Young copperhead close up from recently

Banded Trowser?

1990AG said:

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Banded Trowser?

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I get one lousy star for this?? Come on people!

So that copperhead photo would give my wife nightmares for at least ...... the rest of her life.

I like this thread
I hate this thread.

Alright guys. Got a really good one here. My friend sent me this pic for ID from her house in West Austin area this AM. Snake was not harmed. Any guesses? Not you 12f... give the others a shot.

Not a garter, not a ribbon ... then definitely a copperhead.

I got bit by a rattlesnake 2 years ago on my ranch in Rio Medina. Went to University Hospital in San Antonio. Best place to go if u are within 3 hours of there. I learned that 6 out of 10 bits are dry and the worst bites are by the little ones.They said that out of about 5000 bites, only 5 people had died. Maybe they were just trying to make me more comfortable. It did work. The God Lord watches over stupid because i only got hit by 1 fang (I was wearing flip flops picking corn)(stupid). I really feel the snake just trying to get away.
I killed many rattlesnakes and it always seemed like they were trying really hard to get away from me. Only time they really got mad was on occasion when you miss with a gun or u throw a rock at them.
At the hospital, they took blood samples every hour or so to check some sort thickening that the venom causes. This was done for about 14 hours.They said if it reached a certain point I would have to start anti venom.
I was 1 more blood test away of getting anti venom and the indicator started going down. This was good as not to have to take anti venom.
I got hit in the heel. Swelled up past my knee and bruised up to me butt.
Was on crutches for 3 weeks.It got infected and had to then go to wound doctor for 2weeks to get dead rotten skin cut off and the hole packed with some sort of silver nitrate concoction.
Besides all of this all went well.
I thought I was somewhat manly to pain. SMH this hurt as if u would have put your foot in a fire for first 4 or 5 hours. Thank goodness for morphine.
If any of y'all are around anybody that gets bit by a poisonous snake or you get bit stay as calm as possible(hard to do). don't elevate, ice or try and clean bite. Go to emergency room. they know there stuff.

Most of what you said is accurate, but the little snakes being more dangerous is a little off. While young snakes have less control over the amount of venom they inject and are much less likely to give a dry bite, they also have far less venom to inject than an adult snakes.

If an adult snakes gives you a full dose of venom, it is much, much more dangerous and potentially deadly.

Also they are looking for signs of DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation) with the blood tests. Several markers are drawn and the progress of erythema/edema (redness and swelling) from the bite site is monitored as well as the patient's vital signs. Based on all this and the clinical picture the decision to hold or give antivenin is made.

It is not a decision we take lightly as physicians. The antivenin is not only expensive, but also has a fairly high rate of allergic reaction associated with it and can make patients worse instead of better.