OKBFFan Posted February 19, 2015 Posted February 19, 2015 Saw this today. http://www.kswo.com/story/28128480/soldier-loses-leg-to-rattlesnake-bite Marine loses leg to rattlesnake bite Posted: Feb 17, 2015 11:11 AM CST Updated: Feb 17, 2015 4:01 PM CST By Derek Hendy, Internet Content Director WICHITA MOUNTAIN WILDLIFE REFUGE, Okla._ A Marine at Fort Sill has lost a leg and is in critical condition after he was bitten by a rattlesnake on February 7. The incident is still under investigation, but Fort Sill has released a statement in which they say a lieutenant was hiking with two classmates when a rattlesnake, 6 to 8 feet long, bit him on his calf. The two classmates called EMS and carried the victim to a nearby parking lot. The lieutenant was taken to the hospital by helicopter and his leg was amputated. He remains in critical condition. Fort Sill says the three were hiking in an approved public use area. The refuge is prone to snakes, insects and other wildlife. The warm weather, at the time, caused the wildlife on the refuge to be active. Fort Sill went on to say that this could have killed the Marine, and his battle buddies were instrumental in getting him the immediate medical care he needed. This is the first reported snake bite injury to a service member this year. My first question is why on earth would a rattler be out in February? And... What dangers have you faced while out and about?
Guest Posted February 19, 2015 Posted February 19, 2015 (edited) What was the average temp that day? Its 45 where Im at, more north. We'll get colder weather in March, but snakes will come out to warm up in the sun if its that warm. That was a big snake also. Scary thing is that he got immediate medical help, had his 2 buddies CARRY him to the car, and still got amputated! Thats because of the size of the snake. Bears are my main concern. Edited February 19, 2015 by Wag
OKBFFan Posted February 19, 2015 Author Posted February 19, 2015 (edited) We have had a few 70 degree days this month, along with the 20'degree days. Would a snake emerge on ONE warm day? Edited to add... We often have days with 50 degree changes in temperature range.. 20's in the morning, 70's in the afternoon. An area of extremes.. Edited February 19, 2015 by OKBFFan
Guest JiggyPotamus Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 I imagine that the weather in Oklahoma is similar to the weather in Texas, which is downright crazy at times. Even during the winter months there are pretty hot days, and I know that the snakes had been coming out recently while we were having a warmer spell. Winter here is pretty much intermittent, and I suppose that the snakes can come out early sometimes. There was even something in the local news about snakes being out already, and maybe they just go back underground if it gets too cold. Generally a snake will be much less active in the morning hours. We see them laying out the asphalt of roads all the time here, because they are trying to warm up, at which point they will become more active. You are much less likely to be bitten if the snake has not warmed up yet. The distance they can strike will probably also decrease when they are colder. Rattlesnakes, while extremely dangerous, usually will warn a person when they get too close. Other types of venomous snakes have no way to make warning sounds, thus someone could easily step on them and get bitten. Which is usually what it takes to get bitten by something like a copperhead, which is by far the most common venomous snake in my area, followed by the cottonmouth. I hate the latter type of snake the most, because they seem more aggressive to me. Horrible snakes. I don't deal with rattlesnakes much, although they are around these parts. Other areas of the country have fewer venomous types of snakes, although there are four in my area, and I think there are only four types in the US period. But other areas have various types of rattlesnakes as well, and there are more of them. So by far snakes pose one of the greatest dangers to sasquatch researchers, especially around this time and into the spring and summer. And nobody should ever have to say this, but nobody should be handling venomous snakes in the wild unless they are not only trained for such acts, but have a valid reason for handling the snake in the first place. I imagine that many people get bitten for being stupid and aggravating the snake, trying to pick it up, etc...And if one cannot tell the difference between snakes, don't touch any of them. Generally speaking venomous snakes have heads that are pointier instead of rounded, but this is not the best identifying mark. The color and pattern is better, as well as the size. I just avoid all snakes as a rule of thumb. Unless they are in a place where I cannot let them stay, in which case they must be killed, if venomous. It is just not worth the risk, considering that they have the capacity to kill me or someone else, and it is not as if they discriminate. If they feel threatened, whether they are truly in danger or not, they will bite. Something with such an indiscriminate killing power is just not something that I can allow to live. Unless I am out in the woods or something, and the snake is minding its own business. But they come up around the house a lot, which I cannot have. Aside from snakes, other dangers to researchers are obviously other animals; bear, cougars, mountain lions, possibly coyotes, although they usually stay away from people, and for those up north you've got moose and wolves and who knows what else. In my neck of the woods there aren't really any dangerous animals to worry about aside from snakes. Then of course there are the dangers posed by terrain. One could slip and fall, twist their ankle, etc...Then there are the dangers of getting lost, hypothermia or heat stroke. Pretty much standard stuff that field researchers should prepare for. Take enough water, be careful, don't go to places you don't know unless you have a way to get out if you get lost.
