If serpents strike in Rappahannock…
Don’t buy into ‘many unfounded myths, worthless folk remedies, and just plain bad advice out there about treating snake bites’
Watch where you stick your hands and feet, it’s snake season in Rappahannock County.
The Blue Ridge Poison Center in Charlottesville counts about 3,000 venomous snake bites nationwide each year, several of them occurring in Rappahannock County, home to the copperhead and timber rattlesnake.
Apart from that feared pair of serpents, the other venomous snake in the commonwealth is the water moccasin, found in far southern and southeastern Virginia, although an isolated population slithers around the con uence of the James and Appomattox rivers.
Fortunately, only a few venomous snake bites result in death each year. Which isn’t to say getting bit — poison injected through a pair of hollow needle-like fangs — is a walk in the park.
Virginia’s three venomous snakes are members of the pit viper family, which have a heat-sensing “pit” on each side of their head that helps them locate prey. They also have triangular spadeshaped heads rather than narrow oval heads, along with elliptical pupils — like a cat’s eye — rather than round, the center educates.
Here in the Piedmont, the copperhead is the most common of the two venomous snakes. “They prefer to live in places where they can hide and nd lots of food, such as a forest or areas with tall grass,” according to the poison center, which is part of UVA’s School of Medicine.
The timber rattlesnake prefers rockier portions of the Blue Ridge Mountains, although you can still nd them in lower elevations of Rappahannock County.
It’s important to remember that young vipers o en look di erent than adults and can easily be mistaken for non-venomous snakes. Copperheads, for example, may have a yellow tail that only fades as the snake matures. And unlike their elders, the smaller copperheads don’t know when to stop injecting venom.
Fortunately, the copperhead doesn’t consider humans as prey, as it could inject enough venom to kill.
There are 30 species of snakes in Virginia, according to the center, the majority harmless. More importantly, snakes play an important role in the ecosystem, especially when it comes to rodent control.
What if one gets bitten on the other hand — or foot — by a venomous snake?
Don’t get too freaked out for starters, as snake bites in these parts are treatable. Still, a snakebite victim needs to act fast, as venom inside a human body destroys blood cells, blood vessels, and other tissues. A er all, snakes inject venom to paralyze and digest their prey, not to mention protect themselves.
The poison center says once a snake’s fangs penetrate a person’s esh, symptoms may include: “Intense pain spreading out from the bite. Puncture wounds from fangs. Swelling and bruising (may become severe). Sweating. Weakness, dizziness. Nausea and vomiting. Muscle twitching . . .
“Stay calm!” it says. “The most important goal is to get the victim to a healthcare facility, where they can have access to medical care and antivenom if needed. If possible, wash the bite with soap and water. Swelling is likely, so remove constrictive items like jewelry or tight clothing near the bite.”
At the same time, don’t buy into “many unfounded myths, worthless folk remedies, and just plain bad advice out there about treating snake bites. Don’t believe everything you see in the movies!”
The UVA center draws attention to several actions that “have not been shown to improve a victim’s outcome and in fact may cause more harm: Do not use any form of suction. Do not give the victim an electric shock. Do not give the victim any drugs or alcohol. Do not apply a tourniquet. Do not apply ice or use an ice bath. Do not cut the wound.”
Finally, snakes supposedly don’t want to bite people and will try to get away if given the chance.
So watch “where you put your hands and feet outdoors,” be sure to wear “long pants and shoes when in tall grass or other snake habitats,” and walk “with a ashlight outdoors at night.”
Unless you’re running.