Death by Rattlesnake

[Sideshow]

The summer I was bite there were 4 other people bitten in about a 30 mile radius! Two of those bitten died despite heroic measures for the time (1962). I consider myself lucky.
You are correct that the anti-serum has become so over priced it is essentially not affordable, this is thanks to the Animal Rights people in the US that wont allow a horse that has survived a Rattler bite to have blood drawn for serum. I get mine from Canada at about $160 a Kit.

Yes when I was told of the US price for serum I was shocked! Used to stay at a place outside of Arusha that made snake bite serum for the locals. Was no we’re near what you guys are paying!

 

[Flbt]

I am not sure how many rattlesnakes and copperheads I have killed. But I am certain I’m top 5 in my state on numbers. lol.
Going to the beach one time and this northerner was stopped middle of the road letting a 6 ft rattler across the highway. I slowed. Identified the beast while in my vehicle and then proceeded to be sure both my wheels caught the serpent square on his neck.
There were looks of horror at me for the split second I could see the driver.
I was smiling and waved as I went by.
Haha.

Your nicer than me.
I have gotten out in that same situation and took there head off with a machete or bush ax.
And when it was legal grabed gopher tortoises and snapping turtle crossings rds. ( cracker chickens) lol

 

[Flbt]

Your nicer than me.
I have gotten out in that same situation and took there head off with a machete or bush ax.
And when it was legal grabed gopher tortoises and snapping turtle crossings rds. ( cracker chickens) lol

Years ago I was still in high school. We had 2 cows that got struck on the head.
We had a. New vet in town he said he had know idea how big that snake had to be to nearly kill to full grown angus cows.
That normally there was just a bit of swelling for a animal that size much less 2.
He did a tracheotomy on them on them. At cost because he had never did that before
Told us how to doctor them.
He guess that it had to be 9 feet long or bigger if it was one snake or that they had stuck there head around a den.
Both recovered over about 6 months both lost the hair on there head.

About 15 years ago had a 1/4 horse die from a bite. 6 1/2 foot long 15 rattles and a botton
Bigger around than my upper arm.
Track her back she had stepped on him on the branch rd and broke his back.
Killed him. Still miss that horse a big 15 hand palomino cow pen horse about 1300 lbs 1/4 horse . The venom that that thing had to pump into a horse that big she made it less than 1000 yds from the bite

Dammiet I hate snakes

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Hiker in Tennessee killed by Rattlesnake.
First Rattlesnake fatality since 2022.

While I do feel bad for the hiker and his family, I have to ask what would make anyone pick up a snake in the wild? Too much wildlife education by Disney? "Exotic" pet dealers selling all kinds of snakes as pets? Makes you wonder.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I was bit by a Prairie Rattler at age 8, received 14days of treatment in the hospital, and several weeks to fully recover. Since that time I have lived by the moto "the only good snake is a dead one made into a pair of cowboy boots"

Sorry for being crude but I call this the Steve Irwin effect. It was happening before Steve Irwin, but he made it famous.

The Steve Irwin effect is when neophytes "get in nature's face" simply for their own publicity. Wild loosely means separated from humans. Let the wild remain wild. Venomous or not, snakes do not want to be picked-up regardless of whether someone has a facebook page or not.

The "Steve Irwin Effect" or maybe SIE for short. I like it! I've seen a lot of this same kind of thing from Forrrest Galante, et al. Or maybe we can take a lesson from Forest Gump, "Stupid is as stupid does."

 

[Bullhunter]

FIREBIRD
I’ve been a paramedic on half dozen snake bites, none fatal but ugly to watch get worse
Great. Thank you for your service.
What is your expirience with first aid after an snake bite in the USA?

 

[RSL]

I usually leave them alone unless that come into an area where kids are. Then they are toast.

Here in AZ we have like 10 different rattle snakes through out the state some are only found in small specfic areas. most common are western diamond back. The one to worry about is the mojave as it has a neuro toxin poison. Have seen two in my life and was able to steer clear of them while hiking.

I had an encounter with a Mojave outside my Airstream in Morristown, AZ about 12 years ago.
I had some Prospecting gear on a pallet beside the door. I went to load some in the truck and heard what I thought sounded like an electrical short. There was a 110 outlet just above the pallet. Then I realized what the noise was coming from. I got a rake and started pulling stuff off the pallet. I moved one box and the snake came shooting out of the pallet. It was pretty aggressive until I introduced it to my Blackhawk. I usually do everything I can to avoid killing rattlers. But when they take up residence at the house that's a different matter. I have never killed one in the desert and have encountered many out there.

 

[steve white]

They will make you put holes in boats when they fall out of trees. And think they now own the boat.

Water Moccasins will mob you with a light in your boat frog gigging some times. Swim around with their head raised out of the water high enough to look over the side of a John boat. If you just cannot resist trying to bash them with an oar, they will come into and out of the boat at unnerving speed!

But our old friend Bob Johnson had brass balls and went into the small lake at night on an inner tube with a 2x10 plank laid over it, several boxes of .22 ammo laid on top of it, and a rifle with a strong flashlight taped to it. Man, he cleaned that place out. After daylight, he thought he had killed enough for them to stink, so he paddled out in the johnboat to fish out any he could. He drove a tiny little Chevy Luv, but he filled the bed with snakes at least two or three snakes deep. Better him than me....

 

[AZDAVE]

@RSL Yes sir they are the most aggressive of the rattlers I have encountered.