said. Springtime, while wild grasses are still short, is the easiest time to spot them when they are leaving the  crawfish burrows where they have spent the winter.

“If you are bitten by one, it is serious, but their venom is not extremely potent and life-threatening, as it can be from more dangerous venomous snakes,” Earnhardt said, “In fact, massasaugas can control when they do and don’t use venom as they bite, and they might not use it biting a human because they would recognize humans are not prey, just something they want to scare away.”

In nature, they are crucial to their habitats, working as ambush hunters popping out of long grass to kill and eat mice, voles, shrews and rats, keeping down their populations.

Robert Kennicott, the most important early naturalist in Chicago, collected and preserved many massasauga specimens in the 1850s that can be found in natural history collections, said Michael Redmer, a staff biologist at the  Fish and Wildlife Service’s regional office.

“Up to the early 1990s, the [massasauga] snake was fairly easy to observe if you knew the places to look for them,”  Redmer said.

The snake is on the Illinois endangered species list and is a strong candidate to go on the federal endangered or threatened species list, he said. 

There are three distinct genetic groups of the species, one that resides in Ontario, New York and Pennsylvania; another in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio; and a third in Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa.

The causes of their dwindling numbers are human-related — destruction of their habitat as it is converted to farmland or urban uses, deterioration of their ecosystems and hunting.

“Up until the late 1960s, you would see newspaper ads announcing organized ‘Rattlesnake Roundups’ in which people  would bring them in from forest preserves for bounties,” Redmer said. “That was the prevailing attitude then — they are venomous and no good, so get them out. It is a sad thing. The snake can’t help that it is venomous.”

Link

Four common myths about rattlesnakes

Myth: They always rattle before striking. Reality: Rattling behavior is unpredictable. Cal Poly assistant biology professor Emily Taylor has handled dozens of rattlesnakes, and their behavior when confronted by a human varies from lots of rattling to passiveness. The best way to avoid getting bitten is to watch where you step when in rattlesnake territory and never reach anywhere before checking to see if a snake is there.

Myth: You can tell a rattler’s age by the number of rattles it has. Reality: Rattlesnakes form a new rattle every time they shed. A snake can shed several times a year and older rattles can break off. The number of rattles a snake has only indicates if it is young or old.

Myth: A baby rattler’s bite is more dangerous than an adult’s. Reality: This is based on the fact that, drop for drop, a baby rattlesnake’s venom can be more toxic. However, an adult rattler has much more venom than a baby. So a bite from an adult rattler is almost always worse than one from a baby.

Myth: Rattlesnakes are aggressive. Reality: A rattler uses its venom to incapacitate and digest its food. The last thing it wants to do is waste its venom on a person, something that’s way too big for it to eat. Just about the only ways to get bitten by a rattler is to step on one or pick one up. “Most rattlesnake bites are on the hands and arms of young men with alcohol involved,” Taylor said.

Link

I don’t really understand why they do this Rattler roundup. Can someone educate me? It just seems cruel and unnecessary to me.

Okeene rattlesnake hunter shares memories of his first hunt

By Violet Hassler, Staff Writer
OKEENE — The first time Aaron Williams went hunting rattlesnakes he was beating the bushes and scared to death.

“My wife’s friend asked me if I wanted to go snake hunting, and I said, ‘Sure.’ I enjoy the outdoors, so I went with him,” Williams said. “It was an older gentlemen in his 50s … and I walked as close as I could get behind him. I was terrified.”

Today, 10 or so years later, Williams walks into the Den of Death and faces thousands of snakes and thousands of questions from those attending Okeene Rattlesnake Round-up, which begins Friday and extends through Sunday this year.

While out hunting snakes in preparation for the event, Williams shared memories of his first hunt.

“… I remember walking through the grass. He told me if anything bothered me just to tap the grass (with a long-handled snake catcher), and they would make noise, they would rattle. And I remember walking through there and my arm was so sore at the end of the day from tapping the grass.”

One does not constantly need to beat the grass, Williams has since learned, as now he confidently strolls through the Salt Creek Canyon area southwest of Okeene, occasionally tapping the ground lightly to stir up any snakes hiding in the grass.

He did catch more that first day, however, than a sore muscle.

“… I finally caught one that was probably 38, 40 inches, and I thought it was the biggest rattlesnake in the world. I just enjoyed it, and I’ve done it ever since.”

In the past few weeks, Williams has caught more than 100 snakes that will join other hunters’ contributions in the Den of Death.

The den features thousands of snakes behind plywood and bulletproof glass, which allows the kids to get a safe, close-up look.

In fact, the Den of Death, despite its name, presents no danger … well, to those watching, anyway.

“As long as you are on the outside of the pit,” Williams said, with a grin.

Those climbing in the pit to share information with attendees are volunteers — as are all affiliated with the Okeene roundup — and some of them have gotten snake-bit.

That’s how Williams became affiliated with the hunt.

One of the volunteers was bitten and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment, and because Williams was known to hunt snakes he was asked to take over in the Den of Death pit. Four hours later his relief came back, and he was hooked.

To date, Williams continues a streak of being bite-free.

“Everybody tells me it’s … every time you do that you’re taking a chance, and every time you do it your chances increase of getting bit, so … I don’t want to get bit, and I hope that I never get bit.”

Diamondback rattlers are not the most aggressive of snakes, however, Williams said, as he crouched down less than 2 feet from one that happened across the roadway in front of him. The snake coiled and rose into “perfect strike position” in an effort to warn Williams off, but it never lunged.

While driving, Williams was able to tell the snake was a rattler because it held its rattles high in the air as it crawled. 

“We’re going to catch him,” Willi-ams said, as he stopped his truck and climbed out, chuckling like a kid at Christmas.

It’s the adrenaline that draws a couple of thousand each year to the Okeene area to hunt rattlesnakes during the event. Nearby Boeckman Ranch, home to some of the most beautiful scenery many never see in northwest Oklahoma and to the deadly snakes, opens its land for the hunt.

Williams soon learned after he started hunting and becoming involved in the roundup a prize-winning snake must be more than 70 inches in length, or twice the size of “the biggest rattlesnake in the world” he thought he captured on his first run.

But live snakes are not the only thing rattling in Okeene this weekend.

Vendors will begin setting up on Main Street Friday night and will remain through late Sunday afternoon. Those attending will find everything from T-shirts to snake meat. A carnival will be ongoing throughout the weekend, and the Old Smokey snake headquarters will be open to share the history of the roundup and the northwest Oklahoma area.

Knights of Columbus starts the action early, serving pancake breakfasts both Saturday and Sunday — the biggest days of the event. There will be a parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, and townwide garage sales will be ongoing throughout the weekend.

There will be a horseshoe tournament, train rides from Enid and to Southard, Lil’ Rattler Poker Run, the annual Amy Eskue memorial run, an ATV rodeo Saturday night and a dance following.

Things start to wind down about 5 p.m. Sunday just after the longest snake competition awards ceremony.

“After the snake measurement, everything starts to shut down,” Williams said, then he grinned, “and we go back to our regular jobs.”

Link

Rattlers emerging from their winter hibernation

By LIZETH CAZARES

Created: 04/29/2009 02:32:37 AM PDT

 

Rattle snakes are becoming common sights this time of year in the Capay Valley. (Coutesy)

It’s rattlesnake season, and veterinarians at the Woodland Veterinary Hospital are already dealing with the consequences. 

Dr. Keith Robe said in the past couple of weeks, the hospital has taken care of two dogs from Capay Valley who came in with rattlesnake bites. They have also had reports that a yearling young horse in Winters was bitten in the nose.

 

“Unfortunately, when snakes come to inhabited areas any curious animals are at risk of getting bitten,” said Dr. Ellie Johnson, another veterinarian at the hospital.

 

It’s common to have these types of calls around this time of year, said Robe, and the hospital is obtaining antivenin for the months to come.

 

“We’re stocking up on that in preparation,” Robe said.

 

Last year, the California Poison Control System received 239 calls from people bitten by rattlesnakes throughout California, said executive director Stewart Heard. The CPCS also tends to see a spike of calls in the beginning of the season.

 

“It is an issue, so it’s a good time to remind people,” he said. “They’re in a lot of places, particularly the foothills.”

 

Yolo County Animal Services also gets its fair share of calls concerning rattlesnakes, said Chief Animal Service Officer Vicky Fletcher.

 

So far the department hasn’t received any, but since rattlesnake season starts in April and continues until the cold months officers won’t be surprised if they do.

 

“This is the time of year when rattle snakes start coming out of hibernation,” Fletcher said.

 

She said the warm weather causes female and baby rattlesnakes to come out of the ground. While they tend to stay near rocky areas and bodies of water, sometimes they find their way into trucks and get carried around the area.

 

“We’ve seen them in the city and found them in the darndest places,” she said.

 

Elizabeth Campbell, executive director for the Capay Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, said she hasn’t seen any rattlesnakes on her property yet, but already sees the signs of rattlesnake season.

 

On Tuesday, she said she saw two dead snakes on the side of the County Road 16.

 

“Some people think it’s an infestation,” she said. “But it’s just normal for this time of the year.”

 

There are several things residents can do to protect themselves throughout rattlesnake season.

 

Fletcher advises that if someone sees a rattlesnake to back off.

 

“Leave it alone and bring in your pets,” she said. “Usually, it will go along on its merry way.”

 

People can then call Animal Services or any of the local removal companies found in the yellow pages.

 

Fletcher also reminds the public that if they see one baby rattlesnake they need to be careful since they’re usually found in groups. Baby rattlesnakes tend to be especially dangerous since they so can’t control the amount of venom they release.

