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Respected snake researcher dies from rattlesnake bite
AP ^ | 12 Aug 2022 | MATTHEW BARAKAT

Posted on 08/13/2022 7:41:08 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT

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To: DUMBGRUNT

He rattled his last snake.


21 posted on 08/13/2022 8:02:17 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
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To: DUMBGRUNT

When I read the headline, I thought surely it was the snake handler in St.Cloud, Florida who has been milking snakes for research and entertainment over 40 plus years!

He’s been bitten at least twice through the years……King Cobra and rattlesnake, if I remember!
The Cobra almost killed him……he is also missing one or two fingers!
Many years ago we so enjoyed our visits there…he was a complete professional and provided entertaining and teaching in his routine.

But we went back last year and either he is getting too old….or the venom has eroded his brain….
Instead of teachable moments ……he was a fire breathing liberal who yelled about Conservatives….
Folks walked out……I wanted to walk out, but my some of my visitors wanted to see the snakes…
I went inside and complained to the front office….
…their response,!!!!
..’We hear this often’

Unreal!


22 posted on 08/13/2022 8:05:48 AM PDT by Guenevere (“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

I knew a guy who died after several rattlesnake bites over his lifetime. The venom from previous strikes had built up over the years just like the doctor in this story mentions; he was elderly similar to the man in this story. IIRC, he was putting a water dish in aquarium when he was last bit.


23 posted on 08/13/2022 8:05:48 AM PDT by HonkyTonkMan ( )
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To: DUMBGRUNT

He should have a briefcase full of anti-venom vials.


24 posted on 08/13/2022 8:06:07 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

They’ve got some snake handling preachers in that part of the world.


25 posted on 08/13/2022 8:08:19 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Knew a woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer.

A few days later she working in her garden, got bit by a copperhead and it cured her cancer!

https://fbresearch.org/copperheads-curing-cancer/


26 posted on 08/13/2022 8:09:27 AM PDT by lizma2
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To: Not_Who_U_Think

A couple of years ago, my husband killed a five foot rattlesnake in a barn. A dark barn and all he had with him was one of those cheap one-dollar pocket flashlights. He was going to get something and he knew about where in the barn to look, but at the last minute, he pulled out the flashlight and shone it in that general area. About that time, he heard the rattle and there it was curled up and about to strike. He had a sidearm but was hesitate to shoot in that closed-in area at a snake that was coiled with his head moving.

So, he slowly stepped back and grabbed a pitchfork. He knew he had only one opportunity so aimed carefully. Wham! Rattlesnake now pegged to the barn floor. Hubby had to stand there a while leaning on that pitchfork keeping it pinned down. It took it a while to die and boy was it pissed, still striking but just out of reach of hubby. Later he cut it open and there were 20 baby rattlers inside.


27 posted on 08/13/2022 8:10:12 AM PDT by CFW
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To: DUMBGRUNT
Martin appears to have been a true naturalist. I have a lot of respect for people like him; as opposed to the many phony “conservationists” we hear from all too frequently. Sorry to hear of his passing; especially considering the manner of his death. A Timber Rattler bite is a very tough way to go!
28 posted on 08/13/2022 8:11:59 AM PDT by Ozymandias Ghost
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Occupational Hazard. ;)


29 posted on 08/13/2022 8:12:03 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Guenevere

Bill Haast? He died in 2011. I saw him work at the Miami Serpentarium in the early ‘80s.


30 posted on 08/13/2022 8:17:14 AM PDT by gundog ( It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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To: Guenevere

Wow. Then again, it makes total sense because he had been “milking snakes for research and entertainment over 40 plus years”.

Snakes on a brain.

This poor fellow in the article was quietly going about his days. RIP.


31 posted on 08/13/2022 8:20:57 AM PDT by Ezekiel (🆘️𓊹 𓌃 "Come fly with US". Ingenuity -- because the Son of David begins with Mars ♂️)
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To: lizma2

“Knew a woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer.

A few days later she working in her garden, got bit by a copperhead and it cured her cancer!”

This has got to be outlawed. big pharma made ZERO $$$ on this.


32 posted on 08/13/2022 8:22:30 AM PDT by George from New England
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To: DUMBGRUNT

33 posted on 08/13/2022 8:24:54 AM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: Huskrrrr

John isn’t the one who died...
You have to open the story to find the name of the guy who died...


34 posted on 08/13/2022 8:26:10 AM PDT by JBW1949 (I'm really PC.....Patriotically Correct)
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To: V_TWIN

35 posted on 08/13/2022 8:26:54 AM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: DUMBGRUNT

I am reminded of something I was taught over 62 years ago in High School.

“Familiarity breeds contempt.”

You get so used to working around poisonous snakes you forget they can still kill you.


36 posted on 08/13/2022 8:27:29 AM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (“Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms.” – Aristotl)
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

>>Familiarity breeds contempt.”

You get so used to working around poisonous snakes you forget they can still kill you.<<

Same for wives.


37 posted on 08/13/2022 8:29:38 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (What’s the point in drumming up anarchy if you don’t use it to promote tyranny. /BenLurkin 12/21)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

It’s fitting he would die by snake bite. Better than choking on a ham sammich.


38 posted on 08/13/2022 8:30:11 AM PDT by RoosterRedux
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To: DUMBGRUNT

I guess he died doing what he loved, there’s that.


39 posted on 08/13/2022 8:30:18 AM PDT by Menehune56 ("Let them hate so long as they fear" (Oderint Dum Metuant), Lucius Accius (170 BC - 86 BC))
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To: DUMBGRUNT

If you are younger than 50 and from Ga, you probably have seen Okefenokee Joe. He toured the state and gave demonstrations at the public schools and fairs.

He was always rather casual working with the snakes, not sure if he was bitten or not. I think he is now retired.


40 posted on 08/13/2022 8:32:58 AM PDT by wrench
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