Snake season: What to do if a venomous snake bites you?
The Oklahoma Poison Center is already starting to see an uptick in calls.
In 2024 alone, The Oklahoma Poison Center helped manage 363 snake bites across the state.
160 copperhead bites
38 rattlesnake bites
12 cottonmouth bites
102 bites from unidentified venomous snakes
34 unknown snake bites (venom status undetermined)
15 non-venomous snake bites
2 bites from exotic snakes
LOCAL NEWS: OSU researching Asian Longhorned Tick that can be deadly for cattle
The Oklahoma Poison Center says they do not need to know what type of snake bit you.
'Just leave it alone, get out of the area and our anti venom that we have here in Oklahoma will actually cover all venomous snakes,' said Kristie Edelen, managing director, The Oklahoma Poison Center.
Edelen says to never use tourniquets, ice or extraction tools. Just head straight to the emergency room.
You should also remove any jewelry or tight clothing.
'When it comes to snake bites, we have a saying that time is tissue,' said Edelen.
She says that waiting too long can lead to permanent damage.
The Oklahoma Poison Center says it's not just snakes you have to look out for this time of year, but also spiders.
'Probably the biggest thing that we're seeing here in Oklahoma right now is our brown recluse bites, just people specifically having things like rashes and muscle pains,' said Edelen.
Scorpion stings can also happen with the warmer weather, but they're rarely dangerous.
When in doubt about a bite, Edelen says the best thing you can do is call The Oklahoma Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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