 

Dr. Robe advises people who have pets to take extra precautions as well.

 

“First of all, make sure that pets in areas where snake are prevalent are kept on leashes and not let them run off on their own,” he said.

 

There is also a vaccine dogs can receive which will help protect them from dying of rattlesnake bites, but even then he recommends that they are brought in for emergency care.

 

Fletcher just reminds people to be careful during this time of the year, especially if they live in areas where rattlesnakes might be found.

 

“If you live in that kind of terrain you just have to be careful and watch out for them,” she said.

Link

(Alexandria, VA) - Springtime brings new poison exposure dangers, warns the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC).  Poisonous plants, snakes, pesticides and fuel products are just a few hazards of which consumers should be aware…

Warm weather inevitably brings out insect hordes.  Wear a Medic-Alert bracelet if you suffer from a life-threatening allergic reaction to insect bites or stings.

In the spring, snakes emerge from their winter hibernation hungry for food and water.  The best way to prevent snake bite is to avoid them – most people are bitten when trying to capture or otherwise disturb the creatures. 

Link

Use common sense in rattlesnake country

By Terry Knight — Record-Bee outdoors columnist

Updated: 04/28/2009 11:23:29 PM PDT

Along with its many deer, bears, birds and other wildlife, Lake County has an abundance of rattlesnakes and the spring months are when they begin to appear. Rattlesnakes can be found beneath old lumber piles, in barns and sheds, and even in backyards.

According to the Depart-ment of Fish and Game (DFG), rattlesnakes are the only native poisonous snake in Northern California. The most common rattlesnake in Lake County is the Pacific rattlesnake.

Whereas few things can raise the hair on your neck such as the sound of a rattler buzzing, the chances of getting bitten by a rattler are about the same as winning the lottery.

If you spend anytime hiking in the woods, sooner or later you’re going to come face to face with one of these critters. This is especially true for fishermen and hikers. Of all the years I have spent hiking and hunting in the woods of Lake County, I have encountered dozens of rattlesnakes but never have I been threatened by one. A few have buzzed at me but most have just crawled away.

They are secretive animals and would rather hide than fight. Actually, just about every outdoor person at one time or another has passed within a few feet of a rattler and not known it. Most of the time they just silently slither away unseen when approached by humans.

The rattlesnake is preyed upon by many predators in the wild despite its venomous bite. A coyote or a bobcat will never pass up the chance to make a meal of a rattlesnake. Hawks and crows can easily kill a rattler.While rattlesnakes do carry enough venom to kill an adult, deaths are rare. In fact, of the approximately 800 recorded rattlesnake bites in California every year, only one or two victims die. About 25 percent of the bites are “dry,” meaning no venom is injected. However, because of the bacteria in the snake’s mouth any bite requires medical attention.

The type of venom in a rattlesnake breaks down the tissue around the bite. When a rattlesnake bites its prey this action of breaking down the tissue hastens the digestive process and allows the snake to swallow its prey. If a human is bitten there is often a loss of tissue around the bite.

A rattlesnake’s fangs also contain bacteria and the venom suppresses the victim’s immune system, making it harder to fight this infection. While this rarely causes death it can result in the loss of a limb.

While the odds of getting bitten by a rattlesnake are low, there are certain precautions one must take when in rattlesnake country. More than 50 percent of all rattlesnake bites occur on the hands or arms. Normally a person will place his hand on a rock while climbing or picking up something. A nearby rattler will strike out in surprise.

Children are five times more likely to be bitten than adults. Most of the children are bitten because they often go barefoot or will actually pick up a rattlesnake out of curiosity.

Rattlesnakes are often found near old buildings or lumber piles. They also like rock piles. Like all wildlife, they are drawn to an area because of food, usually mice. By avoiding these areas you can reduce your chances of coming in contact with a rattlesnake.

What do you do if bitten by a rattlesnake? According to the DFG, the first thing to do if bitten is to stay calm. Generally the most serious effect of a rattlesnake bite to an adult is local tissue damage that needs to be treated. Children, because they are smaller, are in more danger if they are bitten. Get to a doctor as soon as possible, but stay calm. Frenetic, high-speed driving places the victim at greater risk of an accident and increased heart rate. If the doctor is more than 30 minutes away, keep the bite below the heart and try to get to the doctor as quickly as possible.

Wash the bite area gently with soap and water. Remove watches, rings and other jewelry that may constrict swelling. Immobilize the affected area. Transport safely to the nearest medical facility. All of the local hospitals are equipped to handle rattlesnake bites.

According to DFG regulations, the daily limit for taking rattlesnakes is two. No license is required and they can be taken by any method.

Most biologists say not to indiscriminately kill a rattlesnake. They eat gophers, moles and other pests and are a big part of our ecosystem. If they don’t bother you, don’t bother them. After all, they were here millions of years before us and will probably be here long after we’re gone.

Link

Fatal snakebites rare but still require emergency first-aid

29 April, 2009 06:45:00Keith Murray

Font size:  

I receive a lot of questions about snakebites while conducting training classes onboard yachts, so this month I would like to start by telling you what not to do.

Do not cut or suck on the wound. In addition to the obvious risk factors to the rescuer, you can damage skin and organs, increase the risk of infection, and it will not remove venom.

Do not use ice. Ice has no effect on venom.

Do not use alcohol. Alcohol will not help and may increase venom absorption.

Do not use a tourniquet. They do not stop venom and may cause the victim to lose a limb.

There are more than 3,000 species of snakes worldwide; about 500 species are venomous. About 5 million snakebites occur worldwide each year, causing about 125,000 deaths.

Venom is basically a modified form of saliva. It immobilizes prey so a snake can eat. It acts quickly, affecting the central nervous system, lungs and heart.

If you are bitten by a poisonous snake or lizard, seek emergency medical care immediately. Don’t wait until you experience symptoms.

Never try to kill or capture the reptile just to identify it. Further exposure risks an additional bite. A snake has the ability to bite and release venom by reflex for up to 90 minutes after it is dead. Get as much information about the reptile as possible. If you can safely take a picture, this may help.

Antivenin may not be readily available at every medical facility. Call ahead to find the best place to be treated for the specific bite.

In North America, we have several snakes and lizards that are poisonous: pit vipers, which include rattlesnakes, copperheads and water moccasins/cotton mouths; coral snakes; the Gila monster; and the Mexican bearded lizard. In Maine, Alaska and Hawaii, there are no native poisonous snakes.

Symptoms from snakebites may appear within minutes or take hours. Symptoms may include severe burning or pain where bitten, swelling that starts at the bite and spreads, and possible bleeding from the wound as well as blistering, fever, nervous system disruption, numbness, convulsions, excessive sweating, diarrhea, vision problems, increased thirst, nausea and vomiting, rapid pulse, difficulty speaking, and difficulty breathing and/or cessation of breathing.

Sea snakes and some Australian snakes can cause muscle death in multiple areas of the body. These dead muscle cells can clog the kidneys, which can lead to kidney failure.

Use caution when dealing with snakebites. A victim may have no initial significant symptoms, and then suddenly develop breathing difficulty and go into shock.

If you do not develop any symptoms after 10-12 hours, it is possible that you were either bitten by a non-venomous snake or no venom was injected. This type of dry bite occurs in approximately 25 percent to 50 percent of all bites.

Of those bites where venom was injected into the body, only about 10 percent are severe. But even if you do not develop symptoms after 10 hours, still seek medical attention and continue to look for symptoms for the next several weeks.

Snakebite victims should seek medical care unless the snake is positively identified as non-venomous. If you are not certain the snake is non-venomous seek medical attention.

A victim who is young, old or has health problems is generally at greater risk than a healthy adult. Factors that affect the severity of a poisonous snake or lizard bite include type and size of the reptile, as well as the quantity of the venom injected, the potency of the venom, the location and depth of the bite, and the number of bites.

Bites by non-venomous species require good wound care. Wash the bite with lots of soap and water and carefully inspect the wound for broken fangs, dirt or debris. Victims that have not had a tetanus booster within the past five years should get one.

Remove any constricting items, such as rings, wrist watches or other jewelry that could reduce blood flow if the bite area swells. Immobilize the bitten area and keep it lower than the heart. Cover the area with a clean, cool bandage to minimize swelling, and monitor vital signs. If any changes occur, immediately call or radio for help.

Link

Kind of nerve-wracking to know that snakes can easily infiltrate your house. How’d you like to find a rattler in your bedroom?

How To Safely Remove A Snake From Your Home

Snakes can find their way into your home with the greatest of ease, and in particular if you live in an area where they frequently hang out. Farm houses in particular are common homes that get invaded by snakes, and any home that has rodents is also a possible target. Removing a snake from your home is rather easy in most cases, but you need to know some things first. Here is how to remove a snake from your home safely and easily:

 

The first thing you need to do is to learn your snakes. In any given region of theUnited States, there are only going to be a handful of truly dangerous snakes. There are only four types of venomous snakes in the US, and each group has a few subspecies. They are the copperhead, cottonmouth, coral snake, and rattlesnake. There are a number of different types of rattlesnakes in the US, but usually only a couple of types in any specific location. Know the types of venomous snakes in your area. This can be found rather easily with some research, or through a visit to a local environmental center.

Once you are aware of the types of dangerous snakes in your area, educate yourself about them. Learn the various shades and colors they can be, what they look like, what the babies look like, and the general locations that they like to hang out in. The bottom line is that you need to know how to recognize a venomous snake when you see one. When in doubt, or when you encounter a venomous snake in your home, contact a snake removal expert right away. Often, if there is one, there can be more. You will need them to safely remove the snake, and then to search the home to make sure they are alone.

