Well,.....after all these years of encountering Copperheads through my lifetime.......and always coming out on top (i.e.- copperhead dispatched).....the little scoundrels finally got a shot in,,,,in the dark. Friday night at about 11:45pm,...I went outside to roll up my truck windows.....yes, I was barefooted........like I usually am......but failed to turn on the outside light.....as I was about to enter the backdoor (beneath a cover parking)....I stepped on a baby (@ 6-7" long) on the concrete slab....and it nailed me...on top of my right foot - near my little toe.
Thought I'd ride it out.....thinkin' that it wasn't going to be pleasant... but I didn't believe my life would be in danger Hmmmmm...it all boils down to.....I'm not as tough as I'd like to think I am.....my "bulletproof" days are long gone......such a sad moment of enlightenment. I lasted about an hour & half....and decided to take myself to the Emergency Room for a little morphine.....just to get me by,....you understand?
All foolishness aside,........ The pain was pretty rough....starting at the joints of where my toes met my foot,...then the ankle,...and then the heel....the swelling was fairly bad.....my foot became about 2-3 times bigger around, at one point....skin so sensitive....it very painful just to softly touch the skin. The swelling advanced up my leg to about mid-calf,...mostly on the same lateral side the bite was on.......one analogy I've used to describe the pain was ...if you can imagine how it would feel .....for someone to slap the bottom of your foot with a baseball bat (swung as hard as one could) and doing that several times and then having a truck run over the same foot....maybe slightly crushing it.....all that together combined to make your entire foot look and feel like a very large painfully sensitive bruise..........throbbing unbearably unless keeping the entire foot elevated at least to the same level as yr heart........(relief that way is so precious)................THEN you would be very close to the same level of pain I experienced.
I've been attacked & bitten by about 4-5 dogs (perforations included),....scratched and bitten by numerous cats,....bitten by a squirrel, other snakes(non-venomous), lizards of all types (including a Caiman)...fish of all types (flounder's needle-like teeth were very painful....as well as a gar's)....I've been kicked by a horse and stepped on a couple of times,....cow-kicked a couple of times,....butted and knocked down a few times by goats & sheep....pinched numerous times by Atlantic Blue Crab....as well as various crayfish (crawdads down here) ....stung by Portuguese Man-o-War jellyfish .
Each of which,...in their own way,.... caused me varied degrees of discomfort/pain..........but I'd take one of each of these,....one by one....in a row........before I'd go through the lil' baby copperhead bite again......(this,....all assuming,....that I had a choice ) (smile)
I gladly medicated my nervous system last night....without guilt,......and am proud to be aware of and declare that....... I.......will.............LIVE.!!!
BTW.....I wouldn't recommend tryin' this at YOUR home..................or anyone else's home for that matter. It is not for.......uhmmm hmmm.........sissies
Trust me! Lee
This message was edited Jun 14, 2009 10:52 PM
Homeowner/Gardener - 12 Copperheads - 1
Oh my goodness Lee. I never would have thought the snake bite would have been that painful. More dangerous, than painful. You really put it into perspective.
I am guessing your barefoot at night days are over. I run around barefoot often and occasionally worry about stepping on something. Luckily, I have never seen any copperheads around here, but my MIL just sent us a picture of a baby copperhead about the same size out by her back fence. She did not kill it though. She does not go running around barefoot, but does mow her acre yard (riding lawnmower) when no one else is around.
That's scary. Your description of the pain was chilling.
What did they do for you at the Emergency Room? Mine's not "idle curiousity." We have a little lake house with a big yard. The neighbors have found copperheads under their houses (pier and beam). We have a 3 yr old grandson who loves to run thru the grass without shoes. Constantly reminding him to wear shoes. There's a bunkhouse storage room that's dark and cool, and I figure one of these days, we'll run into one in there.
oops double posted
This message was edited Jun 14, 2009 11:44 AM
I had always held the belief that a Copperhead's bite couldn't be all that bad....I mean,...I had seen several dogs endure their grief after having been bitten and they were much smaller than me - (body mass) but I have a different perspective now........I can assure you.......I don't believe I embellished the analogy too much......I think it would be close to the same level of pain.
