A northern California beekeeper tending his hives got a rattlesnake bite. He and the rattlesnake ended up in the hospital.He graciously allowed images of his wound, the snake, and the evidence of his progressing envenomation to be posted here. See how the wound and the growing red streaks that accompany a real rattlesnake bite look in the first few hours.
A northern California beekeeper tending his hives got a rattlesnake bite. He and the rattlesnake ended up in the hospital.
He graciously allowed images of his wound, the snake, and the evidence of his progressing envenomation to be posted here. See how the wound and the growing red streaks that accompany a real rattlesnake bite look in the first few hours.
1A Rattlesnake EncounterSabrina CherryAs the beekeeper was tending his hives, he reached under a pallet and felt asting. Unfazed (stings are a way of life in his business), he continued moving the pallet. He felt another sting. It wasn’t until he heard the rattle of the snake that he realized what happened.He killed the snake and took it with him to the hospital for identification. Since he’d already killed it, it was a good idea; even if youthinkyou know what kind of snake bit you. If you’re trying to decide whether to kill it or not: Don’t bother.Being able to identify the snake is not worth risking a second bite.Notice the red streak traveling up the man’s arm. Red streaks like this can indicate venom, allergy, infection, or a number of other conditions. He heard the rattle, found the snake, and felt the bite; he was pretty sure he knew what this red streak was.
1
A Rattlesnake EncounterSabrina CherryAs the beekeeper was tending his hives, he reached under a pallet and felt asting. Unfazed (stings are a way of life in his business), he continued moving the pallet. He felt another sting. It wasn’t until he heard the rattle of the snake that he realized what happened.He killed the snake and took it with him to the hospital for identification. Since he’d already killed it, it was a good idea; even if youthinkyou know what kind of snake bit you. If you’re trying to decide whether to kill it or not: Don’t bother.Being able to identify the snake is not worth risking a second bite.Notice the red streak traveling up the man’s arm. Red streaks like this can indicate venom, allergy, infection, or a number of other conditions. He heard the rattle, found the snake, and felt the bite; he was pretty sure he knew what this red streak was.
A Rattlesnake Encounter
Sabrina Cherry
As the beekeeper was tending his hives, he reached under a pallet and felt asting. Unfazed (stings are a way of life in his business), he continued moving the pallet. He felt another sting. It wasn’t until he heard the rattle of the snake that he realized what happened.
He killed the snake and took it with him to the hospital for identification. Since he’d already killed it, it was a good idea; even if youthinkyou know what kind of snake bit you. If you’re trying to decide whether to kill it or not: Don’t bother.Being able to identify the snake is not worth risking a second bite.
Notice the red streak traveling up the man’s arm. Red streaks like this can indicate venom, allergy, infection, or a number of other conditions. He heard the rattle, found the snake, and felt the bite; he was pretty sure he knew what this red streak was.
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Rattlesnake Bite on Hand
Rod Brouhard
The saying goes: “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”
The beekeeper’s hand got tworattlesnake bitesfor the price of one. I’m sure he wished the rattlesnake had stayed in the bush and not under the pallet he was trying to move.
The first bite got him on the index finger, which is not easy to see in this picture. The second bite got him in the pad at the base of his thumb. There’s one pinhole where the fang broke the skin, enough for the little rattlesnake to inject its venom.
He had to drive toward civilization just tocall 911 from his cell phone.
There are three important tips to remember from his experience:
3Rattlesnake’s Bite Is a Red StreakAs Time Marches On, So the Ominous Red Streak.Sabrina CherryIn theemergency department, he got antivenin, pain medication, and muscle relaxers. While waiting for the antivenin to work, ER staff kept an eye on the red streak traveling along the beekeeper’s arm.To keep track of how quickly the red streak is growing, the staff periodically marked theproximalpoint (closest to the heart) with the time. From 11:43 to 12:43, the streak traveled approximately 2 inches.It’s important to get help right away after a snake bite. Until help arrives, you can mark any red streaks in the same way to show emergency medical staff how quickly the venom is spreading.