Assuming that you have a known harmless species of snake in your home such as a corn snake or garter snake, removing it is not that difficult if you are careful. The easiest method is to block off the snakes escape routes, and to then open the door and offer an exit. A snake is not wanting to encounter you in the least, and will take the chance to escape. Given this, you want to lead the snake out of the house with a broom or other long implement. If you leave the snake an opening to crawl under something else, they will. Fill in cracks under the stove, and any other low to the ground appliances as snakes will head there right off.

The method above is great if the snake is in a place that is nearby a door or window that you can open. If not, then you might have to get hands on. Please know that even a harmless snake will bite, and they do have teeth. Because they eat rodents, and other nasty creatures, there is always the chance of infection. With that said, take every precaution to not get bitten. If you are bitten, have the wound checked by a doctor just to be safe. Also, if you have any doubts whatsoever that the snake may be venomous, then leave it alone and call for help.

Picking up a snake is a task that is much better left to the pros, but sometimes it is the only way to get that pesky garter snake out. Ideally, you would want to put something long behind the snake’s head to pin it to the ground so that you can then grab it behind the head but up close to the back of the jawline. This method is not easy, and you have to take great care not to harm the snake. Also, many snakes will seem as though they are trapped and then suddenly slip out and bite so be careful if you try this method.

Link

This is basically how I feel, too. I especially find the fact about our willingness to live with dogs – who injure and kill far more people per year than mountain lions ever do – compelling. It’s a point I’ve made here a number of times already.

As I See It: We can live with cougars (April 27)
By JEFF PICTON

With all of the attention being given to the case of the wayward cougar, I thought it might be appropriate to share a few facts about cougar biology and behavior, and perhaps offer a different perspective.

Cougars are the top predators in the ecosystems in which they live. Their primary prey is deer, although they will prey on other smaller species of animals. They typically are most active at dawn and dusk.

Cougars are mostly solitary animals, except when females are raising young or when adults are mating. The home range of a single cougar varies according to season, habitat quality and prey availability, but may range from 50 to 100 square miles.

A female cougar will give birth to from two to four young, and they will stay with her for 18 to 24 months. The young disperse to find a territory of their own when their mothers begin the breeding cycle again. These young cats are called “transients,” and they are the ones most likely to be involved in depredation incidents or conflicts with humans. I suspect that this cat is a dispersing youngster just trying to figure out where to go.

These youngsters often are quite curious and will sometimes follow other animals or approach human habitations. They prefer retreat as opposed to conflict, but will attack when cornered, as will any other wild animal.

The risk of actually being attacked by a cougar is relatively minor. That isn’t to say it can’t happen, but statistically speaking it is highly unlikely. In the last 100 years, there have been approximately 20 people killed by cougars in the United States and 80 or 90 nonfatal attacks. Statistically speaking, your chances of being attacked by a cougar are somewhere in the neighborhood of 1:100 million.

During that same time period, 1,300 people have been killed by rattlesnakes, and 4000 have been killed by bees. Every year, more than 20 people are killed by domestic dogs and over 40,000 people die in car accidents.

I find it interesting that we walk through our neighborhoods with a dog in every other yard, and hop in our cars on a daily basis, all without a second thought, yet some of us become terrified at the idea of a 60-pound cat roaming around. It all comes down to risk acceptance. Is it worth killing this cougar when the risks of letting it live are so small?

I am biased. I freely admit it. But I believe that there are things people can do to co-exist with wildlife, such as educating themselves about the wildlife around them, and learning what to do when you encounter any wild animal.

We teach our children how to behave around strange dogs, and to buckle-up in the car. We can teach them about how to live with wildlife, too.

Cougars probably have been moving through this area since before people were here; they just haven’t been as visible as this one. However, the same risks have always been there. We might as well learn to adapt now to this situation, as it is likely to reoccur.

I may be naive, but I like to believe that people are capable of a shift in paradigms that will allow them to peacefully co-exist with their wild neighbors. Our new president seems to be doing just that and is going out of his way to attempt to establish peaceful relationships with many of our former enemies. Shouldn’t we consider doing the same thing with the wildlife that we share this planet with? Isn’t it time?

Jeff Picton is the executive director of the Chintimini Wildlife Refuge north of Corvallis. For more information, see www.chintiminiwildlife.org.

Link

Rattlesnakes in Los Angeles: What to do?

This past weekend at an Earth Day cleanup in the Valley, a few teenage boys came upon a rattlesnake while picking up trash. Unfortunately, the overzealous teens killed it, something you’re not supposed to do (as the San Diego Zoo says, “these beautiful animals are important to the environment because they control rodent populations.”)

“Of the 14 snakes found in the Santa Monica Mountains, only one, the southern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis), is venomous,” the National Park Service says on their reptile database for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (and for what it’s worth, the sometimes different looking Northern Pacific Rattlesnake has made home in some parts of SoCal as well, Wikipedia writers say).

So what should you really do if you encounter one of these venomous reptiles? The San Diego Zoo gives the low-down on how both snakes defend themselves and how we should, too:

Snake self-defense We’re afraid of being bitten, but remember that snakes bite to defend themselves. If frightened, they will first try to escape or hide, so be sure to stay out of their way. Different species will react in different ways: some remain still, depending on their cryptic coloration for camouflage, while others just glide away silently. If this isn’t an option, then they will hiss, rattle their tail, and puff up their body to warn off an enemy. Most snakes will give a warning before they bite, although they may strike quickly if they are startled during shedding, mating, or giving birth. When out walking in heavy brush or rocky areas, watch where you step or put your hands!Human self-defense
Always be alert when out hiking and move away if you see a rattlesnake. Never try to kill a snake: many bites occur when attempting to kill a snake. Snakes should never be killed just because you encounter them on a walk. But if you are bitten by a venomous snake, you must go immediately to a hospital as quickly as possible. Never try “home remedies” (none are effective) and do not ignore the bite. While few snakebites are fatal to people, venomous snakebites should never be left untreated.

Link

I would be pretty terrified to see an 8 foot long rattlesnake. I can’t really even fathom what that would look like. Think of the striking range that snake would have!

A diamondback in the rough

At last, a naturalist finds his Holy Grail: A rare rattler in remote Florida park

The eastern diamondback rattler struggles to stay alive as a species, no thanks to humans.John Serrao

April 26, 2009 6:00 AM

I don’t know what it was that suddenly brought my eyes to ground level after an hour of scanning the branches of the pines and oaks for birds along a remote trail in Florida’s vast Appalachicola National Forest. Was it the sunlight reflected off the glossy, yellowish skin? Or the wide, heavy shape stretched straight out among the thin, curving fallen branches that littered the ground? Or — most likely — the regular pattern of big, dark diamonds that extended four feet in a straight line just a few feet from my and my wife, Felicia’s, feet.

Even though I’d never seen one before, I immediately knew what the animal was, and after a glance of just a fraction of a second, I repeated three or four times in an excited but hushed voice to Felicia: “Diamondback rattlesnake!”

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake has been my “Holy Grail” — the number one item on my “bucket list” — for more than 30 years. Quite simply, it’s the biggest, most dangerous snake in the United States. A handful of snakes, including the indigo snake and our own black rat snake, may slightly exceed the diamondback’s maximum recorded length of eight feet, but none can match its sheer bulk and weight, nor the immense size of its head. I’ve seen timber rattlesnakes in the Poconos that measure 4½ feet long and 8 inches in circumference, and I can’t possible imagine an eastern diamondback rattlesnake almost twice that size.

What an impressive creature to encounter in the pine forests of Florida, Georgia or the Carolinas! But, despite countless visits to the wilderness areas of these southern states over the past three decades, including places highly recommended by other naturalists, foresters and park rangers, I’ve never seen one — until March 24, 2009, a date I’ll never forget.

After my initial shock at the sight of such a big snake just a few feet off the trail, I quickly assessed the situation. It appeared very calm and remained completely motionless, stretched out lengthwise in the sunlight. Its beautiful, yellowish-tan skin was shiny and almost iridescent, indicating that it had very recently shed it skin.

The conditions for photographing it could not have been better, and, since no people were in the forest except for Felicia and me, I could take my time and just enjoy this amazing, once-in-a-lifetime (I hope not) experience. I photographed it from every angle for at least 15 minutes, and it remained motionless.

Then, before we moved on, in order to prevent it from being detected by anyone who might harm it, I gently tapped it with a branch. This caused the rattlesnake to slowly withdraw beneath the cover of a shrub, where it coiled up to face me and began to rattle, warning me not to come any closer. It seemed both fearless and non-aggressive at the same time — an animal completely secure with its own status at the top of the food chain, with no natural enemies except humans.

Unfortunately, humans have taken a terrible toll over the years on populations of eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, just as they have with timber rattlesnakes in the northeastern states and various species of western rattlesnakes. Unbelievably, unlike our own timber rattler, the eastern diamondback enjoys no laws to protect it — no restrictions against killing, collecting, habitat destruction or the insanity of “rattlesnake roundups,” a community snake-hunting tradition started long ago by ranchers who thought rattlesnake populations were too high.

Dr. Bruce Means, the expert on this species, conducts research in the Florida Panhandle and has written extensively on its biology and population declines. I read his excellent book, “Stalking the Plumed Serpent” (Pineapple Press, Sarasota, 2008), this past winter and became even more obsessed with finally seeing an eastern diamondback in the wild after vicariously experiencing his adventures with this magnificent reptile (the first chapter, which relates a nearly fatal bite and his struggle to crawl back to civilization, is sure to raise the hairs on the back of anyone’s neck). However, Dr. Means, in a letter written to me in February, sadly informed me that the eastern diamondback rattlesnake now survives in good numbers only on a few isolated, remote barrier islands and within vast, protected wildernesses like the 500,000-acre Appalachicola National Forest.