The Doctors basically told me the same information...(.that I had learned after Googlin' "treatment of copperhead bite" or somethin' along that line.)that being......since I was an adult.....bitten on an outer extremity.....more than an hour had passed since injection,....no antivenom would be recommended...no advantage there..
I had already taken some antihistamine......they administered a tetanus shot, also a shot for pain (which was the ONLY reason I really needed to be there)...checked my blood pressure about every 60 minutes.......I was there from about 12:30 am til 5:30 am - in the Emergency Room
I wasn't permitted to leave until at least 4 hrs had passed....since,....I had driven myself to the Hospital....and had no one readily available to drive me home....and they gave me a strong pain killer.........didn't matter to me....I slept in the ER and dreamt of slaying dragons.
Concerning your grandson,...bubbles,.....I'd teach him about snakes and how to recognize the poisonous ones,...the reasons why you'd want to. The doctor told me that antivenom is often used with small people and older folks.....I guess because their "systems" are somewhat suseptible to the effects of the venom....which can cause them to go into shock. I can assure you that I will never be as careless as that again.....and although one's chances are good ..... surviving a Copperhead's bite,....since its venom is not as potent as the other vipers and the Coral Snake....but believe me.....the pain can be terrible and disabling by its own merit.....(that powerful little 7" serpent put that gigantic creature to the ground) I'm really not afraid of the snake itself...but I have a great deal more respect of what it can do.
A friend of mine (a veterinarian) advised me that dogs are different than people (relative to the tolerance or susceptablility to the venom)
and aren't as adversely affected....BUT I'm glad to know that I haven't hesitated to take any of my dogs to get then as much relief as possible for their snakebites....because I now understand......yeah, they could survive the effects,.....but I love them too much to allow them to not have as much relief as possible.
I would view the danger with serious concern....education about them and precaution will be the best insurance to protect him especially and to avoid a very unpleasant experience for anyone you know, yep,....you too!
Lee,
HOLY COW! So glad you are all right. Betting your barefoot days are not over, though. When I put on shoes the dogs know we're going someplace. (I wear my hair long to cover up my red neck.) Next time consider turning on the light. Although I would've done the exact same thing. Bless your heart! Gosh knows I love it down here but we sure enough have some critters, don't we? Happy you are around to tell the tale.
~Kate
Thanks Kate!! I appreciate a litlbitmorluv....always good to meet another good hearted Texan
Well,...I'm hard headed enough to continue going bare foot,....so yr on the money there!
I keep thinkin' about the stories told about the pioneers who encountered the various critters here and throughout.....dealing with snakebites ....and I can only guess here,........probably on a more frequent occasion.
I wonder about that Golden Era of our country....a lot...nowadays.....if times were goin' to be hard anyway,.....I'd rather be doin' things during
that time frame....to be able to be among the first to see this very countryside when it was virgin ...wildlife abundant and diversified.....learning which game - which wild botanicals.. were good or bad to eat...learning the hard way...or by word of mouth....which of these "alien" creatures were to be avoided.
Lee, i am so sorry you had that problem, Bless you, I am glad you will be o.k. but my goodness, that was quite an ordeal. Take care of yourself and be careful.
Josephine.
Thank you for the update. I'll be sure and have the "talk" with GS and his his parents! Hope you don't have any after effects. Sandi
Yikes! You poor thing! I'm so glad you are healing and that you went to the ER.
Very good descriptive of unbelievable pain. If DG had a contest for short essays as they do with pictures, it would be a contender! I hope you heal quickly. What is the swelling like now?
