Natures Nasty Friends

It’s that time of year again. The weather’s warming up and people are heading outdoors. You know who else is coming out to play? Snakes, spiders and all those other nasty little creatures. I thought this would be a good time to talk a little about them. If you’re hitting the trails you need to know what to look for and how to identify the venomous snakes that can be found in your region. The photo above was taken at a free seminar I took the kids to. It was put on by the local parks and rec center in our area. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the exact answer to your question online and even if you find it, you might need some clarification. If you can’t find a seminar like the one we went to you can probably find a herpetology society that is based in or around where you live. These guys love snakes and will be more than willing to help you with any questions you might have. This is a good place to start: http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Reptile-Community/Reptile-Clubs/

It’s very likely that if you live in one of the more northern states you don’t really have to worry much about venomous creatures. Although they can be found in virtually every state, there are far fewer in the colder regions. Personally I’m not scared of snakes. Don’t get me wrong, if one startles me I’m going to jump, but I’m not afraid if I know one's there. Last summer my family and I went camping near the Texas/Oklahoma border. My dog and I spotted a large tree branch that mysteriously appeared at our campsite. I slowly walked over as my dog excitedly trounced up to it. When he tried to grab it he was startled that it moved. This was the first time he’d ever encountered a snake and with total disregard for my commands continued to investigate. After the snake bit him, I was close enough to yank him away. And snap a quick picture in case we had to take him to the vet.

This little guy was 6 feet long and scared us enough to cut our camping trip short. After that I realized the importance of knowing what snakes are venomous, what snakes are constrictors, and what snakes are harmless in our area. I also thought it would be beneficial to know a little more about snake behavior, so here's what I've learned...

Nocturnal or Diurnal?

Snakes are neither! This is important to know because snakes are coldblooded which means that they have a difficult time regulating their body temperature. If it’s particularly hot outside they will look for cool shady places to hang out. Likewise if it’s cool outside they’ll be in search of a warm place to sun themselves during the day and likely curl up in a crevice at night. These guys can be found in some unusual places.

You may or may not have seen this picture floating around Facebook. When we lived in Georgia, my neighbor unexpectedly dropped by one day just to let me know that she saw one go into the vent where the dryer kicks out the hot air. It was starting to get cool outside and he was likely looking for a place to hybernate. My point is, be aware of where they’re likely to be.

What if I get bit?

If you get bit by a snake it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve been bit by a venomous snake. Also, if you’ve been bit by a venomous snake, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve been injected with venom. Often times a snake will give a warning bite or a “dry bite” to warn off predators. If you don’t back off, you probably won’t be so lucky the next time. If you or your pet gets bit and you see only two distinct puncture marks get to a hospital ASAP! Try not to elevate your heart rate though because that will only spread the poison through your system faster. If your pet gets bit, there’s really nothing you can do for them. Hold them and pamper them, but keep in mind that pets have a stronger resistance than people do, so they will likely be just fine. Most North American venomous snakes aren’t poisonous enough to kill a large dog. Another thing I’d like to stress is that any of the old wives tales you’ve heard about sucking out the poison or restricting the blood flow with a tunicate is not good advice to follow. You won’t be able to make an impact on the spread of the poison and you’ll only be wasting precious time.

Aside from the two distinct puncture wounds, you’ll know if you’ve been bit by a venomous snake because you’ll feel it burn when the venom enters your body and the pain will quickly spread after that. Keep in mind that just because you got bit by a snake doesn’t mean it’s venomous or that you’ve been injected with the venom. It DOES mean that you were too close to it and that’s dangerous!

What should I expect in the ER?

This is important to know because not all medical staff is trained to handle snakebites, so if they do something wrong you definitely want to be keyed in to what’s going on. If you’ve been bit the first thing they’re going to do is mark how far the poison has spread. This is easy to do since you’ll swell up like a water balloon. Next they’ll wait to see if the poison is still spreading. This step is important because the anti-venom can be just as dangerous as the venom itself. If the swelling isn’t spreading, they’ll monitor you and make sure you’re in the clear before they release you. However, if there’s still a significant increase in the amount of swelling they’ll administer the anti-venom. This is where you’d better hope you have good insurance! One vial of anti-venom starts around $2,000 and sometimes it takes more than one. When they bring this stuff in, it needs to be mixed up. The solution is very thick so it needs to be rolled not shaken. If the nurse comes in shaking it to mix it up, there’s going to be air bubbles in it and you don't want that.

How can I tell the difference?

There are a number of ways to tell the difference between a venomous and a non-venomous snake, but these ways can vary depending on where you live. And truthfully, if you are close enough to a snake that could be venomous to tell the difference, you’re too close! I can’t stress that enough. If you’re not sure, then stay safe! Don’t get close enough to try to figure out the shape of the pupils, or if the snake has a second nostril pit, or if the scales on its tail go this way vs. that way. If you can see that the head is more diamond shape, then you should slowly back away! Even that's too close.

What if it’s in my back yard?

If you find a snake in a residential area that you think is venomous call the herpetology society closest to where you live. They’ll come out and remove the snake free of charge. If at all possible, you should try to trap it under a trashcan and put something heavy on top or keep it within your sight. The last thing anyone wants is a venomous snake out loose in a neighborhood filled with small children and dogs.

I’m not trying to scare anyone here; I just want you to stay mindful while you’re out enjoying nature. We live in Oklahoma where snakes can be a potential nuisance, but when we lived in Alaska I had to warn my son that if he ever saw a moose or bear to come in the house and warn me. There are potential hazards everywhere you live. As my grandmother told me when my older cousin would throw gardener snakes at us as kids, they’re just a part of life and if you want to play outside you just have to get used to them. I know a lot of people are severely terrified of them, but I truly believe (as my grandma did), that you have to face your fears head on. If that means walking passed the snakes confined in the zoo, that’s where you should start. Don’t keep yourself cooped up all spring and summer just because you might see a snake. There’s just too much fun waiting to be had!

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