During our 10 days in Florida, we saw 125 species of birds and almost 40 reptiles and amphibians. We saw the dusky pygmy rattlesnake; the beautiful and rare Gulf Hammock rat snake; the unusual, legless eastern glass lizard; and hundreds of butterflies of a dozen species flitting from flower to flower along the long, sandy trails. Alligators were common, including a mother with seven babies. And a big water moccasin coiled up, opened its mouth widely, and displayed its sharp, venomous fangs and famous “cottonmouth” while I photographed it.

I’m sure that all of these sightings will remain in my memory over the years, but none will be more treasured, vivid and indelible than my first experience with America’s most impressive snake, the eastern diamondback.

Let’s hope that, before it’s too late, laws will be passed to protect this relatively inoffensive reptile so that it can continue to give nature lovers unforgettable experiences in the southern pine forests of which it is such a magnificent part of the natural heritage.

Link

I would have to agree. I hate when people just automatically kill a rattlesnake out in the wild. Interesting that lightning poses so much of a greater threat.

Don’t let snake rattle you

I recently received an e-mail I thought I would share with you. It was written by Marsha, a Desert Sun reader from the Coachella Valley.

“Today I had an incident on the Bump and Grind Trail that really disturbed me. I was at the bottom of the last hill when I encountered a rattlesnake, maybe 2 feet long. My instinct was to watch this beautiful creature. I felt honored at being in its presence.

“Then this horrid man came along the trail and wanted to crush the snake with a rock. I said you are not going to throw a rock at this rattlesnake. He said ‘I am going to kill it with a rock.’ I said ‘You are not.’ I stood in the way of this man and guarded the snake. He was insistent he was going to kill the snake with a rock. I told him the snake had a right to be there, and he should be grateful to see it.

“Basically, he shouted that I was nuts. I stood guard over the snake until he finally left with his three boys. I was so grateful to see the snake and save it from this awful man.”

I can’t remember how many times I have heard such accounts from friends, relatives and people I have just met.

I commend Marsha for her willingness to confront a man who was eager to kill the rattlesnake. For those who might wonder, I would have followed Marsha’s lead.

Rattlesnakes are one component, one living part, of our desert environment. Most rattlesnakes spend their lives hunting and eating rodents and other small mammals. This time of year, they are also searching for mates.

Rattlesnakes do everything in their power to avoid detection by large animals, particularly humans. They have evolved a rattle that functions as a warning device when an enemy approaches to close.

Nearly all potential human- rattlesnake encounters are prevented when the rattlesnake shakes its tail, giving humans a chance to move away. I have encountered more than 1,000 rattlesnakes in my life, and only once did a rattlesnake not rattle before it struck at me. I was not watching where I placed my feet and shoved my boot into its side. Its fangs caught my pant leg but not me!

Each year, a handful of people in the United States die from venomous snakes bites. Of these deaths, most involve keepers or researchers that regularly handle venomous snakes.

By contrast, dozens of people die as a result of attacks from their pets (particularly dogs), hundreds die from honeybee stings and many thousands as a result of reckless drivers.

In the grand scheme of things, the threat posed by a wild rattlesnake is almost nonexistent. The average outdoor enthusiast is 1,000 times more likely to die from a lightning strike than from a rattlesnake bite.

If destroying something is based upon the threat it poses to our well-being, no matter how minor the threat might be, then we might as well destroy everything we see, hear or touch.

Frankly, the man who wanted to pick up the rock and smash the rattlesnake in front of his three sons scares me a lot more than even the largest rattlesnake.

James Cornett is the author of “Rattlesnakes: Answers to Frequent Questions.”

Link

First Aid Training – Quick Response to a Snake Bite

• by Bobbie McKee

Snake bites are serious. If not treated quickly, the victim can experience extreme reaction to venom and in a matter of minutes, the result can be fatal. Since majority of snake bites occur in a remote area, emergency medical help is difficult to acquire. Thus it is important that there is a person in your group with proper first aid training in order to administer temporary treatment to the victim.

 

What to do in case of a snake bite:

Snakes only attack if under treat, so the cases of snake bites can be attributed to people who get very near to the location of the snake or where snakes live. Thus, the very first thing you should do to the victim is to move him to a safe place. Once the victim is on a safe location, keep him still and administer the first aid.

If possible, try to identify the species of snake that caused the bite. Take a pictureor have a visual memory of the snake if you cannot name the specie. This is veryimportant since there are a lot of venomous snakes in America and the anti-venom that should be given must be compatible with the snake that bit the victim.

If you were not able to identify the snake, at least, pinpoint the exact location of where the incident happened. Location gives clues to the type of snake that lives in the area.

Remove any tight fitting clothing, a rope, lace or jewelry and use it to tie a light restricting bond inches away on both sides of the area that is bitten. Timing is crucial. So if the victim cries for help, do this procedure in the quickest possible time.

Ask someone to call for help. Remember that first aid treatment only aims to prevent, reduce, or slow down the effects of the venom, minimize the complications of the venom and ready the victim for professional medical treatment. Call 911 right away.

Do not cut into the wound as it can only create infections.

Apply a strong suction with the mouth or using bite kit suction device if available. Do this continuously on the deepest puncture marks, within seconds of the bite.

Clean the entire area with soap and warm water. Use antiseptic cleanser if available.

Do not feed the victim nor give him something to drink. Alcohol should not be given to the victim as it can add to the stress level.

Keep the victim warm and immobilized.

Check the bonds regularly. If swelling occurs, loosen as necessary.

Check for the signs of shock. If there are signs of unusual discomfort or major stress, assess if the victim requires other first aid techniques. Keep the bite away from the heart.

Keep doing the above procedures until help arrives.

Transporting the victim to the hospital is crucial. Make sure that he stays warm, immobilized and as comfortable as possible.

Give words of reassurance that everything will going to be okay and survival is out of the question.

Be ready to provide assistance. Contact the relatives of the victim, give useful information about the incident, protect the scene material and describe the first aidadministered.

In some cases, professional help takes a while to arrive so make sure that you keep your focus, stay calm and coordinate with the people around as first aid training is useless if you are not able to stay on top of the whole situation.

Link

Walkers warned after adder sightings

Friday, April 24, 2009, 10:00

 

IT’S not just tourists that have been lured to the Westcountry by the recent warm weather – adders have been emerging early from their hibernation holes to bask in the sunshine.

The only venomous snakes native to Britain, adders are relatively common in rough, open countryside. However, the recent temperatures seem to have tempted them further into the open, giving walkers the opportunity to take some up-close photographs.

Margaret Acke, of Holne on Dartmoor, was out walking with her daughter and three young grandsons near Start Point lighthouse in South Devon when they came across an adder lying by the side of the path.

Mrs Acke said the boys had run on ahead during the walk earlier this month when the youngest, two-year-old Oliver, tripped and fell.

She said: “The eldest boy saw the snake at the side of the road and called out to us walking some way behind. Eventually we caught up and were amazed to see the snake at the base of the wall.

“It hissed and we all stood back and watched.”

The snake did not move at all, except to raise its head, she said.

She added that she was surprised to see the snake, as the last time she came across an adder was about 40 years ago in Somerset. And she warned other walkers to watch out for them.

Mick and Juliette Flanagan, from Saltash, were walking near the Bedruthan Steps in Cornwall when they spotted a large adder and were able to take a photograph. Mrs Flanagan, said her husband, who serves with the Royal Marines and has recently returned from Afghanistan, could tell from his training on Woodbury Common that it was a fully grown adder.

A spokesman for Paignton Zoo said it was “a little bit early” to see adders, as normally they would emerge in May. He said these recent sightings could be a result of the warm weather.

Although adders are poisonous, they are not aggressive animals and will only use their venom as a last means of defence, usually if caught or trodden on. With proper treatment, the worst effects of their venom are nausea and drowsiness, followed by severe swelling and bruising in the area of the bite, although in extreme cases, their bite can kill small children and dogs.

The Forestry Commission advises walkers to treat adders, distinguishable from grass snakes by the striking zigzag down their backs, with respect and leave them alone.

Link

Snake’s venom felt in seconds

INLAND VICTIM: A hiker bitten last weekend luckily ran across police officers, who summoned help.By MARK MUCKENFUSS
The Press-Enterprise 

Mike Zerwekh said he was surprised how quickly the rattlesnake venom hit him.

“I started feeling the effects literally within seconds,” Zerwekh said, speaking from his hospital room at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

He had been hiking in tall grass in the hills southwest of Corona on Saturday when a Southern Pacific rattlesnake bit him on the calf. The snake never rattled, he said.

Zerwekh, 26, of Moreno Valley, has run into plenty of rattlesnakes in his work as a biologist. He is a surveyor for the Biological Monitoring Program for western Riverside County’s conservation plan.

“I ran into probably two or three the week before I got bit,” Zerwekh said. “I never really expected it to happen to me.”

He was about 100 yards away from his car when the snake struck. He was driving back toward the city to get help when he ran into some Corona police officers investigating a fatal traffic accident.

Zerwekh said that no more than 10 minutes had passed since the bite, but he was going downhill quickly.

“When I was in my car I was really starting to feel the effects,” he said. “My muscles were starting to spasm. It was probably the scariest situation of my life.”

As he spoke with the officers, his speech became progressively more slurred.

The officers requested a helicopter and Zerwekh was airlifted from the site to Loma Linda where he received antivenin treatment.

