Hiker bit by rattlesnake on South Mountain
A man in his 50s was bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking on a South Mountain trail in Phoenix Friday morning, according to fire officials.
Technical rescue teams removed the man from the mountain by helicopter, and he was taken to a nearby hospital for further treatment, said Captain Rob McDade, a spokesman for the Phoenix Fire Department.
The “experienced” hiker was hiking on a trail near the top of the mountain when he was bit in the leg, McDade said. He was able to call 911 and report the bite, but told dispatchers he was feeling “dizzy and lightheaded.”
“Rescuers have no way of knowing how each individual will react to the venom, so it was imperative that we got him off the mountain as soon as possible,” McDade said.
The first rescue teams reached the hiker by the mountain trail, and a Phoenix Police Firebird 10 helicopter was used to bring the man safely down to a landing zone.
Be careful if you hike this weekend
McDade had a reminder for Arizonans who may be headed out to take advantage of the weather on the trails this weekend: “As a reminder, this is the time of year where rattlesnakes are very active right now. Please use caution while hiking or any activities in areas where rattlesnakes are prevalent. This includes all hiking trails and parks.”
Amy Burnett, the information and education program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, recommends keeping dogs on a leash at all times when on a trail in order to have more control.
“Dogs are much more likely than people to get bitten because we’re not putting our feet and our hands regularly into bushed to find out what’s there,” Burnett said.
Still, the most important thing to remember when out hiking is “to watch where you’re putting your feet and hands,” she said.
“Most bites happen when someone walks off the trail to get a photo of a flower, or maybe they’re stepping off the trail to move over for another hiker or a bicyclist coming, you know and with the 6-foot difference, it’s more important to watch where you’re stepping off the trail than to get off of the trail quickly,” Burnett said.