Be careful - snakebite!

[Buns]

It's that time of year and the storms have apparently disrupted some of our local wildlife. A big water moccassin (cottonmouth) bit my son twice on the ankle yesterday as he went to feed the peafowl. It was lying along the edge of the pen on the outside and as he approached with a bucket of water he didn't see it. Charlie is 19 and 200 lbs and it has still made him terribly sick. He has had three doses of antivenom so far and is hospitalized in our local hospital. We had all gotten careless here about going barefoot, wearing sandals, etc. although even IF he had been wearing normal tennis shoes the bite would have been above the level of the shoe. Everyone please be careful and watchful. This has been a horribly painful experience for Charlie and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

 

[ranchhand]

Thanks for the reminder, I tend to go out in sandals and we have copperheads and rattlesnakes all over. I was bitten last year, luckily it was nonvenomous.

Best wishes for a fast recovery for Charlie, what an awful experience.

PS - one of my very dearest friends was raised and still visits her Mom in Quitman a lot. I used to live in Austin.

 

[debilorrah]

I live in the land of the Pacific (or Western) Mojave Greens. Diamond backs. All kinds of rattlers around here. And in the 11 years I have lived here I have never seen one. But I am certainly an eyes to ground kind of a gal.

I hope your son recovers quickly.

 

[turney31]

Real glad he is o.k.

 

[coloradochick]

OUCH!!! Get to feeling better Charlie

 

[NYboy]

Poor guy!! Getting bite by a snake is stuff of nightmares!

 

[GarlicEater]

*supposedly* rattlers will have a smell, like cucumber. So, if you're out wandering around and smell nice fresh cucumber all of a sudden....

 

[chickensioux]

Ow! Quick recovery prayers for Charlie.

 

[chickensioux]

Quote:
How close ya gotta get to smell it? Sounds to close to me.....

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Scary stuff! Thanks for the reminder, and best wishes to Charlie. Sounds terrible! I hope he has a short and smooth recovery.

My area definitely has rattlers. I haven't seen too many, but it's always good to be aware of the ground and keep it in mind that they're around. Snakes are amazing animals and great for the environment/rodent control, but we have to be aware of them and give them space and respect.