Doctors, he said, have told him they expect he will make a full recovery.

He plans to be more careful the next time he is hiking.

“I was definitely a little bit careless,” he said. “I have to remind myself that there are poisonous snakes out there. I have to be vigilant and stay out of the way.”

 

Link

Heat brings out Yuma’s poisonous predators

Story by Lance Cpl. Austin Hazard 

Photo by Lance Cpl. Austin Hazard

A Mohave rattlesnake stirs in a terrarium in the station pest controller’s office April 14. The snake, which is one of the most deadly North American snakes, was discovered in a field shower tent at the Barry M. Goldwater Range here April 6 during a Weapons and Tactics Instructor course exercise.

With summer approaching, residents here should be wary of increased insect and reptile activity in the area. 

Critters, such as scorpions, spiders and snakes, can be dangerous and are encountered more frequently during the warmer months. 

“The warmer it is, the more active they are,” said Jerry McCluskey, station pest controller. “I’ve already had more snake calls this season than I have the previous two years.” 

The bark scorpion, a common variety in the desert Southwest, can be identified by the way it lays its tail flat and to the side, instead of curved in the air. This allows it to squeeze into small and narrow cracks. Bark scorpions are particularly active at night and prefer dark damp areas. 

Another dangerous critter to look out for here is the female black widow spider. They are identified by their long, thin legs and red or orange hourglass-shaped marks on their undersides. Males are tan in color and considerably smaller. 

Black widow bites can go unnoticed and symptoms may not appear for up to six hours. Bites typically cause inflammation, progressive aches, muscle pain and in some cases may lead to death. 

Snakes, such as the sidewinder, Mohave and diamondback rattlesnakes are other warm-weather creatures to be wary of. 

The sidewinder rattlesnake is the most common snake found here, said McCluskey. It is identified by its sandy coloring, unique sideways movement and the hornlike point over each eye. 

Known to be one of the deadliest snakes in North America, the Mohave rattlesnake has a diamond pattern along its back, with black and white markings near the tip of its tail. The Diamondback rattlesnake, though not as dangerous, can be nearly identical in appearance to the Mohave. 

Despite being native to the area, the Mohave rattlesnake is reclusive and rarely seen, said McCluskey. 

Although a Mohave was recently found in a showering tent on the Barry M. Goldwater Range during the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course here, it was the first report in five years, said McCluskey. 

Younger rattlesnakes are often more dangerous than older ones. 

“The chances of getting bitten by a small rattlesnake are greater than with a large rattlesnake, because they get in smaller spots and they can’t warn you,” said McCluskey. “I usually only see the small ones, because the older ones are smart enough to know to stay away.” 

Younger rattlesnakes also have less control over their venom. An adult rattlesnake can decide how much venom it wants to inject into you, but baby rattlesnakes, they can’t control their venom, said McCluskey. 

Snake bites should always be considered poisonous, said McCluskey. The best thing to do for venomous bites and stings is isolate the injury, keep it elevated above the heart, and contact emergency services immediately. 

While waiting for medical help, victims should remain calm. 

“If you get excited, your heart rate is going to increase, and that’s going to speed up your circulation,” said Art Chavez Jr., station fire department assistant training chief. “With poison in your blood, that’s obviously bad.” 

Victims should not attempt to treat the wound in any way or remove the venom. 

“You can’t suck the venom out.” said McCluskey. “That’s a Hollywood thing.” 

If stung by a scorpion or spider, victims should be careful about removing stingers from the wound. 

“Scrape the stinger away with a credit card,” said Chavez. “Trying to pull it out could squeeze more poison out of it.” 

Anyone unsure if they were bitten by a spider or scorpion should call emergency services immediately. Taking an antihistamine while they wait for symptoms to appear can help reduce potential allergic reactions. 

McCluskey advises people to be aware of their surroundings and be cautious of small, dark, enclosed spaces in order to avoid bites and stings. Also, pay attention to anything that sounds like a rattlesnake’s warning. 

“Don’t ever put your hand where you can’t see it,” said McCluskey. “And be sure to shake out things like shoes, especially when they’ve been left outside.” 

Link

Boy bitten by snake while playing in woods

Beware of picking up adders. Seven-year-old Jack Middleton,of Billinghay, suffered a swollen hand when he was bitten by one of the snakes while playing in woods near Woodhall Spa. 

Published Date: 21 April 2009

By Andy Hubbert

A SEVEN-year-old boy was hospitalised after being bitten by an adder while playing in woods.

Jack Middleton of Billinghay was on a family outing to Ostler’s Plantation at Woodhall Spa on Friday when the poisonous snake attacked him. 

Jack’s grandmother, Sue Middleton, said Jack and his cousins had wandered off the path and were playing in the undergrowth when one of his younger cousins picked up an adder. It hissed and spat and she dropped the adder but it lunged out and bit young Jack’s hand.

Mrs Middleton said Jack’s hand quickly swelled and turned black.

An ambulance took Jack to Lincoln County Hospital where he was treated until being discharged on Saturday night.

Mrs Middleton said she would like to warn other children of the dangers of snakes.

Grandfather Harry Middleton urged there to be raised awareness of snakes in this country. He felt that rather than children being encouraged to hold and stroke them and believe they are friendly and harmless they should be warned that they can be dangerous and should not try to pick the creatures up. He said that people generally had a healthy fear of snakes and that should not be played down.

Jack has recovered from his ordeal and was due to return to school yesterday, Tuesday.

Mrs Middleton said: “He’s as large as life again. He will have a story to tell at school.”

Adders are a protected species and the Forestry Commission believes warning signs would put their habitat at risk and could attract people who may harm the snakes.

But Forestry Commission beat officer Wally Grice said signs, including a picture of an adder, will be put up at Ostler’s next month to inform people the heathland habitat includes adders.

Mr Grice added: “Nobody has died of an adder bite in 20 years.”

* Adders are Britain’s only venomous reptile. They grow to about 50-65cm long and are usually a brown or buff colour with red and black markings and a zig-zag pattern along the body. Adders are not aggressive snakes, and will only attack if harassed or threatened.

Although an adder’s venom poses little danger to a healthy adult human, the bite is very painful and requires urgent medical attention.

* Do you think children should be taught to be wary of snakes or to be less fearful of them? Email your views to andy.hubbert@jpress.co.uk

Link

Beware of Snakes, Bacteria in Floodwaters   Posted: 8:13 PM Apr 21, 2009 Last Updated: 10:45 PM Apr 21, 2009 Reporter: Lanetra Bennett Email Address: lanetra.bennett@wctv.tv   The some 200 families displaced by area flooding are not the only ones. Animals and insects have also been uprooted, and residents are urged to be aware of the bugs and protect themselves during clean-up. Health officials say residents should also be on the look-out for snakes. Health officials say there’s an increased number of snakes visible because they’re searching for higher ground after the Suwannee River flooded the area more than two weeks ago. Dowling Park resident Edgar Melton said, “They say if it’s a poisonous snake you should cut across and suck the blood out and spit it out.” Health officials say that’s exactly what you should NOT do. Experts also say: do not apply ice or immense a snake bite in water, do not drink alcohol as a pain killer, and do not drink caffeinated beverages. Signs of a snake bite include: a pair of puncture marks at the wound, redness and swelling around the bite, severe pain at the site of the bite, nausea and vomiting, labored breathing (in extreme cases, breathing may stop altogether), disturbed vision, increased salivation and sweating, and numbness or tingling around your face and/or limbs. Local residents say they’ve spotted snakes in the area lately. But, health officials say toxins and bacteria also lurk in floodwaters. Residents and first responders who get cut, scratched, or punctured while cleaning up debris associated with the flood can get a tetanus shot and/or Hepatitis A immunizations at the Suwannee County Health Department for free. Dowling Park resident Lenny Sapp said, “I think that’s a good idea. Just like my house it was about two feet under water. It’s going down. My dad’s out there now stripping carpet out and whatever else he can throw right out the door.” Health officials say keep wounds clean, covered, and dry to help prevent infection. For more information on how to prevent and treat wounds and infections, as well as tips on what to do if you’re bitten by a snake, how to prevent and treat fire ant stings and bites: visit http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Environment/medicine/arboviral/Zoonoses/Rodent Zoonoses.html. The preliminary damage report from all that flooding has been released for Suwannee County. It shows 37 homes have been damaged in the area and 18 homes are totally destroyed and 17 homes have minor damage. The report says 140 are inaccessible. Officials estimate the total damage to county roads and public property comes to $250,000. Florida and local emergency management officials announce that an Essential Services Center will open Wednesday, April 22, in Live Oak to help survivors of the recent severe weather and floods. The Center is designed as a one-stop shop where local residents can receive information on recovery activities, state and local services, and connect to faith and community––based relief organizations. The center will operate from the hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until further notice. The location: Suwannee County Emergency Operations Center 617 Ontario Avenue, SW Suite 200 Live Oak, Florida 32064 386-364-3405 For additional information please visit FloridaDisaster.org.

Link

Rattler’s reputation takes a toxic turn for the worse

Experts suspect species is becoming deadlier

By Scott LaFee (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer

2:00 a.m. April 20, 2009

With warming weather comes the return of rattlesnakes and renewed reports that one species of the slithering reptile may be biting more people and becoming more dangerous.

In recent years, some doctors and toxicologists in Southern California and across the Southwest have reported anecdotal evidence of an increase in snakebite cases, with more patients suffering extreme – sometimes fatal – consequences.

