[girlangler]

Maybe we ought to rethink that upcoming fishing trip. Just kidding, hopefully the snakes will be underground by then.

BTW, I followed the directions you sent me for debugging my computer, and (crossing fingers) so far it’s faster, and no crashes.

I’ll freepmail you later.

[ARE SOLE]

At least this fisherdude got a bite.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Poisonous snakes bite about 8,000 people in the United States each year, and only about 2 percent of those bites are fatal,

Without doing the research, I say this is a BS stat....we don't lose 160 people a year to snakebite in the US....maybe a handful. Southern Asia on the other hand......

[aviator]

This would get me pretty rattled.

[null and void]

You've got to quit pissing off the wildlife

Words to live by...

[narby]

The most toxic rattlesnake in North America is the Mojave rattlesnake, known as the Mojave green for its light green coloration. Its bite is particularly deadly

A guy told me that this snake is a mix of Cobra and Rattlesnake, with the poison of both. Something about a bunch of cobras a guy had some decades back that got lose in the Mojave and interbred with the local rattlers.

[RichInOC]

Well, it could have been worse. Good thing the rattler believed in catch-and-release.

[VOA]

Only the administration of anti-venom will reliably reverse the
effects of the poison.

There are several other things to avoid. One is getting excited or
panicked, which speeds up the heartbeat and increases the circulation
of venom through the body. Elevating a bitten leg or lying down
is also a big mistake. "Keep the bitten area below the level of
the heart," Burns said.

Now there is "news you can use".

If I ever go deep into the back country where poisonous snakes
are a potential threat...
I think I'll make a few phone calls to locate the closest hospital/clinic
and what their stock of anti-venom looks like.

And if a helicopter can get me there quickly!

[jazusamo]

It sounds like this fellow is lucky it wasn't worse for him, I doubt it was a Mojave Green, they are really bad news.

In my younger days we took many trips to Lake Havasu water skiing and fishing. It's a great boating recreational area and in those days was comparatively uncrowded. Had to always be aware of the surroundings, especially with the kids.

I posted an article of a guy that mixed drinking and a rattlesnake a few days ago, a real dummy. Man who stuck rattler in his mouth and got bit

[capt. norm]

Were it not for 'gators munching on them, we'd be knee-deep in cottonmouths and eastern diamond back rattlesnakes in my neck of the woods.

* Fortunately we're only about ankle-deep in them.

[Slump Tester]

"Probably 50 percent of bites are going to be young to middle-aged white males," he said. "

At least THIS story doesn't say "Women and minorities hardest hit."

[traumer]

“Probably 50 percent of bites are going to be young to middle-aged white males “

HA! Voting Republicans....??

[jwparkerjr]

Reminds me of the story about the hunter who dropped his drawers in the woods to answer nature’s call when a rattlesnake bit him on his exposed butt. His friends said for him to stay calm and they would go for help. They got the ER doc on the phone and were told they would have to make a small cut near each fang puncture and suck out the poison or their friend would not survive. They rushed back to find their friend already very sick and weak. He whispered to them with labored breathing “what did the doctor say?” The friend who had talked with the doc just shook his head sadly and said “the doctor said you are going to die.”

[LibWhacker]

Some members of the population have also missed the bulletin that it is not wise to tangle with rattlesnakes, Burns said.

A few years ago, some lady not too far from here picked up a baby rattler because she thought it was cute, lol.

[savedbygrace]

A relative of the perp:

[dighton]

... each vile of anti-venom ...

Evil stuff.

[tubebender]

Let’s not forget this classic thread... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/735901/posts

[freekitty]

Rattlers, corals and copperheads here in Texas

[capt. norm]

I have some friends that make a fishing/camping trip up the Apalachicola River every year.

To deal with the possibility of snake-bite, they always carry a case of scotch.

To make sure the scotch doesn't go to waste, they usually pack, at least, a half-case of snakes.

* Note: Snakes come 24 to the case. Always check the count.

[Mike Darancette]

"Probably 50 percent of bites are going to be young to middle-aged white males," he said. "We call them 'interactive bites' because they're messing with the snake."

Hey Bubba hold ma beer!