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Rattlesnake’s Bite Is a Red StreakAs Time Marches On, So the Ominous Red Streak.Sabrina CherryIn theemergency department, he got antivenin, pain medication, and muscle relaxers. While waiting for the antivenin to work, ER staff kept an eye on the red streak traveling along the beekeeper’s arm.To keep track of how quickly the red streak is growing, the staff periodically marked theproximalpoint (closest to the heart) with the time. From 11:43 to 12:43, the streak traveled approximately 2 inches.It’s important to get help right away after a snake bite. Until help arrives, you can mark any red streaks in the same way to show emergency medical staff how quickly the venom is spreading.
Rattlesnake’s Bite Is a Red Streak
As Time Marches On, So the Ominous Red Streak.Sabrina Cherry
In theemergency department, he got antivenin, pain medication, and muscle relaxers. While waiting for the antivenin to work, ER staff kept an eye on the red streak traveling along the beekeeper’s arm.
To keep track of how quickly the red streak is growing, the staff periodically marked theproximalpoint (closest to the heart) with the time. From 11:43 to 12:43, the streak traveled approximately 2 inches.
It’s important to get help right away after a snake bite. Until help arrives, you can mark any red streaks in the same way to show emergency medical staff how quickly the venom is spreading.
4Bringing the Rattlesnake to the HospitalRod BrouhardWhen the beekeeper got the rattlesnake bite, he killed the snake and brought it with him to the hospital. He says killing it was nearly a reflex, and it surely was much safer than trying to transport the rattlesnake alive.Bringing the rattlesnake was a useful step. It may seem unnecessary because he heard the rattle and saw the snake, but there are many species of rattlesnakes and not all the venom is the same. Many species of rattlesnake share habitats, so it could be any type.
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Bringing the Rattlesnake to the HospitalRod BrouhardWhen the beekeeper got the rattlesnake bite, he killed the snake and brought it with him to the hospital. He says killing it was nearly a reflex, and it surely was much safer than trying to transport the rattlesnake alive.Bringing the rattlesnake was a useful step. It may seem unnecessary because he heard the rattle and saw the snake, but there are many species of rattlesnakes and not all the venom is the same. Many species of rattlesnake share habitats, so it could be any type.
Bringing the Rattlesnake to the Hospital
When the beekeeper got the rattlesnake bite, he killed the snake and brought it with him to the hospital. He says killing it was nearly a reflex, and it surely was much safer than trying to transport the rattlesnake alive.
Bringing the rattlesnake was a useful step. It may seem unnecessary because he heard the rattle and saw the snake, but there are many species of rattlesnakes and not all the venom is the same. Many species of rattlesnake share habitats, so it could be any type.
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Identifying the Rattlesnake That Bit the Beekeeper
Edward Wozniak, DVM, PhD, a veterinarian and snake expert, says that taking a picture will do for identification as long as the image contains the snake’s entire body. The picture should be in focus as well.Identification isn’t as important as getting treatment quickly. If it delays getting to the hospital to get a picture (or get the snake), then skip it altogether.Wozniak says that some more exotic species—commonly kept in captivity as pets—require special treatment. He is especially concerned about the Mojave rattlesnake, which he says may be missed in the ER as either a minor envenomation or as a “dry bite” (no venom) until the patient starts showing signs of major nerve damage. Hopefully, ER doctors in areas where the Mojave rattlesnake live are aware of its odd symptoms.
According to Dr. Wozniak, this snake is a Southern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri). “While the western diamondback does indeed range into California,” said Wozniak in an email, “its distribution is limited to the southeastern extreme of the state.”
Wozniak says this type of rattlesnake has a particularly dangerous venom, sometimes reaching the level of the Mojave rattlesnake. “Pacific rattlesnakes typically pack a ‘double whammy’,” he said in his email, “often leaving the victim with life-threatening systemic poisoning and extensive local tissue destruction.”
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Venomous snake bites: symptoms & first aid.
Wozniak EJ, Wisser J, Schwartz M.Venomous adversaries: a reference to snake identification, field safety, and bite-victim first aid for disaster-response personnel deploying into the hurricane-prone regions of North America.Wilderness Environ Med. 2006;17(4):246-266. doi:10.1580/06-WEME-CO-005R.1
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