Last summer, San Diego Poison Control officials said the recorded number of “unusually powerful” snakebites had increased for the second consecutive year. Media attention has fanned the furor, most recently an article in the current issue of Scientific American that suggests the venom of the southern Pacific rattlesnake, a common species in San Diego County, is becoming “extratoxic.”

That’s bad news for potential bite victims and arguably worse news for rattlesnakes, but some herpetologists and snake experts question whether the phenomenon is real.

Each year, the San Diego division of the California Poison Control System records 40 to 60 rattlesnake bites in San Diego County, said Dr. Richard Clark, a toxicologist at the University of California San Diego and medical director of the local poison control center. In 2004, the poison control system recorded 42 rattlesnake bites to humans in the county. In 2005, there were 45; in 2006, 54; in 2007, 47; and last year, 41.

The real number is higher, Clark said, because snakebites are not among cases that doctors are required to report. Clark said he believes that locally, one or two snakebites in 2008 were fatal.

In the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are roughly 7,000 reported venomous snakebites each year, 15 of which on average prove fatal.

Clark said the number of snakebites varies with shifting environmental conditions. Wildfires, for example, can substantially affect rattlesnake habitat, reproduction rates and prey availability. He predicted that the annual number of rattlesnake bites will trend upward “as we continue to build and expand into East County and snake habitat.”

San Diego County is home to four species of rattlesnake: the speckled, the red diamond, the sidewinder and the southern Pacific, which is a subspecies of the western rattlesnake and the most abundant rattler in the region.

It’s the southern Pacific rattlesnake that’s generating headlines and concern, with speculation that the species is evolving and expanding into a more dangerous animal. To some degree, scientists say, there are reasons to worry.

First, southern Pacifics are more widely distributed than other indigenous rattlesnakes. They live in diverse habitat from the beaches to the mountains, and they are tolerant of disturbed, developed areas.

“Southern Pacific rattlesnakes thrive where people prefer to live, so people encounter them relatively frequently,” said Dr. Sean Bush, a professor of emergency medicine at Loma Linda University and a snake researcher.

Second, the snakes appear to be more easily annoyed than other species and are more likely to defend themselves aggressively. Clark described them as having “nasty dispositions” and more inclined than other rattlers to bite before retreat.

Bush called them “people-biting snakes.”

It’s the bite, of course, that concerns doctors, scientists and potential victims. Rattlesnake venom is a lethal cocktail of toxins that quickly causes significant tissue damage and hemorrhaging. The bitten prey weakens and dies, and then the snake consumes it.

In humans, an ordinary rattlesnake bite produces initial swelling and bruising around the wound, but quick treatment and new antivenins mean rattlesnake bites are rarely fatal.

There is research to indicate that the venom of at least some southern Pacific rattlesnakes contains an additional deadly ingredient: a fast-acting neurotoxin that affects breathing and muscle control. (A telling symptom of a southern Pacific bite is rapid, uncontrollable muscle twitching.)

A neurotoxin is also present in the Mohave rattlesnake, a deadlier, desert-dwelling species found primarily in Arizona and Mexico, though part of its range reaches into eastern San Diego County.

Some researchers have speculated that interbreeding with Mohave rattlesnakes has produced a deadlier version of the southern Pacific. Richard Dart, director of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center in Denver, said it’s possible. “If they’re rattlesnakes, they’ll interbreed. I’ve seen it in the lab, though it’s probably not something that happens in nature every mating season.”

William Hayes, a biologist and snake researcher at Loma Linda University, is more skeptical. He dismisses the idea that southern Pacific rattlesnakes are naturally evolving a more toxic venom. The majority of western rattlesnakes lack neurotoxins in their venom, he said. If some southern Pacific rattlesnakes do in fact have them, it’s likely to be an unidentified toxin.

Bush suggests the phenomenon may be an example of convergent evolution.

“That is, an animal develops a similar trait because it utilizes it for a similar task,” Bush said. “Sort of like giraffes and brontosauruses both having long necks, probably to feed on leaves high in trees.”

On one thing all of the researchers agree: Size matters in snakebites. Adult victims tend to fare better than children because of greater body mass. And the bigger the snake, the worse its bite.

“I don’t know where the myth about baby rattlers being more dangerous came from,” said Dr. Roy Johnson, an Escondido-based physician and herpetologist. “The key is how much venom is injected, and a big snake injects a lot more venom than a small snake.”

Anecdotal reports of nastier snakebites may be due to a proportionate increase in big snakes. Hayes said chronic drought conditions in Southern California may have reduced reproductive rates among rodents and other small mammals, which are the southern Pacific’s preferred prey.

As a result, the rattlesnake’s reproductive rate has also declined, reducing the number of juvenile snakes. “We may well be seeing a shift toward more bites being inflicted by larger rattlesnakes simply because smaller snakes may now be disproportionately few,” Hayes said. Southern Pacific rattlesnakes can grow up to 4 feet in length.

Snakebite data suggest big snakes usually bite big people. Children tend to be bitten by small rattlesnakes they stumble upon inadvertently. Adults are more often bitten by rattlesnakes they try to pick up.

“If anything, we can expect the escalating emphasis on snakes in nature television programming to inspire more people to make dumb decisions about handling venomous snakes,” Hayes said. “We might be seeing a shift in the demography of snakebite victims, with more adult men, many under the influence of alcohol, getting bitten by snakes they should not have been messing with.”

Johnson, the Escondido physician who has treated hundreds of snakebite victims over 30 years, agreed: “Mostly people get bitten because they tried picking up a snake, because they weren’t smart enough to know better.”

HOW TO TREAT A BITE

Rattlesnake bites are rarely fatal when the victim receives fast treatment. Administering antivenin is critical. Traditional first aid, such as applying ice, using a tourniquet or putting suction to the wound, may cause more harm than good.

If the bite occurs while in a remote setting, the wounded area should be immobilized (especially if it is an arm or leg) and the victim quickly but safely transported to the nearest phone. Dial 911 and wait for assistance. If no phone is available, drive to a hospital or clinic.

---

 

LOCAL RATTLESNAKES

 

WESTERN/SOUTHERN PACIFIC 
Crotalus viridis helleri

Description: Up to 4 feet in length. Light gray or brown, with pale margins around dorsal blotches. At higher elevations, specimens may be black. Juveniles have yellow-green tails.

Habitat: Seacoast to pine-wooded mountain ranges.

Behavior: Aggressively defensive.

RED DIAMOND 
Crotalus ruber

Description: Usually in the 3-foot range, though some adults may exceed 5 feet. Distinctively reddish or tan, with subtle diamond pattern on back and a black-and-white tail.

Habitat: Areas of rock and brush, such as coastal sage scrub.

Behavior: Generally docile, though individual temperaments vary.

SOUTHWESTERN SPECKLED 
Crotalus mitchelli pyrrhus

Description: Up to 3 feet in length. Color matches earth tones of environs, with black speckles forming indistinct bars or blotches on back. Dark rings on tail.

Habitat: Most abundant in inland rocky areas and in the desert.

Behavior: Alert, nervous and quick to rattle when disturbed.

SIDEWINDER 
Crotalus cerastes

Description: Rarely exceeds 2 feet. Generally pale tan and pink, matching desert sands. Dark square blotches on backside. Hornlike protrusions above eyes.

Habitat: Sandy desert

Behavior: Quick and elusive, leaving distinctive J-shaped tracks.

Link

Probably not.

Is Rattlesnake Venom More Poisonous Than Ever?

Apr 20, 2009 5:53 PMApr 20, 2009 7:12 PM

Video Gallery

Is Rattlesnake Venom More Poisonous Than Ever? 2:46

It’s rattlesnake season, and some say this year could be deadlier than ever. Some reports show more people are being bitten, and they’re suffering more extreme – sometimes fatal – consequences. But one local snake expert disagrees.The Southern Pacific Rattlesnake comes out between the months of April and October, so well into the season there are emerging reports that say this species is becoming increasingly deadly.

Doctor Roy Johnson, a physician and herpetologist, has studied snakes for more than 30 years and says reports that the rattlesnake found in San Diego County is becoming “extra toxic” are bogus.

“They’re very adaptable and they do well in an environment like this where you have a lot of people moving out into more rural areas, and there are just still lots snakes out here,” he said.

Johnson has studied snakes for more than 30 years, and says reports that the rattlesnakes found in San Diego County are becoming “extra toxic” is bogus.

“Most often severe envenomations occur because people are bitten more than one time,” Dr. Johnson said.

But the rumors sounded like they could be true, especially when our own News 8 Chopper reporter Jo Eager was bitten last year. Eager spent more than two weeks in the hospital, and couldn’t walk for days.

“There wasn’t much of a warning

“It felt like a thorn had been hammered right by ankle bone,” she said. “I could feel things swelling up, my breathing became more difficult.”

Johnson says adverse reactions have a lot to do with how soon a person receives medical attention. The sooner a snakebite victim gets anti-venom, and enough doses of it, the better off that person will be. So reports that the Southern Pacific’s venom is packing a bigger punch are just a myth.

“Evolution is a very slow process. Venoms don’t change,” Dr. Johnson said.

Link

In my book the lowest people on earth are individuals who mistreat children. Just a step above such trash are those who mistreat animals..

As for the latter, though, there is a difference between humankind and lower animals. Humans are, for the most part, carnivorous, which means that the flesh of certain animals is an acceptable item of nourishment.

It was wrong to slaughter the buffalo just for the sake of slaughtering the beasts. Not only was the buffalo a prime source of food for many Native Americans, but also they used the bones for their tools and the pelts for clothing and shelter. There was nothing wasted.

The conflict between humans and lower forms of animal life spawned the endangered species act.

