Latest news with #GrundyCountyEMA
The Independent
4 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Hiker who died after being bitten by venomous snake in Tennessee made fatal mistake, officials believe
A hiker who died of a snake bite in a scenic state park in Tennessee made one fatal mistake: he reportedly picked up the venomous reptile. The man, who has not been identified, was just half a mile down a trailhead at Savage Gulf State Park when first responders arrived at about 12.30 p.m. last Friday, according to the Grundy County Emergency Management Agency. After life-saving efforts administered by rescue workers, the man was transferred to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. A representative for Grundy County EMA said the hiker was likely bitten by a timber rattlesnake, a highly venomous species found in the eastern U.S. Witnesses who spoke to first responders said they saw the hiker pick up the snake, which bit him on the hand, Matthew Griffith of the Grundy County EMA told ABC News Channel 9. The man was believed to have died of an allergic reaction, though the full cause of death has yet to be released. It was not immediately clear why the victim picked up the snake. 'The family of the individual will be in our thoughts and prayers,' Griffith said. 'As always, it's strongly recommended to have some kind of first aid supplies while enjoying outdoor recreational activities and be mindful of wildlife and the dangers that some wildlife may pose.' Griffith urged those who encounter any snake to remain calm and not attempt to handle it. The Grundy County EMA website describes timber rattlesnakes as the 'largest, and the most dangerous, of the four venomous snakes in Tennessee.' They can be up to 5ft long with a large, distinctive triangular head, vertical pupils, and a characteristic rattle at the end of their tail. In most cases, however, rattlesnake bites are not fatal. Less than one in 600 bites results in death, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Bites from timber rattlesnakes are rare, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. The species is considered more docile than other members of its reptilian family. Timber rattlesnakes typically prey on small rodents and often remain motionless if encountered in the wild.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Tragedy after hiker was bitten by most venomous snake in Tennessee
A hiker was killed by an venomous snake bite in a Tennessee state park last week, officials said. The male victim, who has not been identified, was discovered at Savage Gulf State Park, about 95 miles from Nashville. He was reportedly found a half-mile down a hiking trail on Friday. Officials said the hiker had picked up the snake, which was identified as a Timber rattlesnake. 'It is believed that the hiker had an allergic reaction, however full details of [the] actual cause of death have not been released,' Matthew Griffith of the Grundy County Emergency Management Agency told Fox News Digital. Paramedics performed CPR at the scene before transporting the hiker to the hospital, where he was later declared dead. A witness told officials that the hiker picked up the snake before the animal bit him in the hand According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the Timber rattle snake is 'a large, heavy-bodied snake (36.0 to 60.0 inches long) with a large, triangular head, vertical pupils, and the characteristic rattle at the end of the tail.' They are the largest and most dangerous of the four venomous snake species found in Tennessee. The snake kills its prey 'by a venomous bite, in which the venom is injected by fangs located in the snake's mouth.' In most cases, their bites s are not fatal - less than 1 in 600 bites result in death, according to the US Forest Service. In the US, about 7,000 to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes every year, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, only about five of them die annually. Griffith with the Grundy County Emergency Management Agency sent prayers to the family and asked people to be vigilant about snakes. 'As always it's strongly recommended to have some kind of first aid supplies while enjoying outdoor recreational activities and be mindful of wildlife and the dangers that some wildlife may pose,' he said. 'If you encounter a snake, simply remain calm and do not attempt to handle it. If bitten, seek immediate medical attention.' Timber rattlers, or timber rattlesnakes, are one of approximately 30 venomous species in the US, and can be found from Texas to New England. In May, an Arizona toddler was bitten by a a diamondback rattlesnake and had to be injected with 30 vials of antivenom. One-year-old Cara and her mother were walking around their property near Florence when the mom went to throw away a piece of trash. When she returned, she noticed the young girl 'had four puncture wounds on the top of her foot, in the little window of her little jelly shoe, and behind her, to her left was a snake coiled up.'
CBS News
5 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Hiker dies after being bitten by venomous snake in Tennessee state park
A hiker died in Tennessee's Savage Gulf State Park after being bitten by a venomous snake, officials said Thursday. Grundy County Emergency Management Agency personnel were dispatched to a trailhead in the park around 12:30 p.m. local time on August 8, agency director Matthew Griffith told CBS News in a statement. The unidentified hiker was about half a mile down the trail when first responders, including fire and rescue workers, EMS members and park rangers, arrived. Griffith said a witness reported the man had picked up a snake, and the reptile then bit him on the hand. The snake is believed to be a timber rattlesnake, Griffith said. The hiker was transported to an area hospital, Griffith said, and died from his injuries there. Griffith said the hiker appeared to have died from an allergic reaction, but said the hiker's full cause of death has yet to be released. "The family of the individual will be in our thoughts and prayers," Griffith said. "As always it's strongly recommended to have some kind of first aid supplies while enjoying outdoor recreational activities and be mindful of wildlife and the dangers that some wildlife may pose. If you encounter a snake simply remain calm and do not attempt to handle it. If bitten seek immediate medical attention." Timber rattlesnakes are the largest and most dangerous of the four species of venomous snakes in Tennessee, according to the state's Wildlife Resources Agency. Timber rattlesnakes average between 3 and 5 feet long, and have flat heads that are wider than their necks, the agency said. The snakes are gray, yellow or green-white with dark bands and a rust-colored stripe in the middle of their back. The snakes can be found across the state and tend to prefer mature, heavily wooded forests with rocky hillsides and can often be spotted near fallen logs or sunning on rocks. Timber rattlesnakes tend to prey on small rodents, the agency said. The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute said the species is "more docile than other members of its family" and is likely to go motionless if encountered in the wild. Bites from timber rattlesnakes are rare, the zoo said. In most cases, rattlesnake bites are not fatal, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Less than 1 in 600 bites result in death, the agency said. Savage Gulf State Park contains about 60 miles of hiking trails, according to Tennessee State Parks. The park contains scenic wilderness areas, waterfalls and deep gulfs. It is located about 95 miles from Nashville.
Fox News
5 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Hiker made fatal mistake when encountering poisonous snake, officials believe
A hiker suffered a fatal snake bite in Tennessee after picking up a rattlesnake in Savage Gulf State Park, officials told Fox News Digital. Matthew Griffith of the Grundy County Emergency Management Agency said a Timber rattlesnake is believed to have been involved in the incident last Friday. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency describes Timber rattlesnakes as "the largest, and the most dangerous, of the 4 venomous snakes in Tennessee." "According to witnesses the hiker had picked the Rattlesnake up resulting in a bite to his hand," Griffith said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "It is believed that the hiker had an allergic reaction, however full details of [the] actual cause of death have not been released." Griffith said multiple agencies responded to the scene about a half-mile from a trailhead and initiated CPR. The hiker was taken to a hospital where he "later succumbed to his injuries." "The family of the individual will be in our thoughts and prayers," Griffith said. "As always it's strongly recommended to have some kind of first aid supplies while enjoying outdoor recreational activities and be mindful of wildlife and the dangers that some wildlife may pose. If you encounter a snake, simply remain calm and do not attempt to handle it. If bitten, seek immediate medical attention," he added. Griffith also told Fox News Digital that it hasn't been determined yet as to why the hiker picked up the snake. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said the Timber rattlesnake is "a large, heavy-bodied snake (36.0 to 60.0 inches long) with a large, triangular head, vertical pupils, and the characteristic rattle at the end of the tail." It added that its "Prey is killed by a venomous bite, in which the venom is injected by fangs located in the snake's mouth."
