Surviving a rattlesnake bite

[Hannah42]

While on a bow hunt in 2013 i was struck by a Timber rattlesnake. I laid my stand on the snake and when I went to pick up the stand there he was it happened so fast nothing I could do. Yes he went to rattling like crazy but I tried to snatching my arm away but lost. HE stuck my forearm it happened that fast. Luckily I was only 300 yards from my truck and 2 miles from home 15 min from the hospital. Yes dumb me killed the snake and went home to get my wife. I thought for some reason I needed the snake for anti venom. Moving ahead I started not being able to swallow. Vision was getting worse my throat was closing. At the hospital now 25 min later they rushed me back and started doing test when I started having panic attack hit me. I couldn't breathe I was fighting the nurses until the gave me something to knock me out. I woke up in ICU my hand an arm big as a basket ball. I was lucky. They had me on 5 different antibiotics through IV. Also had Anti venom going. I took 13 vials of antivenom for each vial was $6500 a bag.
I was in ICU for 3 weeks 6 weeks in the hospital 2 months after getting home i felt like I had the flu.
I had to go every 6 months for a EKG on my heart.
This is the short story as best i can say. Hunters be careful. Hopefully you will take one more look after reading this. Stay safe keep your eyes open.
I've made a full recovery.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

That story makes me want to not leave the house....lol

 

[Hot brass]

These things were present at work, and I saw my share of them. Co-worker showed me a picture of one behind a vertical pipe where the co-worker was passing. A pump was running and co-worker saw it, before hearing it. I don`t like them.

 

[mokin]

I'm glad you made a full recovery. Rattlesnakes are fairly rare where I live but on some projects we can see two or three a day. Those of us who venture into the woods need to be very aware.

 

[Highland Lofts]

I have been lucky not to run across any of them when I was doing power line clearing in Eastern Washington State.

One of the guys on another crew got bit by a rattler snake. They were there but not where I was.

It took you a long time to recover.

 

[jmr40]

Thanks for that information. It really drives home how dangerous these snakes can be. You were lucky to have been so close to help

 

[WestKentucky]

It seems silly that a lot of people get very complacent around hazards that they deal with regularly, and being in snake country is one that should come naturally. Thanks for the reminder. It’s interesting that you sat your gear on the snake before it bit, I would like a little more detail there. Did it bite as soon as the gear touched it? Did it get pinned and only bite once you tried to pick up your gear? Did it sing at all to warn you? These points could be key in trying to figure out how to avoid a bite.

 

[FL-NC]

I have been fortunate in that I have never been bit, though I have had many CLOSE calls- not just by the rattlers, cottonmouths, and copperheads that are in the US, but also the tropical (extremely poisinous) rattlers and fer-de-lances in Latin America, as well as close calls with green mambas and a puff adder in Africa. In afg,, a team mate killed a baby cobra in a hallway in our HQ building with a thick generator manual. These are snake bites that you probably don't come back from, should they occur.

 

[1942bull]

Anyone who does anything in snake country ought to learn about regional snake habitats and habits. The best way to avoid being bitten is to avoid the snakes. I have hiked the forests of PA since 1970. Fortunately I had training about snakes before going to Nam where there are numerous types of venomous snakes. In PA we have 3 venomous snakes: Misissauga rattlers, Timber rattlers, and Copperheads. Each has it own preferred environment. The Copperhead likes grassy areas. The Mississauga is mostly found on any forest floor. The Timber likes rockier areas, but that does not mean that they cannot be anywhere.

I took the time to learn about how to reduce exposure to a bite. There is a lot of good advise on that topic. One piece of advice I have lived by was to always use a hiking pole fully extended to probe around anything or ground where there might bee a snake you cannot see. The snake will strike at the pole, giving you time to move away. Once you move the snake will not feet threatened as long as you do not get close. I have done my share of walking around the snake to avoid it.

 

[.308 Norma]

WOW!!!
THAT IS SCARY!!! I'm glad you're okay.
After reading your story, you can bet I'm going to be just a little more cautious as I'm working out on the back of our place. As far as venomous snakes go, all we have is Western rattlesnakes around here, but there's a lot of them. And at $6500 a bag for antivenom, I'd be paying for a rattlesnake bite for the rest of my life - IF I even survived it!