Like too many acts established for good reason, this one also can get ridiculous. One would think that rattlesnakes might be exempt from endangered status, but a few years ago that assumption was wrong. It didn’t include all rattlers, just the Western Prairie Rattler.

When the first Europeans arrived in North America, they encountered a unique creature, the rattlesnake. Some type of rattler can be found in every one of the 48 contiguous states. It even became a national symbol of sorts, with  “Don’t Tread On Me,” with the cut-up image of one used to promote “Unite or Die” as interest grew to separate the colonies from Britain. But all forms of rattlesnakes can be quite hazardous with a most powerful venom.

A majority of healthy people who suffer a rattler bite do not die, especially if they receive prompt first aid and good medical treatment. Nevertheless, a rattlesnake bite causes serious injury to a human and some do die from the venom. Those who survive  often have a life long problem.

The Western Prairie Rattler is one of only two types of rattlesnakes currently considered endangered. The other is the masaqua, smaller snake. This means it is against the law to kill a either of the twoi species unless the snake is actually attacking an individual. In other words, if you see one in the back yard where your kids play regularly, you cannot kill it unless it is actually attacking. The law apparently considers the snake more endangered than your kids playing and sharing space with one of the pesky varmints in the backyard. That is plain bovine effluvia. While one should not traipse in the woods to kill where there are no humans in peril there is a definite danger of one in the back yard whether or not it is attacking at the time.

I suppose one could go over and provoke the snake to coil and threaten to invoke its natural form of protection, but that is not a wise move. In some such cases the snake has been known to win.

One of the most erroneous and dangerous misconceptions about rattlesnakes is that they always give audible warning before striking.

If that was true, rattlesnakes would starve to death, since most animals that make up the diet for the snakes have an inherent knowledge of the danger involved when they hear a rattler shaking its tail. Often when the snake gets around to rattling, the damage has been done.

Law or no law, if there is a rattlesnake in my yard, attacking or not, it is not only  endangered but dead.

In a way, all rattlesnakes are endangered in one sense. Rattlesnakes (with most other snakes) and people cannot live side by side, and in most people’s mind, human beings still take precedent over reptiles. The main reason the Western Prairie Rattler is losing out is because people have moved into the area. In the conflict between man and rattlesnakes, the eventual loser is the snake. That is the law of nature, which supercedes any law that can be enacted in any legislature.

When farmers clear and till the ground it is detrimental to the snakes and they soon die out in that area. When the former range of the snakes is invaded by human settlement, the snakes’ days are numbered. It is an important reason why people, including Real Estate agents trying to sell empty houses, should keep the grass mowed and weeds cut down in their living areas.

It is probably fortunate there was no endangered species act when the dinosaurs started to die out.
 

Trivia Time: What is the average number of annual deaths from rattlesnake bite in the U.S.?

Answer to last question. The 27th Amendment to the Constitution was proposed along with the Bill of Rites but was not declared ratified until 200 years later in 1991. It simply states that the pay of Representatives and Senators cannot be altered until the next election for Representatives. Don’t feel bad if you didn’t know this since it seems the folks in Congress apparently don’t either. 

Contact George Frasher at 337-238-3433, E-mail frasher@cebridge.net.

Link

Be sure to click through to view a video.

Snakes menace hikers as weather warms

Cottonmouth snakes pose hazard for hikers

Researchers are hunting cottonmouths, also known as water moccasins. (NBC News) From NBC News As the weather begins to warm up, many of nature’s creatures are coming out of hibernation. And the world’s only aquatic pit viper has a very bad reputation. Researchers in Tennessee are hunting cottonmouths, also known as water moccasins. They’ve been tracking 60 western cottonmouths through a Tennessee swamp. In the fall, the snakes leave the water to hibernate in rocky bluffs nearby. The snakes have to cross a paved nature trail to reach their winter dens, pavement that’s warm and comfortable. “You do see cottonmouths and copperheads up here sunning and getting warm and when I see families letting their children run ahead of them, I always stop and say you need to keep them with you because they [snakes] are present here. There are poisonous snakes on this trail,” said Friends of the Trail’s Tom Salter. Cottonmouths have not bitten anyone there, but that hasn’t kept people from killing them. Wildlife officials tell hikers to let them be. The snakes are hibernating now, but they’ll be back, crossing the nature trail to return to the swamp.

Link

Snakes Alive! Watch Where You’re Walking!

Snake Expert Explains Which Snakes Are Harmful, Which Aren’t

JACKSON, Miss. – There have been reports recently of snakes popping up all across Mississippi.

 

Just this week, several snakes were found in a Hattiesburg middle school. One even bit a teacher. 

Snake expert Terry Vandeventer explained that people don’t have to look very far in Mississippi to find snakes. 

Terry Vandeventer found this snake hiding under some old tin.

 

There’s no such thing as a snake repellent, Vandeventer said. Mothballs and commercial repellants don’t repel snakes. So homeowners should keep areas mowed and clean. 

Along the edge of a building that hasn’t been mowed is a good place for rats and mice, which also makes it a good place for snakes to pursue their favorite foods. Snakes are good because they destroy rats and mice, but they’re a nuisance around the house where there’s children and pets. 

“If I’m available, I’ll go remove a snake,” Vandeventer said. “I don’t charge for it or anything like that, but I would rather take away and release it where it would do some good than have it killed. I’m not snake busters.” 

Roofing materials, which Vandeventer said he calls “Katrina Tin,” that have been blown off old buildings are prime hiding places for snakes. In fact, Vandeventer found a copperhead under some roofing material with 16 WAPT cameras rolling. 

This copperhead was found hiding under old tin in Terry.

 

“Now, that is not a deadly snake, but he will ruin your day,” he said. “This is a snake found in urban areas.” 

Vandeventer said copperheads are potentially dangerous because they are venomous and they bite a fair number of people in Mississippi, but they are not considered a lethal species. In other words, he said, copperheads rarely, if ever, cause a human fatality. 

However, Vandeventer said, there have been some very close calls in the U.S. 

“It’s an animal that’s secretive, that wants to be left alone,” he said. “But when people seem them, they always make an effort to kill them. And as a result, we have a lot of bites in Mississippi from copperheads.” 

He also found a bigger snake, which was a chicken or rat snake. Both snakes were found near rodent burrow holes. 

The timber rattlesnake was once common in Mississippi, but is now rare.

 

Vandeventer showed 16 WAPT News a timber rattlesnake, or a kind brake rattlesnake. 

“This is a snake that was once common in Mississippi but is now somewhat rare,” he said. “They’ve been destroyed on a wholesale manner. This is the snake that was on the first American flag — don’t tread on me, the timber rattlesnake.” 

The Mississippi corn snake is often mistaken for the venomous copperhead and killed. In the end, Vandeventer said, the best idea is to use common sense and leave snakes alone.

Link

Danger looms in abandoned mines, so stay away

Bill Wilson

Wed, Apr 15, 2009 (4:54 p.m.)

Spring has sprung, and with it people are coming out of their winter lairs and into the great outdoors. Nicer weather means more hikers, campers, and mountain bikers. The mountains that surround our fair hamlet are a big draw for thousands of people from all over the world. Unfortunately these same mountains are peppered with abandon or inactive mines. Though exploring an old mine may be tempting for some, ignoring the potential danger it brings can be disastrous. The following are hazards that can be found in the abandon mines around Boulder City.

Shafts — The collar or top of a mine shaft is especially dangerous. The fall down a deep shaft is just as lethal as the fall from a tall building — with the added disadvantage of bouncing from wall to wall in a shaft and the likelihood of having falling rocks and timbers for company. Even if a person survived such a fall, it may be impossible to climb back out. The rock at the surface is often decomposed. Timbers may be rotten or missing. It is dangerous to walk anywhere near a shaft opening; the whole area is often ready and waiting to slide into the shaft, along with the curious. A shaft sunk inside a tunnel is called a winze. In many old mines, winzes have been boarded over. If these boards have decayed, a perfect trap is waiting.

Water — Many tunnels have standing pools of water which could conceal holes in the floor. Pools of water also are common at the bottom of shafts. It is usually impossible to estimate the depth of the water, and a false step could lead to drowning.

Ladders — Ladders in most abandoned mines are unsafe. Ladder rungs are missing or broken. Some will fail under the weight of a child because of dry rot. Vertical ladders are particularly dangerous.

Timbers — The timber in abandoned mines can be weak from decay. Other timber, although apparently in good condition, may become loose and fall at the slightest touch. A well-timbered mine opening can look very solid when in fact the timber can barely support its own weight. There is the constant danger of inadvertently touching a timber and causing the tunnel to collapse.

Cave-ins — Cave-ins are an obvious danger. Areas that are likely to cave often are hard to detect. Minor disturbances, such as vibrations caused by walking or speaking, may cause a cave-in. if a person is caught, he can be crushed to death. A less cheerful possibility is to be trapped behind a cave-in without anyone knowing you are there. Death may come through starvation, thirst, or gradual suffocation.

Bad air — “Bad air” contains poisonous gases or insufficient oxygen. Poisonous gases can accumulate in low areas or along the floor. A person may enter such areas breathing the good air above the gases but the motion caused by walking will mix the gases with the good air, producing a possibly lethal mixture for him to breathe on the return trip. Because little effort is required to go down a ladder, the effects of “bad air” may not be noticed, but when climbing out of the shaft, a person requires more oxygen and breathes more deeply. The result is dizziness, followed by unconsciousness. If the gas doesn’t kill, the fall will.

