Latest news with #venomoussnake
ABC News
11-08-2025
- Health
- ABC News
King brown snake bite far from medical help 'terrifying' says survivor
A woman says she is grateful to have survived her "worst nightmare" after being bitten by a highly venomous snake in a remote community in Western Australia's far north. Ngaanyatjarra Wangkatjungka woman Catherine Ridley was around a campfire with family late on Friday night in Yakanarra community, 2,400 kilometres north of Perth, when she felt something bite her toe. "I didn't know what it was and all I knew is it was something. It didn't feel right and it was a bad bite," she said. "I screamed and chucked the blanket and ran [and got a torch] and I yelled out to my son and his partner. Her family killed the snake and identified it as a king brown, or mulga, a highly venomous snake common in the Kimberley region. "My partner's son put me on a bed because I needed to lay down and stay calm. They got me all settled and secured until they could work out a plan," Ms Ridley said. Yakanarra Community School principal Brendan Hodge said it was around midnight when he got a knock on the door, alerting him someone had been bitten. "They already laid her down and already wrapped up the snake bite, I placed some pressure bandages up her leg and we spoke to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, who took it from there," he said. "A baby king brown [is] by all reports more venomous than a mature king brown. This definitely was only a baby king brown. "We certainly were quite concerned." Common symptoms of king brown bites include pain and swelling, nausea and vomiting. While the RFDS were contacted immediately they were unable to land at Yakanarra due to "safety concerns", citing the airstrip did not have adequate lighting for night operations. Ms Ridley said she was driven more than 70 kilometres by her partner, and then an ambulance to Fitzroy Crossing airport where the RFDS was waiting to transport her to Broome Hospital. "I was scared and feeling very anxious. When you have a snake bite you can't have those feelings of being anxious, you gotta be calm," she said. "I was starting to get nervous, it was so late. There's all sorts of things that can happen, like a flat tyre. Anything can happen between leaving the community and meeting the ambulance. "Then there's the [phone] reception. if there's no reception, how are you going to contact someone in the night? All that was running through my mind." Ms Ridley has now been discharged from Broome Hospital in a stable condition. While Ms Ridley said being bitten by the snake was her "worst nightmare" she was grateful to everyone who helped and was a warning to others in remote areas to remain vigilant. "It's the distance, things can happen, and that's in the nature — there's snakes, spiders, and we have to be prepared for that sort of stuff," she said. "I just want to send a message to families and friends in all those Aboriginal communities to be aware. It's warming up now and snakes are out and about." While it was the first snakebite Mr Hodge had responded to during his three years in Yakanarra, he said snakes were commonly sighted in the community. "In the school area we have seen quite a few snakes. Over the last three years luckily we have no snake bite incidences," he said. "Everyone in the community is very snake aware. It just is what it is when you're living remote.
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Outer Banks EMT bitten by venomous snake while walking dog
NAGS HEAD, Va. (WAVY) — A Dare Country EMT is recovering after being bitten by a venomous snake last weekend. Ethan White told 10 On Your Side he was walking his dog with his fiancée on a trail in Nags Head Woods Preserve last Saturday morning when it happened. 'I like, kind of went off the trail to tie my shoe, and I bent over and never saw it until I was bitten on the hand, and I kind of like, staggered backwards,' White said. 'It's kind of like when you cut yourself with a sharp knife. You don't notice it, [then] it'll start throbbing later.' White snapped a picture of the snake, which doctors believe is a cottonmouth. His fiancée rushed him over to the nearby hospital, where a long road to recovery officially began. He said he initially had an allergic reaction to the type of antivenom they gave him, so they had to take a different approach. 'They sent me to Norfolk, and where I got, I think, four treatments of CroFab, which is another type of antivenom,' White said. 'There, I did two days in the ICU (intensive care unit) and one day in a med surg unit, and I got released.' The advanced EMT and former volunteer firefighter is usually on the other end of these types of situations. He is now been at home working to get better since the bite, and is seeing a hand specialist Friday to figure out a treatment plan going forward 'At the moment, I can articulate the base joint, and then the rest of it doesn't really move,' White said. 'Depending on what they find there will be whether or not we go in for surgery, or we kind of let it run its course.' His mom started a for the first responder as he works through this time. It's raised over $12,000 so far, and White said he is grateful for the support. 'The community has really come together and really helped me and my family out a lot during this process,' White said. 'So, I don't have enough words to say thank you,' White said. He is currently studying to become a paramedic, but he said this snake bite won't slow him down. 'I will say one of our chiefs has one less a finger, and he does his job to a T,' White said. 'So I'm sure if worse comes to worst, I lost a finger, I'd probably still be able to find ways to do the job.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
Snakes on terrain: The skinny on Massachusetts species