 

[dh1633pm]

Glad to hear you recovered. I hate snakes. Not scared of them. Just don’t like them.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Yes dumb me killed the snake and went home to get my wife. I thought for some reason I needed the snake for anti venom..

Glad you recovered.

Not so dumb on killing of the snake and bringing it with you. That used to be suggested, that if possible to have someone kill the snake so that it could be brought in to be identified/verified. This is because so many people are bitten by snakes that haven't a clue as to what type of snake bit them. Nowadays, a photo would suffice as most people have cell phones with cameras and the pictures are instantly available.

 

[Hannah42]

It seems silly that a lot of people get very complacent around hazards that they deal with regularly, and being in snake country is one that should come naturally. Thanks for the reminder. It’s interesting that you sat your gear on the snake before it bit, I would like a little more detail there. Did it bite as soon as the gear touched it? Did it get pinned and only bite once you tried to pick up your gear? Did it sing at all to warn you? These points could be key in trying to figure out how to avoid a bite.

Yes I sat the stand down own the snake never saw it. So I was on a pretty steep ridge. Had my crossbow in one had and sat the stand on the ground. Walked down to the creek to see if any deer had used the crossing. It started to rain so I figured nothing was crossing I would head back to another spot. I had the xbow in one had got down on one knee reached under the stand trying to grab the strap to throw it over my shoulder. As soon as I did the snake started to rattling. He was close enough he could have struck my face. Remember I was on a steep ridge so he was very close to my face at the time. The stand was not actually on top of the snake but I must have pissed him off. I was trying to keep my balance on one knee holding my bow and now the snake was in strike mode singing very loud. All I could do I thought was snatch my arm out from under my stand.it might sound crazy to you but it happened so fast. As I went to move my arm I'm talking I was fast but he was faster. He struck my forearm. No he wasn't rattling till my arm was under my stand. Like I said it happened that fast. Yes he warned me but it was to late I had nowhere to go. I knew he got me from the sting in my hand. Yes I said hand. He actually hit a vain in my arm. My hand was stinging and felt hot. Also I've heard a snake can't strike but the length of half their body. Can I tell you when I went to hit that snake with a large stick he stuck so hard and fast he landed right at my feet. That was a 3foot leap. Guys I'm telling you he struck that hard. The snake was about 3 foot long had 6 Rattlers and a button. Probably 3 inches around. This was about mid September right when a cool front was moving in. I've learned that there is no telling how many times I or should I say we have been only feet away from a Rattle snake and never seen it. Probably more times than we won't to know. Or a copperhead. Speaking of copperhead bits are more common than rattle snake bits. The anti venom for a copperhead bit was 10K a bag. Hopefully I answered some of your questions. I have pictures somewhere if I can find them I will post.

 

[WestKentucky]

Yes I sat the stand down own the snake never saw it. So I was on a pretty steep ridge. Had my crossbow in one had and sat the stand on the ground. Walked down to the creek to see if any deer had used the crossing. It started to rain so I figured nothing was crossing I would head back to another spot. I had the xbow in one had got down on one knee reached under the stand trying to grab the strap to throw it over my shoulder. As soon as I did the snake started to rattling. He was close enough he could have struck my face. Remember I was on a steep ridge so he was very close to my face at the time. The stand was not actually on top of the snake but I must have pissed him off. I was trying to keep my balance on one knee holding my bow and now the snake was in strike mode singing very loud. All I could do I thought was snatch my arm out from under my stand.it might sound crazy to you but it happened so fast. As I went to move my arm I'm talking I was fast but he was faster. He struck my forearm. No he wasn't rattling till my arm was under my stand. Like I said it happened that fast. Yes he warned me but it was to late I had nowhere to go. I knew he got me from the sting in my hand. Yes I said hand. He actually hit a vain in my arm. My hand was stinging and felt hot. Also I've heard a snake can't strike but the length of half their body. Can I tell you when I went to hit that snake with a large stick he stuck so hard and fast he landed right at my feet. That was a 3foot leap. Guys I'm telling you he struck that hard. The snake was about 3 foot long had 6 Rattlers and a button. Probably 3 inches around. This was about mid September right when a cool front was moving in. I've learned that there is no telling how many times I or should I say we have been only feet away from a Rattle snake and never seen it. Probably more times than we won't to know. Or a copperhead. Speaking of copperhead bits are more common than rattle snake bits. The anti venom for a copperhead bit was 10K a bag. Hopefully I answered some of your questions. I have pictures somewhere if I can find them I will post.