Lee....I can't believe you waited that long! I would've been on my way within a few minutes...poisonous snake bites are SO not something you want to just wait and see about! Thank goodness you're on the mend. And thank you for posting this. Maybe everyone here will be more careful than ever about the dangers of snakes! I don't normally go outside at night without enough light...just because I have a fear of what could be out there in that darkness. Even though we don't have poisonous snakes around....so far, at least!
Thanks to you all..........
Well, the swelling has reached my knee....the skin so tight, it feels a sausage....the pain level (the throbbing kind)has dropped
the sensitivity level is still high...but I can now allow my foot/leg remain below my chest for extended amts of time. The swelling of my ankle area has dropped a little.
Believe me, Linda....had it been any other - I wouldn't have waited at all....but since it was a Copperhead...I guess part of me was curious with just how bad it could be...so now,...the rest of me is slapping that part
This message was edited Jun 14, 2009 10:50 PM
"Curious" - OMG!!! Gosh, I hope you get better fast! It sounds just horribly painful (I'm sure you'd say that I'm correct there...) I do want to thank you for the first hand description, since you decided to undergo the ordeal, but don't do that again! (Do I sound like your mother?) Lordy, lordy...
I, too, go barefoot at home. Or did. Crocs are at the door...will slip them on before going outside.
How are you now - 5 days after the bite, and three days after your post?
BTW, it sounds like you have a real way with critters, LOL!!
Instead of "Crocodile Dundee" it could be "Copperhead Done-Lee"........as you've likely guessed,......my "way" with animals.....was always sort of a daring way.........but with respect,.... mind you.....always!
(but as indicated by my braggadocious list of critter attacks - not ALWAYS ENOUGH respect)
I did have an inquisitive nature when I was young......( like wondering why the paper wasps attacked ME.....when it was the WATER I sprayed at them that actually disturbed them)
I'm glad to say that I'm making steady progress.....the swelling is about 30% of what it was at its worst....still painful to try & move my ankle
- painful along the right side of my leg,,,,,,,toes still look like Jimmy Dean links (uncooked) but I'm able to stand on my injured foot for short periods of time before the throbbing around the ankle demands that I sit down.....and....I comply!! Uncle
My crocs are the only "covering" I can wear on that foot right now..............should've been wearin' them earlier!
BTW - thanks for the comments (nice Mama's Touch) (smile) Lee
Smiling right back atcha! I'm just glad to see you reached adulthood. Sounds like it may have been questionable at times...
Lee,
My place is located on a farm road. So you can guess how far out from the city that I am located. I hate snakes with the exception of speckled king snakes. Those I recognize and don't mind them too much. I don't even like chicken snakes. I have a habit of walking around outside in the dark. Now, I am not so sure if I can do that anymore! Thanks a lot!
You have me convinced that I should reconsider sitting in the lawn swing until after the sun has gone down.
I feel so bad for you. That sounds like some terrible pain. I don't like the idea of anyone suffering that much.
I, too take the dogs to the vet when they are bitten. My neighbor lost his dog two years ago. He took the dog the second he heard him let out a whelp! He loaded that dog in his truck and made a twenty minute run in about ten minutes straight to the vet. They treated him and kept him overnight. The early morning he passed on. Don't know what kind of snake it was. We don't let our dogs stay out of our sight for long. They know where the boundaries are and stay within that space. They do get out of sight a little, but not for long.
I hope your dw is taking good care of you. It sounds like you don't get up for anything except dire necessity. I hope your plants are being taken care of for you. I wish you lived closer, we'd run by and give a hand.
Well, if your oleander's get cooked, I have some very pretty ones in my yard. Right now the pink one and the red one that you gave me are blooming.
I will keep you in my prayers and ask for God to make the pain bearable and heal your wound quickly.
God bless you,
Charlene
I meant to say that I could share back with you some oleanders if needed.