As of deadline, the city of Attleboro shared reports of a possible venomous snake in Attleboro, with city officials urging caution after reports of bites two at least two dogs. MassWildlife has not confirmed any reports of venomous snakes. Worcester Magazine and Telegram & Gazette are following information, and will post any relevant updates to and For Christine Sparks, it was beautiful to behold. Sparks is a volunteer with the Greater Worcester Land Trust, who leads group hikes with GWLT stewardship coordinator Olivia Houde, focusing on native plants. In June 2024, while at Nick's Woods, a tranquil, forested place in the northern area of Worcester, Sparks made the acquaintance of a small, elegant garter snake. "I was up the glacial erratics, and found this beauty basking in the sun," said Sparks. Glacial erratics are rocks or boulders moved by glaciers long, long ago, and deposited to their present site. Which, if you are a garter snake, might be providential, as it allows places to scoot away and hide, as well as to crawl onto for a bit of sun and warmth. "Quietly, I sat down on the ground next to the snake. We spent some time observing each other," said Sparks, who related her story in a message on social media, where she had posted some photos and a video. "I find snakes are gentle and curious creatures." The snake flickered its tongue, as snakes are wont to do, which to a human might signal an ominous portent. For the snake, it's a way to gather sensory information about its surroundings. "It's interesting to think of observing the world via a different mode," said Sparks. "This is one seemed intrigued by my presence. It's always a treat to see a snake in the wild." Along with garter snakes, Sparks has seen quite a few water snakes, corn snakes and rat snakes. "I have a special fondness for snakes," said Sparks. "Years ago, a large, black rat snake made its home by my front steps. It was like a pet to me. I would bring a book outside, and read. The snake would curl up by my feet, like a dog." Snakes as pets? Learn state rules If Sparks has cultivated a way to commune with snakes while respecting their need for calm and safety, this might prove trickier both for people who love snakes, and who want to get as far away from them as possible. And I will freely disclose: I love snakes. Their beauty, their grace, their mystery. Seeing one is always a thrill, and they continue to hold a welcome place in my heart. But first, a bit about what snakes are, and where they come from. In scientific terms, they belong, along with lizards, to a classification of reptiles known as squamates, or the order, "squamata." Sounds impressive, right? It basically means, "scaly." With some 12,000 or so species, it's an order not to be sneezed at; their origins reaching back as far as perhaps 250 million years. And, as with a lot of animals that date before our time as humans, we're learning more about them, including, as in an article published in 2022 in Nature, through the discovery of fossils that lend clues to their true triumph of diversity. "First, despite Hollywood's depiction, the snakes you find on Trust lands are safe, somewhat shy, and generally helpful. They are an important part of the land management staff," said Colin Novick, executive director of the Greater Worcester Land Trust. "Second, seeing snakes is generally a good sign of the health of the local habitat. There are enough insects, small mammals, and hiding spots to make it possible for snakes to live there. This is really a great sign." There is no doubt: snakes strike an emotive chord, carrying a collective weight of millennia of folklore and superstition. And, an evolutionary biologist might argue, a bit of good sense: our human, hunter-gatherer ancestors spent most of their lives outdoors, and accidentally stepping on, say, a cobra, could really mess up your day. We love, fear, respect and adore them, often without middle ground. Scroll through posts in any wildlife group on Facebook, for example, and you will find a sprinkling of posts, sometimes with a slightly blurred photo, focusing on a garden or porch, and a request for help, to wit: How do I get this thing off my property? From a conservation standpoint, extreme fear and adoration of snakes can and do put fragile species at risk. This includes here in Massachusetts, home to some 14 species of snakes, most of whom post no threat to people or pets. "Especially in the Worcester area, Metro West and 495, there are simply no venomous or harmful snakes," said Michael Jones, herpetologist with Mass Wildlife. The state is home to only two venomous species -- the copperhead, which makes its home nestled in the hills of western Massachusetts, and the timber rattler, whose sparse inhabitance includes the Blue Hills Reservation. "There are two in the state, both endangered, and both very rare. You will only find them in the mountainous areas," said Jones. Snake venom's main purpose is for hunting prey, which might include small rodents or other creatures, depending on the snake species. Nonvenomous snakes include constrictors, that literally suffocate their prey; still other snakes might simply snap up an animal small enough. All eat their prey whole, and it's perhaps these various means of hunting that freak some people out. Endangered denotes high risk factors for extinction, including low population count, loss of habitat, and frequency of hazards, including those posed by humans, such as habitat encroachment, and motor vehicle strikes. Species at risk such as these two need understanding, and respect for their needs. If some people find snakes, any snakes, completely terrifying, there is also the opposite problem: people who love them so much, they just have to see one in the wild. Don't take this personally: neither the copperhead nor timber rattler needs hugs, pats, or selfies. Jones said even seeking them out could disrupt their home and habits. "With copperheads and rattlers, there is a lot of potential for damage, without meaning to," Jones said. "They are tied to features they have probably used for hundreds and thousands of year. We are trying to create barriers, such as limiting