That explains much better.

And on the topic of copperheads, I have taken a glancing blow myself. Totally my fault and the snake should have bitten me long before he did. I was camping, had been drinking, and saw eyes on the trail. I picked it up by it’s tail and was playing with it. I stumbled over a root and dropped the snake, and he hit my boot as he hit the ground. A fang broke off in my boot and scratched me as I took the boot off... about like a cat scratch where it bleeds but basically is just a line with a speck of blood here and there. Foot swelled up and hurt, turned all kinds of colors. Called a ER doctor that was a friends dad and explained the situation, And he basically said to shake it off as light of a bite as it was. I would hate to even imagine a solid bite.

 

[jmorris]

And that’s why I’m not the friendliest fellow to venomous creatures.

 

[Dibbs]

AM I the only person who runs into venomous snakes out of habitat? As in, near buildings, in the driveway, just off the front porch, in the road?

I never see them in the woods, and I usually go through the woods once or twice a day, on various trails.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Speaking of copperhead bits are more common than rattle snake bits. The anti venom for a copperhead bit was 10K a bag.

A couple of points. Rattlesnake and copperhead bites traditionally get the same crotalid polyvalent antivenom (CroFab), which is the pricey stuff you are talking about. HOWEVER, there is a new anti-venom as of 2018, AnaVip, which is downright cheap by comparison, only about $1200 a dose, but may take more doses. Despite more doses, treatment would be many of thousands of dollars less. Many doctors don't know about AnaVip, however, and probably don't have it. https://khn.org/news/price-of-snakebite-drug-is-sky-high-but-new-competitor-unlikely-to-lower-costs/

Copperhead bites may be more common, but the bites are generally less lethal than rattlesnake bites, despite being essentially the same venom. Copperheads, water moccasins, and rattlesnakes are all crotalids and have very similar venom. Copperheads tend to physically have less venom and often inject less per bite and hence there is less venom to do less damage.

Copperheads are the most common snake that I see while hunting in north Texas. They are also amongst the calmest of snakes I have seen.

AM I the only person who runs into venomous snakes out of habitat? As in, near buildings, in the driveway, just off the front porch, in the road?

I never see them in the woods, and I usually go through the woods once or twice a day, on various trails.

Dibbs, that is a perception issue. The snakes are not out of habitat. What you call out of habitat near buildings and on the driveway/road is what the snake considers to be on/around nice warm rocks, which IS habitat for them. They don't know the difference between artificial and natural rocks and don't care. Houses are not out of habitat either. If you have any mice or rats that live with in 100 yards of your house, you are in habitat because they are a food source for the snakes. Your house may not be preferred habitat, but is still habitat.

You may not see a lot of snakes along the trails that you take. Snakes like to avoid being stepped on by larger animals. They aren't apt to find a lot of food along those trails during the day time when you are apt to be walking down them.

 

[jonc]

A couple of points. Rattlesnake and copperhead bites traditionally get the same crotalid polyvalent antivenom (CroFab), which is the pricey stuff you are talking about. HOWEVER, there is a new anti-venom as of 2018, AnaVip, which is downright cheap by comparison, only about $1200 a dose, but may take more doses. Despite more doses, treatment would be many of thousands of dollars less. Many doctors don't know about AnaVip, however, and probably don't have it. https://khn.org/news/price-of-snakebite-drug-is-sky-high-but-new-competitor-unlikely-to-lower-costs/

Copperhead bites may be more common, but the bites are generally less lethal than rattlesnake bites, despite being essentially the same venom. Copperheads, water moccasins, and rattlesnakes are all crotalids and have very similar venom. Copperheads tend to physically have less venom and often inject less per bite and hence there is less venom to do less damage.

Copperheads are the most common snake that I see while hunting in north Texas. They are also amongst the calmest of snakes I have seen.