Charlene
LOL.....and I know you'd be the 1st to share. Thanks, Charlene! Thanks for the concern as well!
and CJ - some of my family may debate that journey to adulthood....and how far along I may be....(but,...of course,......that would NOT include
my mama)
One week has passed and I'm still on the mend.....I can walk on it now for extended periods of time....but I don't think for more than say - 4-5hrs or so....then I have to get off of that foot...swelling is probably only 10 % of what it was.....ankle still sensitive/sore, as is a few spots along my leg and top of my foot.....it is soooo painful ...pointing my foot to put a sock on that foot or taking one off....it just so sensitive........anyway,.......I may try going back to work Tuesday or so....see how long it holds up!
Lee, it is good to hear you are feeling better, take care.
Josephine.
TY - Josephine!!
Be cautious in trying to do too much too early Lee.
Glad you're improving. I hope by this time next week it will be only a bad memory.
Thanks y'all!
Wow, Lee. I don't know why this is just now showing up on my threads. But I would've said something long sooner if I had seen it!
I'm a little freaked out. Both by your risk, and by the thought of how it happened. I mean, I'm urban, and we don't expect to see dangerous critters here in the city. But, life isn't always what we expect, and we have seen some of those critters. And, like you, I don't like shoes, so I'm the world's worst about going outside barefooted at night.
Anyway, I'm really glad to know that you're doing okay, and wishing that you hadn't had to go through all of that pain. I'll take a lesson from your experience. Thanks for posting it and reminding us all. Praying for your full recovery and comfort.
Thank you so much!!! I can assuredly say....that if,...in the future,.....I should be bitten again by a venomous snake...I'll go ahead and start treatment right away.....my lesson has been hammered into my memories
Thanks again to everyone for their kind words!
Lee, you clearly have a good number of friends on this forum, but Justin Case you need any help with your gardening or other chores till you're all well, let me know.
~Kate
p.s. if it's manly stuff, I'll drag along my DH; he has a good strong back and willing attitude.
Thanks Kate! I appreciate the offer....but my DW has been a good surrogate gardener and she's doin' a good job helpin' out in that area! I'm thinkin' about tryin' to return to work tonight....we'll see how it goes!
Willis, if it is as hot at your place as it is here......forget the garden. Just wait til the cooking temps are over and crumble what is left and use it as mulch! Not REally!! It just seems that way today for sure.
I have a lot of things that I propagate and pot them as they grow, moving them up occasionally as needed. Well those things in pots are sitting in the sun. I usually get them watered well enough to survive. Not so this year. I am losing this battle quickly. I bought a shade cloth, but it is too hot outside to build a frame for it. I have all the shady spots ( I don't have much shade.) filled already with the plants that first showed signs of suffering.
I hope you don't feel too badly back at work. Take it easy and for Pete's (and yours) sakes stay cool.
Keep your shoes by the door and stay off the little wigglers.
P.S. My oleanders don't even know it is hot and they are in direct sun with no shade anywhere near them. They look great!! I can't thank you enough for them.
Charlene
Lee
, I havent been Online much but am greatful that you took yourself to the dr after being bit.. I cant believe you thought youd be a tough guy after being bit by a poisinous snake!!! ( men!! go figure) I came across a snake skin last week in my storage area of my garage and took it my neighbor asking him should I be concerned?? ( it was about 4 ft long).. Found out it was a rat snake so I felt better. After reading your post Im going to be a lot more careful about stepping out of my cars and trucks at night we have copper heads and timber rattlers in my neigbor hood and I know the fact that I water my flowers will bring them in closer to the house as it gets drier during the summer I dont have any outside light so may be Id better think seriously on getting some
please take care of yourself and do what the drs say so youll recover swiftly
sending healing hugs
Kathleen
Lee......I braved the morning dark and opened up the bottom of the cool, musky underbelly of the bunkhouse at the lake this past weekend. No snakes observed. And no odor....(I remember when we had a couple of water mocassins in the covered boat house, now torn down....there was a definite odor!!!) Next morning, neighbors told us they observed three baby skunks frolickling along our fenceline about 11 PM. No way they came from under the house. Just might possibly have come from the bunkhouse, tho. Neighbors across the street think "our skunks" may have sprayed their unsuspecting yappy toy poodles last weekend. Pleez........... tell me skunks eat snakes so I can sleep up there. Otherwise, we're gonna have to fumigate the bottom story of the bunkhouse..... and from what we've heard....momma skunk had a huge white stripe down her back....signifying to me that she's a biggun to be reckoned with!