Explosives — Many abandoned mines contain old explosives left by previous workers. This is extremely dangerous. Explosives should never be handled by anyone not thoroughly familiar with them. Even experienced miners hesitate to handle old explosives. Old dynamite sticks and caps can explode if stepped on or just touched.

Rattlesnakes — Old mine tunnels and shafts are among their favorite haunts — to cool off in summer, or to search for rodents and other small animals. Any hole or ledge, especially near the mouth of the tunnel or shaft, can conceal a snake.

Finally, please remember there is only one safe way to deal with abandoned mines- STAY OUT! For further information contact the Boulder City Fire Department 293-9228.

Link

Hub City school expels 3 snakes

Officials taking precautions after teacher bitten

BRITTANY BROWN • HATTIESBURG AMERICAN • APRIL 15, 2009

HATTIESBURG — A baby snake bit an N.R. Burger Middle School teacher in her classroom, and others were found in the building two more times earlier this month.

Jas N Smith, Hattiesburg Public School District spokesman, said a baby snake was found in a classroom, a second inside a desk and a third in the school’s office. All the discoveries occurred around the first of April.

Smith said the teacher was bitten while trying to ease the snake out of her classroom with a pencil.

“The teacher was taken to the emergency room, treated and released,” said Smith, who added the teacher’s name is not being released. “She’s back at school and doing just fine.”

Dunagin Pest Control in Hattiesburg, he said, removed the snakes and inspected the campus, spraying chemicals to kill mice and insects, both part of a snake’s diet.

“The snakes were so young and small, they weren’t sure what species they were,” said Smith, who added no adult snakes or eggs were found in the school. “They’re not totally sure how the snakes got inside.”

Smith said maintenance workers have replaced a few door jams and patched small openings along the building’s exterior. As a precaution, he said, brush will be cleared from the school’s exterior.

Smith said a letter explaining the incidents will be sent home to parents.

“We’re staying on top of it,” he said. “We definitely don’t want this to happen again.”

But that might not be possible at this time of year.

“They’re starting to come out full force,” said Cody Dunnam, a herpetologist who founded Scales and Tails Inc., a free reptile rescue operation in Lumberton.

Dunnam, who has worked with snakes for the past nine years, urges Pine Belt residents to be on the lookout for reptiles.

“Snakes are cold-blooded and this continuous warm weather we’ve been having brings them out to warm up their bodies,” he said. “And anywhere you have mice or frogs, you’re going to attract snakes because that’s their basic diet.”

The Pine Belt is home to a variety of snakes including Texas rat snakes, black racers, copperheads, diamondback rattlers, cottonmouths and speckled king snakes, Dunnam said.

Mississippi has nine poisonous species: the eastern diamondback, coral snake, timber rattlesnake and two species each of copperheads, cotton mouths and pigmy snakes.

“If you see a snake, the best thing to do is to just leave it alone,” Dunnam advises.

Link

I would not have guessed that snake bites account for nearly this many deaths per year.

Lethal Snake Bites Kill 200,000 A Year
13 April 2009

Five million people worldwide, mostly in rural Asia and Africa, get bitten by snakes each year. Hundreds of thousands die or suffer permanent disability. A shortage of antivenin treatment in poor countries endangers countless farmers, young adults and children. 

Larry Bulanadi is known in the Philippines as the Cobra King, because of his skill in hunting the feared spitting cobra – a highly venomous snake that spits toxin at its prey.

Farmers have asked him to rid their farms of cobras. 

Today Bulanadi was called by this farmer who found two snakes in his field. If he gets bitten by a cobra, he could die quickly. Hospitals are far away and often they do not even have antivenin.

“There is a good chance to find snakes here because the field has been cleared of places they could hide,” he Bulanadi said. “Farm owners ask us to clear the field of snakes because it is a risk to their lives.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) says about five million people around the world are bitten by snakes each year. As many as 200,000 die, and about 400,000 lose limbs. Most victims are in developing countries in Africa and Asia.

The WHO says victims in developing countries, many of them children, die because they are far from medical help and because there is a global scarcity of antivenin.

Dr. Visith Sitprija runs the WHO Collaborating Center for Venomous Snake Toxicology and Research in Bangkok. He says the high cost of producing antivenin means poorer countries such as Cambodia and Burma cannot get adequate supplies. 

“It’s our commitment and in the terms of reference with WHO that we have to provide antivenin. They order from us from time to time,” Dr. Visith says, “but still we are not serving entirely the whole country, their country.”

Unlike other medicines that can be mass produced, Dr. Visith says antivenin is often tailor-made for snakes from specific locations. “Although they may share the common toxin component, the biological effect varies, you know depending on the environment, genetics and the food they eat,” Dr. Visith said.

That means antivenin for a spitting cobra in the Philippines may not work on someone bitten by a similar snake in West Africa.

In one snake farm in Bangkok, children are introduced to a variety of snakes. They learn that most snakes bite people only by accident, and they learn ways to avoid bites – such as wearing rubber boots.

For now, experts say the best ways to reduce the death and injury toll from snake bites are prevention and education.  

Link

A series of attacks and the Pit Bulls responsible still at large has an entire neighborhood on edge.

VALLEY CENTER: Neighborhood shaken by pit bull attacks

Roaming dogs said to be from nearby Indian reservation

By CHRIS NICHOLS – Staff Writer | Monday, April 13, 2009 5:56 PM PDT ∞

VALLEY CENTER —- A string of recent pit bull attacks has left two other dogs dead, a miniature horse mauled and residents feeling shaken and helpless in Paradise Mountain, an otherwise quiet community east of Valley Center on the edge of the San Pasqual Indian Reservation.

Several neighbors said law enforcement, county animal control and tribal authorities have failed to track down the pit bulls responsible for the attacks despite repeated pleas. They said they’ve provided specific information about where the dogs came from —- just across the reservation line near Sunset Vista Lane.

Pit bulls are among certain breeds of dogs that have been linked to numerous deadly attacks on animals and people nationwide. Some communities have passed laws to either ban them or place more restrictions on owning pit bulls.

County officials say they’ve investigated the Paradise Mountain attacks, but do not have the authority to seize any dogs from the reservation. Tribal officials did not comment for this story, despite repeated requests.

The attacks began Jan. 31 when a pack of four pit bulls dragged Robin Hansen’s miniature horse, Spike, by his face from his corral at about 11 p.m. The dogs ripped the skin off the 15-year-old horse’s muzzle, twisted his spine, dislodged his palate and left numerous puncture wounds on his hind quarters, Hansen said.

Hansen and her husband chased the blood-soaked dogs from their Sunset Vista property in their pickup, she said.

Two months later, the white and brown-spotted horse moves slowly and wheezes considerably. The exposed pink skin above his mouth is still raw.

Domingo Ortega’s Labrador, Negro, and Labrador/German shepherd mix, Burni, did not survive their attacks by what neighbors believe were three of the four same pit bulls. That incident took place in early March, also on Sunset Vista, where Ortega owns an avocado grove.

A full-size horse at a third property on Sunset Vista escaped March 18 with minor injuries after its owners scared the what are believed to be the same pit bulls, said owner Kris Preston.

The pit bulls have not been seen since that date and no new attacks have been reported, officials said. Residents, however, remain on alert, with several now saying they are carrying guns. The safety of people, not just animals, is at stake, they said.

Ortega, who has three children including a 4-month-old daughter, said authorities have been no help.

“I said, ‘What are you guys waiting for? (For) one of them to kill one of my kids?’ Nobody listens to us,” he said, adding he now brings his shotgun to the grove and is ready to use it.

County officials have little authority on the reservation, which is sovereign Indian land, said Lt. Dan DeSousa, spokesman for the San Diego County Department of Animal Services. He added the county has not been given the specific whereabouts of the pit bulls,

Ortega said he told the department the dogs retreated to homes on the reservation, just across his property line.

Even if the dogs are located, DeSousa said, animal control officials cannot enter tribal land to seize them.

“Our hands are tied,” the spokesman said.

DeSousa added that animal control contacted tribal security in February and March to inform them of the attacks.

Several residents said tribal security officials pledged to search for the dogs. They even told them they would shoot any dog not fenced in on the reservation, Hansen said.

The tribal security official who spoke to Hansen, Wehay Quis Quis, said he could not comment about the attacks. A tribal administrator did not return calls for comment.

DeSousa said the county has offered to take the dogs to its shelter if the tribe traps them. The county set humane box traps just off the reservation to try to capture the pit bulls, though none has been caught, DeSousa said. He said he did not know whether tribal authorities set traps on the reservation.

Animal control officers have responded to 20 calls on or near Sunset Vista since January 2008, DeSousa added. Those have been for a variety of problems, from abandoned or neglected animals to rattlesnakes to loose dogs. Some of the loose dogs were pit bulls, DeSousa said.

DeSousa said animal control cannot enforce dog licensing, leash laws or dangerous dog and public nuisance rules on the reservation. They can, however, enforce state animal cruelty and neglect laws on the reservation, he said.

Sheriff’s Lt. Sylvester Washington said animal control, not the Sheriff’s Department, handles dangerous dog calls. Deputies respond to immediate emergencies, not reports about past attacks.

He said residents have a right to shoot dangerous dogs if they present “an immediate threat” to a person or an animal.

“It can’t be a perceived threat,” he noted.

Standing next to Spike on a recent warm and windy morning, Hansen said she sometimes wonders whether she should have put her mauled horse out of its misery. His right leg is crooked. His head, because of the spinal injury, is always down. Drops of blood from the cracked scabs on his muzzle still drip to the ground.

Hansen doesn’t shy away from speaking about her animal and the horrific attack, no matter how hard it is to do.

“I think the more people that know about it, perhaps something will get done,” she said.