Guest Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 Ticks and Lyme disease would be my top priority out in humid areas in the woods.
OKBFFan Posted February 20, 2015 Author Posted February 20, 2015 I absolutely abhor skunks. Hate them. And there have been rabid ones locally the past few years.
Guest Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 Skeeters.... no really, I seem to have a bad reaction, get more than 10 bites and get loopy. Massasaugas, we have round here, think I saw one making an exit off the trail when he heard me coming one time, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistrurus_catenatus Black Widows, brushed a few out of way. Cougars, we had one around for a while I think few years back, that made me antsy in the woods, kept a pocket full of rocks. Black bear don't generally come as far south as I am, apart from when they might meet me halfway. Oddly they're seen 3 miles away over Niagara river, good thing bears don't swim, or the river doesn't freeze over, or the lake, oh wait. Maybe I should be more concerned about wolves, some big looking Coyotes around... Snags, fissures, sinkholes, plenty of ankle twisting, leg breaking crap in the Karst of the escarpment... bad enough in daytime wouldn't try it at night. Oh, and the ever present danger of deer jumping through your windshield and kicking you to death or something, when you're on way to research area, seriously, most dangerous animal in North America. And yah, we've seen 95F+ 100% humidity here before... last time I was daft enough to be out in that was a visit to Toronto Zoo... had a gallon jug of ice tea, two 750ml gatorades, 3 litres of water, in about 4 hours, and didn't pee out any of it.
Sasfooty Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 What dangers have you faced while out and about? We were in a big watermelon field near a creek, late one afternoon looking for arrowheads. A friend & I had gone around a little bulge in some woods & left Hubby, the shotgun, & the truck behind & out of sight. I was ahead of the friend, walking along the plowed ground, looking down, with no thought about the thick brush that I was getting nearer with each step. Eventually I got that little "danger feeling" & glanced up to see a feral sow surrounded by about 8-10 little pigs about 30 yards in front of me. She was standing just in the edge of the brush about to walk out into the field, & appeared to be sniffing the air. I had heard that hogs have poor eyesight & an excellent sense of smell. I froze for a few seconds, holding my breath & trying to decide what to do. There didn't seem to be anything except to run for my life, so that's what I did. The friend saw me running toward him & I must have looked pretty scared, because he turned & took off running ahead of me, without asking any questions. It was every body for himself. Finally, we slowed down, looked back, & saw that we weren't about to be shredded by a mad sow. If we had got much closer before seeing her, it could have been really dangerous. I have never again allowed myself to be that careless about my surroundings when out in the "wilds". 1
bipedalist Posted February 20, 2015 BFF Patron Posted February 20, 2015 Well the proverbial sounds that trees are being pushed over nearby for one. That one hits home for many a researcher.
OKBFFan Posted February 20, 2015 Author Posted February 20, 2015 Mosquitos are said to be the worlds most dangerous "predator". I can see that. Bear. Cougars. Pigs. But snakes terrify me, too. Last time we rented a cabin down in SE Oklahoma, there were signs in the woods warning of the timber rattlers. They were numerous and huge down there. Kind of put a damper on hiking.
Guest Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 (edited) Biting swarms of mosquitos, flies, and falling spiders or branches … walking through razor or noxious weeds or stepping on snakes! Edited February 20, 2015 by Gumshoeye
Guest Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 Mosquitos are said to be the worlds most dangerous "predator". I can see that. Bear. Cougars. Pigs. But snakes terrify me, too. Last time we rented a cabin down in SE Oklahoma, there were signs in the woods warning of the timber rattlers. They were numerous and huge down there. Kind of put a damper on hiking. Bring the batter, and have a cook out! Rattlesnake is supposed to taste pretty good. Watch the heads!
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