Posted on 08/23/2005 11:43:23 AM PDT by girlangler
In Jefferson, snake bites the hand that tries to save it Wednesday, August 17, 2005 BY BILL SWAYZE Star-Ledger Staff Stephen Sodones spotted it along the edge of Route 23 in Jefferson, a snake just starting its precarious slide to the other side of the highway.
So the 62-year-old animal lover picked it up, hoping to carry it to safety. But in doing so, Sodones quickly learned one of nature's more important facts: Snakes bite.
What bit Sodones three times on the arm Monday night was a copperhead, which can grow to 4 feet and have fangs like hypodermic needles. No one is quite sure how big this one was.
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Sodones, who lives in the Newfoundland section of Jefferson, remained hospitalized last night in the intensive care unit at Chilton Memorial Hospital in Pompton Plains. His condition was listed as critical, but improving, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Sodones was given an antivenin intravenously, and is expected to be fine, said Steven Marcus, medical director at New Jersey Poison Information and Education System.
Some say Sodones could have fared much worse.
"If you had to be bit by some venomous snake, you'd want it to be a copperhead," said Joe Abene, venomous snake expert at the Bronx Zoo. "Most people do not have to go to the hospital."
Copperheads get their name from the copper-like hue of the head and are fairly common in the Jefferson area. They account for more cases of venomous snake bites than any other snakes, but their venom is the least toxic of the species, according to the Web site snakesandfrogs.com.
What prompted Sodones to pick up the snake in the first place remains a question to police, authorities said.
But to those who know Sodones, his actions made perfect sense.
A animal lover, Sodones lives alone with a white long-haired cat named "Old Cat." He likes to feed bears and stop traffic so ducks can walk across the road. Not too long ago, he tried to revive a bumblebee, keeping it in the palm of his hand with some water until it buzzed away two hours later, said John Bross, a friend and neighbor.
"One time, I stepped on a spider and he wouldn't talk to me for two days," Bross said. "Steve's got a problem with animals. He loves them too much."
Friends said Sodones routinely takes walks along Route 23, not far from his house. At about 8:30 Monday night, he spotted the reptile in the road. When he picked it up, it attacked him, police said.
At first, Sodones didn't think much about the bites. But about four hours later, when he felt woozy, Sodones called 911, police said.
By then, the snake was long gone.
"It was a good thing to do, but the wrong way to do it. I wouldn't recommend anyone touch a venomous snake unless they know what they are doing," Abene said. "What the heck was he thinking?"
Staff writer Jordan Doronila contributed to this report.
"Especially slathered in gravy"
Right next to the mashed potatoes!
This was just so funny I had to post it.
Bet this guy sends half or more of his retirement pay to PETA.
Is there a Dumb Ass Alert?
I took that as a joke. You know: the bears have him over for dinner?
The only good snake is a worn snake....
This was just so funny I had to post it.
Bet this guy sends half or more of his retirement pay to PETA.
What a fool. Everybody knows that one of the easiest tricks to train a cat to do is, help poisonous snakes cross the road.
I carry a snake stick around the ranch to remove these.
Copperheads are part of life in north Texas and unless
you try to cuddle it or step on it they won't do much
harm. They're pretty timid, unlike their cousins the cottonmouths.
Give them space and respect and they'll help keep the
rodents in check. I've taken one off the porch and another
off the woodpile. The rest seem to have got the message.
The only good snake's a dead snake, is what I say.
So my daughters were 7 and 2 playing in the backyard, and my hubby caught a little snake that we've seen alot of in the backyard, and he called the nature center to inquire about its identity.
And the man at the nature center asked: "Is the snake in any danger?"
Not to worry about my daughters, the idiot!
NJ
Some people are a little over top when it comes to animals. This guy is nuts.
If the guy was such a nature lover, you'd think he knew the danger of the snake by the shape of its head.
Guess the guy thought he was above it all. Typical.
Jefferson Twp. is in the NW section of NJ-near the Kittatiny Mountains. It's somewhat built up now - like most of the state.
Stupid to pick up a poisonous snake, but I have helped non poisonous snakes across the road so they would not be killed...one being a 7 foot gopher snake. Been bitten many times...no big deal.
Snakes are cool.....they keep the moonbat population under control.
I sincerely respect his position regarding life. My take is that he wanted to place the snake out of harms way. This is a noble gesture in my opinion. However, there is an informed way to pick up a snake and this is where the man's judgment is lacking. I am pleased he is surviving and I hope this does not deter any future informed noble acts.
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