Snake Bite

I was bitten by a copperhead last summer. Very painful!!! I hope that little guy doesn't suffer too much. Jessica

The poor kid. I hope he recovers soon. Thanks for the information. We have a home in Seacrest and I will warn my renters to be careful. I wonder if all the extra rain has brought out the snakes this year?

Rarely is a pygmy bite fatal unless you are very young or have a compramised emmune system. I wonder if Sacred Heart of the Em. Coast doesn't have anti venom and that is why he was life flighted to Pensacola???? The report that he is in serious condition baffles me as well. I truly hope the boy is ok.

When I was bitten by the copperhead, Tallahassee had to identify the snake then mix the antivenom. Jessica

I forgot, that was at Sacred Heart in Sandestin. J

Hello,

I am the uncle of the 8 year old boy who was bitten by the snake. He is doing fine and should be coming home today. By the way, he was not airlifted to the hospital in Pensacola. He was transferred there via ambulance because they have a childrens hospital there.

Thank you for all of your concerns.

Hello,

I am the uncle of the 8 year old boy who was bitten by the snake. He is doing fine and should be coming home today. By the way, he was not airlifted to the hospital in Pensacola. He was transferred there via ambulance because they have a childrens hospital there.

Thank you for all of your concerns.

Thanks for the update. So glad to hear he is doing better. I guess he will have a good story to tell when he goes back to school. Sorry about all the trauma and the vacation being ruined though.

this morning on our walk, my 2.5 year old was examining something in the road saying 'look at the worm'. it was a small pygmy. thank goodness she didn't try to pick it up.

Pygmy rattlers are extrememly abundant here. I have witnessed twice, people walking on my street alone, in fact, right off of my driveway, who were nearly bitten.

Both were simply walking down the street and narrowly missed stepping on the snake and being bitten. One told me that he had previously stepped on one by accident. For me to witness these two incidences on my street tells me that this is a common occurence, resulting mostly in missed, defensive strikes.

However, I have spoken with several people who have been struck by the pygmy rattlers and one who never went in for anti venom. When I walk at night I carry a flashlight because I know how many of these rattlers exist.

I have had 7 or 8 in my yard and drive way area. I have seen numerous in the woods as many of you may know, captured many on film and put the vidoes up here.

I am so glad the young boy recovered nicely and have told my kids about it, who are visiting me again. When my son and I paly frisbee and it flies into the brush, I always insist that I retrieve it. He insists that he can see and that there are no snakes present but it is not something you can always see at first glance or even after careful inspection.

Happy ending to this one though.

Hello,

I am the uncle of the 8 year old boy who was bitten by the snake. He is doing fine and should be coming home today. By the way, he was not airlifted to the hospital in Pensacola. He was transferred there via ambulance because they have a childrens hospital there.

Thank you for all of your concerns.

Thanks for sharing the update and hope your nephew is up and going again real soon.

Pygmy rattlers are extrememly abundant here. I have witnessed twice, people walking on my street alone, in fact, right off of my driveway, who were nearly bitten.

Both were simply walking down the street and narrowly missed stepping on the snake and being bitten. One told me that he had previously stepped on one by accident. For me to witness these two incidences on my street tells me that this is a common occurence, resulting mostly in missed, defensive strikes.

However, I have spoken with several people who have been struck by the pygmy rattlers and one who never went in for anti venom. When I walk at night I carry a flashlight because I know how many of these rattlers exist.

I have had 7 or 8 in my yard and drive way area. I have seen numerous in the woods as many of you may know, captured many on film and put the vidoes up here.

I am so glad the young boy recovered nicely and have told my kids about it, who are visiting me again. When my son and I paly frisbee and it flies into the brush, I always insist that I retrieve it. He insists that he can see and that there are no snakes present but it is not something you can always see at first glance or even after careful inspection.

Happy ending to this one though.

My observation is is that Pygmy's like pine straw and I've seen them around pine trees most often. They also have markings like a small pine branch. Since I've been bitten, everytime I see a small pine branch in the yard I take a double take or jump like a screaming sissy.

My observation is is that Pygmy's like pine straw and I've seen them around pine trees most often. They also have markings like a small pine branch. Since I've been bitten, everytime I see a small pine branch in the yard I take a double take or jump like a screaming sissy.

...and nobody blames you, believe me.

Hello,

I am the uncle of the 8 year old boy who was bitten by the snake. He is doing fine and should be coming home today. By the way, he was not airlifted to the hospital in Pensacola. He was transferred there via ambulance because they have a childrens hospital there.

Thank you for all of your concerns.

Thanks for the info and the correction on not being airlifted. I hope he still gets some enjoyment out of his vacation. I wonder if it would matter if that lot right next to the gate is cleared, sure looks like a great habitat for snakes.

Moms response

Rarely is a pygmy bite fatal unless you are very young or have a compramised emmune system. I wonder if Sacred Heart of the Em. Coast doesn't have anti venom and that is why he was life flighted to Pensacola???? The report that he is in serious condition baffles me as well. I truly hope the boy is ok.

