Rattlesnake sends man to hospital - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Rattlesnake sends man to hospital

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By Jennifer Emert - bio | email

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - A Lee County man spent six hours in the hospital last night after being bitten by what he suspects was a timber rattlesnake.

As many as 10,000 Americans suffer snake bites every year, most from rattlesnakes, but only a small number of those bites prove fatal.

Temperatures near 100º have Georgia's 41 species of snakes on the move.

The Lee County field where Trent McCrary was working Tuesday night was peaceful, until he was bitten by a snake as he was working on the irrigation equipment.  

"Just a sharp pain, and then it was over just like that," he said of the bite.

Before McCrary could determine if it was venomous, the snake got away, but he suspects it was and a large snake, considering the width between the bite marks. "We killed two or three timber rattlers up here in the last week or so," he said.

Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Biologists say temperatures near 100º have many of Georgia's six venomous snakes on the move.

 "A lot of times you'll see them in the evening when its cooler they'll be moving, but they're also associated with areas that have moisture because it's so dry right now."

An irrigation pivot that draws mice and other small animals is prime real estate for a snake, that's why if you're in the fields now, you need more protection than the tennis shoes McCrary was wearing.

 "Tall thick leather boots are pretty much standard gear for what you need to wear if you're out working in the woods this time of year or around places you'd find snakes around debris piles, old buildings those types of areas."

Trent McCrary says the crews will be clearing weeds from around the irrigations systems so someone else doesn't get hurt and he wants everyone to take the needed precautions so they're not bitten.

Wildlife officials say if you see a snake in your yard, you shouldn't try to handle it.

If it's poisonous and puts your children or pets in danger, you should contact the Department of Natural resources for help removing the snake.

      • Click HERE to learn more about Georgia's venomous snakes


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