Thanks Charlene, Kathleen & Sandi - I'm gonna be OK....I was on my feet 9 hrs last night and made it....although my ankle was aching a bit and a little swollen - as was the top of my foot......but I think I'll be gettin' better each day after my trial by fire!
A couple of things I'd like to mention -
Sandi,....your comment about the odor of the snakes....cottonmouths have a pungent odor....but many snakes do......and once you learn the association,....you probably won't forget it.....it's kinda like a musk......my wife perhaps thought I was a bit "tetched" when we first were together and later,...because I'd occasionally mention that a snake was near because I could smell it.....one observation I mader long ago,...while handling snakes (herpetology was an early hobby of mine)....many snakes,... while being handled,....will defecate....and that same/similar odor was quickly detected by myself.....so that's part of my experience(s) with learning the "snakey" odor.
I believe that snakes are on the skunks menu....however,...I can't say for certain that pit vipers (cottonmouths, rattlers & copperheads) are....but it wouldn't surprise me......I believe skunks are opportunistic omnivores...can't remember all the details right now,....(sometimers)...but I think that's right! If it were me,...I'd have my 20 gauge loaded and ready with at least 3 shots...for those babies/Mom....however,...if you're so inclined (as I've been at times)....and are willin' to take a risk
(not life threatening)....get a Havahart-type trap.....bait it with tunafish.....cover the trap with an old tarp or blanket...(but leave the entrance open)....and set the trap....probably next morning or next,....there will be one or more in the trap....quietly walk up and gently pick up the trap( with open-view front pointed away from you)... and place into the back of a pickup - relocate the critter.....all the while...be GENTLE and try not to make the skunk(s) feel threatened....you should be able to relocate this way ....safely (ie - not gettin' sprayed). We have dogs....and skunks tend to have a relatively high occurrence of rabies (compared to other wild mammals)....so,...for two big reasons,....I remove them quickly and bury them...on location. Part of country livin' - varmint control
Kathleen - One bit of advice - concerning illumination close to the house,.....security/night lights attract bugs,........which attract frogs, toads, geckos, etc..........which attracts copperheads. We've been here 11 yrs and most of the copperheads
I've dispatched (I'm thinkin' about 10 out of 12)...were close to the night lights area(s) of illumination. I removed my mercury vapor light which I had installed near the entrance of my greenhouse/garden area....because of that very reason.....too many times finding one or more copperheads prowling around lookin' for food.
My mistake the other night was not turning on the light that illuminates our carport area.....'nuff said
So,....keep in mind,...that,...if you're in an area where copperheads can be found,......and if your porches
( front/back...where most night lights are) ........are not elevated enough to make it difficult for an 18-20" adult copperhead
to get "up on" the deck/slab.....then you will always have that possibility of one hangin' around lookin' for somethin' to eat.
and that's all they're doin'.....lookin' for food.....we're the intruders. Security lights do the same thing but illuminate a larger area......just keep it in mind.............no biggie,....just the way it is!!
I suggest keeping a flashlight near any outside door entrance (here I am,...the "snake-bitten-one-who-walks-in-dark" dingbat giving advice about using a flashlight)..(smile)....but,........I've been flirtin' with the snakebite scenario for sometime and just consider it...no different than takin' the risk of steppin' on a sting ray ,...or gettin' bitten by a shark ...while wade fishin' (which hasn't happen so far,...in the past 55 yrs or so......BUT the possibility always exist...when I'm in THEIR environment....you see! )
Charlene - Glad to hear your oleanders are faring well....they're TOUGH and hard to kill (BTW- I've taken cuttings from some oleanders near here that are different from any I'm familiar with - they're doubles AND scented (like baby powder)
so I should have some different kinds for you in the near future....'cause they're growin'!!!