Just to clear up any misconceptions, my son was taken by ambulance to Sacred Heart and received his first dose of anti-venom there. Hours later he was transferred to Pennsacola by ambulance because they are a pediatric hospital. He then spent the next two days in ICU. The condition can be serious because the poison can move up your leg and into your lungs, where it then becomes a respiratory issue. For a child that probably isnt good. At any rate it has not moved down his leg as they expected but has not moved any further past his knee. He will be coming home soon and I do appreciate the thoughts. As you can imagine it was a very scary experience for us and his sisters as well. We are hoping for a full recovery soon.

Just to clear up any misconceptions, my son was taken by ambulance to Sacred Heart and received his first dose of anti-venom there. Hours later he was transferred to Pennsacola by ambulance because they are a pediatric hospital. He then spent the next two days in ICU. The condition can be serious because the poison can move up your leg and into your lungs, where it then becomes a respiratory issue. For a child that probably isnt good. At any rate it has not moved down his leg as they expected but has not moved any further past his knee. He will be coming home soon and I do appreciate the thoughts. As you can imagine it was a very scary experience for us and his sisters as well. We are hoping for a full recovery soon.

I can't imagine the fear you had/have. My family is praying for your family and especially you son and for his quick recovery. After his recovery he and his sisters will have an interesting "what did you do this summer" story at school. I sincerly pray that a great blessing will come out this experience. And Sir , my hat goes off to you for having the energy to post here.:dothewave: We Thank You for sharing.

Today is Sunday, . I was just out in my backyard walking in the grass talking to my mother on the phone. My kids were on the back porch. I was just telling my mother about the 8 year old who was bitten by a pygmy rattler when low and behold, there was one at my feet.

I used the example to demonstrate to the kids why I constantly say, 'look where you step' when we go outside. Pygmy are everywhere but are generally still and in part, because of their diminutive size are often not seen.

I collected this one and will take it way out into the woods, probably tomorrow. I kinda wish I had an aquarium that was sealed well and could keep it. Although I am not keen on keeping a snake captive in my home, particularly a poisonous one, but it does come to mind.

Just thought it was interesting though how while discussing the instance about the 8 year old one comes into view. I hope it makes my kids realize even more how seriously to take me. It is the second one they've seen on there visits with me.

Just to clear up any misconceptions, my son was taken by ambulance to Sacred Heart and received his first dose of anti-venom there. Hours later he was transferred to Pennsacola by ambulance because they are a pediatric hospital. He then spent the next two days in ICU. The condition can be serious because the poison can move up your leg and into your lungs, where it then becomes a respiratory issue. For a child that probably isnt good. At any rate it has not moved down his leg as they expected but has not moved any further past his knee. He will be coming home soon and I do appreciate the thoughts. As you can imagine it was a very scary experience for us and his sisters as well. We are hoping for a full recovery soon.

Sure glad your son is OK.

Just to clear up any misconceptions, my son was taken by ambulance to Sacred Heart and received his first dose of anti-venom there. Hours later he was transferred to Pennsacola by ambulance because they are a pediatric hospital. He then spent the next two days in ICU. The condition can be serious because the poison can move up your leg and into your lungs, where it then becomes a respiratory issue. For a child that probably isnt good. At any rate it has not moved down his leg as they expected but has not moved any further past his knee. He will be coming home soon and I do appreciate the thoughts. As you can imagine it was a very scary experience for us and his sisters as well. We are hoping for a full recovery soon.

Best wishes to him, you and your family.

I hate hate hate this thread. I am terrified of SNAKES!!! One of the reason I like to go to the beach and not the lake (many of which are much closer!) is because I think lakes have too many snakes. The fact that this little boy was bitten in Seacrest, where our house is. . . .makes me want to cancel our upcoming vacation. UUGGGGHHHH. . . . .please ask all snakes to exit the area. PLEASE!!!!!

Can you post a photo of the snake so we can know what it looks like?

I hate hate hate this thread. I am terrified of SNAKES!!! One of the reason I like to go to the beach and not the lake (many of which are much closer!) is because I think lakes have too many snakes. The fact that this little boy was bitten in Seacrest, where our house is. . . .makes me want to cancel our upcoming vacation. UUGGGGHHHH. . . . .please ask all snakes to exit the area. PLEASE!!!!!

I feel EXACTLY the way you do. I had never seen snakes at the beach until I started going to SoWal. As much as I love the place - I don't know why they don't put snake fences around the whole area!

After my snake bite, and hospital stay, we learned if you use snakeaway,around and or mothballs around your shrubs, keep your property trimmed and neat, the snakes are less likely to have prey. We removed our pinestraw which bugs, frogs and birds love ,then come the snakes. If you need some help, Call Jessica @(850)830-6743

I feel EXACTLY the way you do. I had never seen snakes at the beach until I started going to SoWal. As much as I love the place - I don't know why they don't put snake fences around the whole area!

Are you serious????

jump like a screaming sissy.

That is actually my standard response to a snake I come upon all of a sudden. :shock:

If I've seen them a little ahead of time, from a distance, I've got no problem with them will either avoid them or play with them if I am sure they are not poisonous.

Surprise me with one though and I scream for sure.

Can you post a photo of the snake so we can know what it looks like?

Nice article on them here:eNature: FieldGuides: Species Detail


Here's one

Try this link to see a few more of the critters.