🚀 go-pugleaf

Adrian Brandt wrote:
much stuff deleted.....
> 
> I *definitely* have a new-found respect for rattlesnakes and the damage
> they can do.  I must admit, I had this idea that bites were bad and all
> that.  That you try to avoid them at all cost, but I had no idea just what
> havoc these suckers can wreak!  Avoid bites at all cost.  It was very,
> very miserable watching what my father went through with his--and his was
> a baby little snake, and one fang hit him right on the knuckle and we
> think didn't even get much, if any, venom under the skin!
> 
> --
> 
> Adrian Brandt

We had a similar experience.  A visiting friend got out of her
car at our house and almost immediately stepped on a baby snake.
I watched it happen but simply didn't have time to warn her.  She
got one fang right near the ankle joint.  We packed her right into
the car and hauled her in to the emergency room.  She required 4
vials of antivenom (which is indeed made from horse blood serum).
The docs told us that if she had been a kid they would have given
her much more.  She only stayed overnight but felt really miserable
for several days after that and still was experiencing problems
with her foot for many weeks.

We see anywhere from 2-5 rattlers a year on our place.  If they
are on or within a few hundred feet of our place, I kill them.
We have young children (the neighbor's), dogs, cats, horses, and
us wandering around.  I could probably figure out a way to catch
and save them, but having spent much time horseback in the desert
behind our house I cannot see that there is a shortage of
snakes out there.  And usually I'm too startled to think of 
anything besides SNAKE!!!!  I don't wear sandals outside at 
night, I don't go barefoot without watching every step, and I
always look before I start picking up logs or lumber or whatever
if it's been undisturbed for awhile.

Martha in NM
email: martha@baervan.nmt.edu