Thanks to all of ya for your concern & encouragement! Lee
This message was edited Jun 24, 2009 10:32 AM
Glad you have survived and double thanks for all the "dingbat" advice. We have found 2 copperheads on the 80yo farmhouse property we are restoring, so know there are more. The mecury vapor light may be a contributor - it is currently disconnected.
We will be much more cautious when there at night.
Lee, right now the only outside lights I have are a porch light out my bedroom door ( yes I have a door to the outside in my bedroom. Its a wierd old house what can I say...lol.) a front door/ porch light and a motion detector light on my garage which only works about 40%of the time. I usually keep the lights off at night unless I have to run outside cause of the bug issue. The front porch is elevated with 3 standard steps. The only snakes Ive seen close to the house is the one I found sleeping in the flower pot this spring. Im just going to be more careful since your experience. I thought my snake worrying days were over after moving here from the AZ desert..lol... Please dont overdo and get better soon!
I may never go outside at night again! Have a pond in the backyard and a small fountain/pond in the front. Only seen small snakes cooling off...and one huge rat snake in pond. But now that it's so dry, I'm a lot more cautious. It's the furry critters that get the best of me. We've caught over 40 raccoons in the last three yrs and relocated them.....can't kill 'em! Twice, there were two little ones in the same trap. Haven't counted the possums.
But...skunks? Now way am I going to try to trap and release one of those! I've watched DH open the trap to release raccoons, and he practically has to shake 'em out. Maybe I'll talk one of our lake neighbors up there into trapping them!
Sandi : (smile)....trappin' skunks is not for everybody.......but each time I've trapped a skunk,....relocated and set the trap on the ground (still covered)....opened the door,....the skunk just casually strolled out of the cage and went on its way.
I'm curious,...why do you trap the 'coons & possums? Do they raid the garbage cans or garden?
I once finally caught the culprit that was eating the bottom half of my ripe tomatoes (still on the plant)...a year or two ago......it was an opossum.
Kathleen - if you're not keepin' yr light(s) on throughout the night.....and, consequently,... no bug problem exists....then I wouldn't fret at all about it.
Bubba - thanks a bunch! Survival was never a concern for me.....but I can assure you.....pain definitely became a concern
and rather quickly too!
Please believe me everyone,...........don't be too anxious about being bitten by a snake......as long as you're careful and
thinkin' ahead (which I wasn't).....the odds are not that good that a snakebite is likely. BUT,....consider this....... each of us probably drives a vehicle frequently....each time exposing ourselves to the chance of being harmed in some way.....by someone else.....(and I bet neither of us fret too much or even think about that possibility....each time we do)......the possibility exists every time.......I propose.... that same "possible harm" scenario applies to our exposure to the environments that increase our chances of encountering a venomous snake.....part of the "allure" of country livin',...in my opinion! Lee
Lee! I'm so happy to hear you are healing and so sorry about the snake bite......My lil peach oleander is sprouting a thousand roots now, thanks again!
Thanks, Karen! Great to hear about the peach oleander! -
I started that lil' one with an air-layer on young growth. I like that way better than tryin' to root cuttings (which is not hard) - because the layer produces roots fairly quickly....(that layer was about 6 weeks old) so you can remove it from the parent earlier......and you end up with a great little start that seems to flourish - compared to the growth of a potted cutting (6 weeks old) ....that is about the same diameter, but which also needs a lot more attention and care during that 6 weeks! This is from my "Katrina Survivor" host that I started from a cutting I collected from a huge clump near the vicinity of the
devastated levee breach. This clump survived being submerged a long time. I wish I knew the name of it! (smile)