Posted on 04/19/2021 8:54:02 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The man was bitten near the thumb on his left hand while he apparently attempted to pick up the venomous snake with a pair of barbecue tongs in an effort to protect children who were in the area, said John Welsh, an Animal Services spokesperson.
Firefighters treated the man on scene before transporting to him a nearby hospital.
Officer Mike McGree responded and located the snake coiled near some bushes. Equipped with tongs that reach about 5 feet and a humane storage bucket, he set about trying to trap the reptile.
Meanwhile, a crowd had gathered to watch, with some whipping out their cellphones to take photos and film the interaction, according to McGee.
The area has sign an uptick of rattlesnake sightings in recent weeks as the weather begins to warm up. McGee himself has responded to at least four calls in the past few weeks, safely removing and releasing two of the snakes, according to Welsh.
But when it comes to dealing with rattlesnakes or other dangerous reptiles, Animal Services Commander Chris Mayer warned the public against using items such as cooking utensils to remove them.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
I don't recall the time of day but it was probably in the morning of a cool day and it was sluggish. It squirmed every time it was hit and coiled though.
Most venomous snake bites happen because somebody messed with said snake.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.