recreational areas, where they winter over, or give birth, or gave them more space, because human behaviors can influence those snakes." If you're wondering why the heck venomous snakes live here at all, Jones said, at one time, both species once had larger ranges, with a preference for bedrock. What remains for both species are tiny islands of space. The rest is gone, said Jones, mostly to clearing space for human development and agriculture, and removing or killing individual snakes in the name of safety, or making the area more conducive to humans and their pets and farm animals. "I think that is a very common misconception that this is not rattlesnake habitat," said Jones. "If you look at the historical record, and town histories, county histories, it is clear they were there, they were very widespread, and abundant, around the state — including Essex County, Peabody, Lynn, Manchester ... they were very widespread in the Connecticut River Valley." And now? "I think we are reaching a point where some of our specialized and rare habitats are so fragmented and degraded, they can't tolerate much more foot traffic, and they need more space," Jones said. "I think we all need to think of what are own personal ethics are around observing wildlife." But when a snake, perhaps especially a large one, makes an appearance in someone's yard, cases of mistaken identity are common. Some venomous and nonvenomous snakes have similar markings and colors. The milk snake and water snake are sometimes misidentified, including as the cottonmouth, a venomous snake that lives far from here, in the southeastern U.S. "I think there is a lack of familiarity with them," said Jones. "If everyone in the Commonwealth understood that they are abundant, there would be far less questions. These are two snakes that startle people, both very harmless. They are found statewide. If you see one, you are seeing a very small part of the population area." Another snake that gets a lot of buzz: the racer. "Beautiful, glossy, very big black snake, and it's completely harmless," Jones said. "It would bite you if you caught it, but it is hard to catch." The sensation is like a really bad paper cut said Jones, who said he's gotten his share of bites. Not because they graze on humans, but biting is one of the few defenses a snake has. So, you find a snake in your yard; your friends assure you it will probably move along on its own and that it's not after you, your child or dog. But you don't like it, and want to dispatch it, anyway. Jones said, the snake is likely a consumer of mice, rats and other disease vectors, so not only will not hurt anyone, it may actually do some good. And if you want to do something to help snakes? "Overall, I think it's great when people are interested in snakes, and see them, and document them," said Jones. " Meaningful ways to contribute include a bit of citizen science. "If you see road kill, like water snakes and racers, that can be important information," said Jones. "Submit that info to a naturalist." If you find a snake in your yard, you can give it safe quarter by putting out some plywood planks where it might take shelter. This allows a way to observe it without encroaching. "I personally think that is an ethical way to observe it. This just gives them a place to take cover." Woo! Science is a column of science news and newsmakers in Worcester and the region. Got a science news idea? Email Margaret Smith at msmith@ This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Woo! Science: Timber rattlers and other snakes need a fair 'shake'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Explore 7 stories demystifying NC copperheads and other snakes
Stories by News & Observer journalists, with AI summarization North Carolina copperheads, our most common venomous snake, are often spotted searching for food like cicadas or rodents in yards and gardens. Experts say copperheads prefer hiding under vegetation, porches, or in piles of leaves and wood, so clearing these shelters is the best way to make your space less attractive to them. Removing food sources like spilled birdseed can also help, as rodents drawn to the area bring copperheads in. Stories clarify common myths, such as baby copperhead bites not being more dangerous than adults, and that copperheads would rather avoid humans than bite. If you do see a snake, experts advise giving it space, not handling it, and calling professionals like NC Snake Catcher if needed, while always watching where you step, especially at night or in thick ground cover. Copperheads are NC's most common venomous snake, and sometimes they come a little too close to our front doors. | Published July 18, 2023 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella Fact or fiction: Are baby copperhead bites more venomous than adult bites? Here's what the experts say. | Published August 9, 2023 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella I've written more than a dozen stories about copperheads, but this was my first up-close-and-personal encounter. (Tip: cussing the snake out doesn't help.) | Published September 25, 2023 | Read Full Story by Brooke Cain Glass (legless) lizards look remarkably snake-like. We talked to wildlife experts to find out how to tell the difference. | Published May 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted We fact checked 15 common beliefs about snakes, including several about copperhead behavior. | Published May 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska We may be more likely to see snakes this time of year, as the weather warms. Use this information to make encounters less scary. | Published March 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted Humans know to leave snakes alone if we see them. Dogs don't. In case a copperhead strikes your furry friend, keep these tips in mind. | Published April 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted Brooke Cain The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