Dibbs, that is a perception issue. The snakes are not out of habitat. What you call out of habitat near buildings and on the driveway/road is what the snake considers to be on/around nice warm rocks, which IS habitat for them. They don't know the difference between artificial and natural rocks and don't care. Houses are not out of habitat either. If you have any mice or rats that live with in 100 yards of your house, you are in habitat because they are a food source for the snakes. Your house may not be preferred habitat, but is still habitat.

You may not see a lot of snakes along the trails that you take. Snakes like to avoid being stepped on by larger animals. They aren't apt to find a lot of food along those trails during the day time when you are apt to be walking down them.

Are copperheads a type of rattlesnake? Do they rattle to warn you.


I don't see many snakes here in Utah for some reason even with spending a good amount of time in the desert every year, although occasionally I see them hiking in the mountains. However, I was in Arizona outside of Kingman doing a javelina hunt earlier this year. It was cold out still and was raining extremely heavily. I was totally soaked head to toe even through my goretex and decided to head back to the truck at which time the rain stopped and the sun came out . I was about to duck under a barbed wire fence when I looked down and saw a big snake right underneath the fence moving very lethargicly. I don't know what it was , it wasn't a rattlesnake but must have been 30" long. This was in February I think So i was very surprised to see a snake out and figured whatever hole it was in must have filled with water. I decided to go further down the fence before I crossed .

 

[jmorris]

Never been bitten by a snake,

I have never been struck by a venomous snake but have been hit by others before. Did have a brown recluse bite that changed my attitude of live and let be though. Now I treat them just like hogs tearing up a hay meadow.

I still coexist with the “good” ones but the venomous ones are on the non friendly list.

 

[jmorris]

Are copperheads a type of rattlesnake? Do they rattle to warn you.

No, they also don’t get as big as some rattlesnakes.

They are generally pretty small when they venture into my yard. This one got caught when I was mowing.



This one was a result of getting home late one might from a match, I had caught a mouse on a sticky trap and decided to throw it in the incinerator the next morning, when I came out to get him off the back porch he had been consumed by this guy.



My wife really doesn’t like any snake so when I get a rat snake out of the pool or garage and put it back into the woods, I just have to tell her “it’s been taken care of...”

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Are copperheads a type of rattlesnake? Do they rattle to warn you.

Water moccasins, copperheads, and rattlesnakes are all pitviper snakes in the family Crotiladae. Copperheads and water moccasins are in the genus Agkistrodon and rattlesnakes are from the genuses Crotalus and Sistrurus. Copperheads and water moccasins do not have rattles.

 

[H&Hhunter]

My brother was bitten by a smaller prairie rattler when he was about 8 years old. His hand swole up severely but he had no other symptoms. No anaphylaxis, no vision issue, nothing neurological at all. I think that depends on the snake and the victims reaction can get different person to person.

 

[.308 Norma]

Water moccasins, copperheads, and rattlesnakes are all pitviper snakes in the family Crotiladae. Copperheads and water moccasins are in the genus Agkistrodon and rattlesnakes are from the genuses Crotalus and Sistrurus. Copperheads and water moccasins do not have rattles.

You folks down south have Coral snakes too, don't you? What are they like to deal with?
A guy I used to work with was from Alabama, and he told me there was a saying about them - something like, "Red on black, put him back. Red on yellow, kill a fellow."
I'm kinda glad we don't have anything other than Western rattlers here in Idaho - even though in some parts of Idaho (like around here) we have a lot of them. That's why I clear brush and mow weeds on the back part of our property. I not all that afraid of rattlers IF I see them, but I'd sure hate to step in the middle of one because I didn't see it.

 

[cslinger]

I have run across one rattlesnake in my life. He made it known he was there. I made it know that I would be going the other way post haste. We said god day sir to each other and I got the hell out of dodge.

I am not phobic of snakes but I’m stupid either.

Spiders on the other hand.........best just to burn a couple acres to the ground.....just to be sure.

 

[ericuda]

I can give my dog a rattlesnake shot for 16 bucks that is good for a year and the vet gives me to give to dog myself. Always wondered why there is not a human equivalent to help. Afraid it may be $ related.