Bit by Coral Snake? There Is No More Antivenom

[Bigcypresshunter]

http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-life/bigger-picture/article.aspx?cp-documentid=24682236&GT1=32001

Envenomation experts express exasperation and disbelief at the situation. "It's ridiculous that we're losing a technology that we already have," says Joe Pittman, a snakebite treatment specialist at the Florida Poison Information Center in Tampa. "It's even more ludicrous that we have a product that's available, and we have to jump through so many hoops to get it approved."

 

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[spartacus53]

That is not a good thing. My only advise is to steer clear of the Coral snake. Most snakes aren't too aggressive by nature, so watch where you thread.

 

[Shortstack]

A person would have to be really, really DUMB to get "bit" by a Coral snake. That snake's fangs are in the rear of it's mouth and it can only open it's mouth wide enough to CHEW on a fold of skin...........as the web of skin between your fingers and toes.
I am NOT suggesting playing around with one. Just saying, walk away and go on about your business and don't worry about being "struck" by a Coral snake.





Now, Moccasins are a WHOOOOOLE nuther story.

 

[greydigger]

Can they bio-engineer the black stripe to be blue?
That would look neat.

Only snakes around here are Garters and they just put out a stink.

Grey

 

[trikikiwi]

BigCy, I read the whole of that link and I agree,
you quote the most pertinent point.

Personally, I have met snakes under water and I have let them be and they have, me.

Mike

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

A person would have to be really, really DUMB to get "bit" by a Coral snake. That snake's fangs are in the rear of it's mouth and it can only open it's mouth wide enough to CHEW on a fold of skin...........as the web of skin between your fingers and toes.
I am NOT suggesting playing around with one. Just saying, walk away and go on about your business and don't worry about being "struck" by a Coral snake.

I heard that. I have only seen one in my lifetime in the wild. They like to bury themselves under bark. Somehow 100 people manage to get bitten every year.

The snake is found throughout Florida, as well as in parts of Alabama, South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas and Arizona, but there are generally only about 100 or so bites each year.

University of Florida professor of medicine Craig Kitchens says. "Without antivenom, you need artificial respiration or you die."

 

[Smee]

I have personally seen them (and no, not mistaken for its beneficial cousin) in Mississippi and Arkansas as well.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I was trying to hold my rifle and climb a tree to hunt when my hand ripped off a piece of bark. About 10 feet up, starring me in the face was a black, red, yellow striped snake. It was so close to my eyes, it was blurry. Not wanting to take the time to recite the poem "red touch yellow kill the fellow" or was it "red touch yellow, good fellow?" I brushed him off the tree onto the ground. Looking down I was able to determine it was indeed a good sized coral snake.

Yes I have caught many of the beautiful Scarlett Kings but the Coral Snake seems much rarer.. Realize that the coral snake is a very reclusive snake. While all snakes share this attribute, coral snakes in particular prefer to remain completely hidden and are rare sights in the wild.

The coral snake is one of the most toxic snakes in the world. The reason it is not responsible for more deaths is because it has a much smaller mouth and fangs than the pit viper counterparts that inhabit the United States. Drop for drop, the venom from a coral snake is as deadly as it gets in North America. In spite of this small size, the venom of a coral snake is comparable with the cobras and mambas of Africa and Asia. The venom is neurotoxic, and will shut down your nervous system. This leads to cardiac arrest and death if not treated in time. Now we have no antivenom.

 

[mainer]

Glad I live in Maine. Not a snake fan,

 

[RGINN]

It's antivenin, not antivenom. Now that I have satisfied the scientific community, I will point out that venin is French for venom, so the rest of us are right too. The coral snake venom is neurotoxic and very bad. If one got you good, you probably ought to be more concerned about your will being current than the availability of antivenom. (OK, antivenin) They are a rear fanged snake so they will have a tendency to chew to get the fangs in position. There may be a hundred bites a year but I suspect they are dry bites. (God does look out for us drunk rednecks, sometimes) Look up the Texas Night Snake for another rear fanged snake that is mildly venomous. (Not poisonous, as you can eat them if you wanted) But for your all-around lots of noise and jumpin around post it on you tube snake bite video, go with the prairie rattler. For the stealth mode snake bite attack, check out the timber rattler or copperhead.

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

HI wanna a report on a 4 ft'er bite with a step by step on the reactions? Not me but a college student studying snakes.

Don Jose de La Mancha el *Tropical Trampo*

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

HI wanna a report on a 4 ft'er bite with a step by step on the reactions? Not me but a college student studying snakes.

Don Jose de La Mancha el *Tropical Trampo*

Sure. I would like to hear it. Everyone knows what happens when a rattler bites but a Coral bite is not well known..

 

[homefires]

What a Hoot!

When I was 12 years old I found one and brought it home.

Kept it as a Pet for 2 years.

It's name was Charlie!

Handled it every week to feed it.

It loved Crickets, Grass Hoppers (Back Legs Pulled Off) and would even take the odd earth worm or two some times.

Charlie would take food from my fingers and never, never made a attempt to bit.

I knew what it was and lied to my parents telling them it was a shovel nose sand snake showing them a photo.

I could handle him/she it any time I wanted.

When I release it, it was 22" long.

It had grown just 7" over the time I had it.

I could rub it's head, hold it by the Neck, and all it did was look for food.

Holding a Cricket between two fingers in one hand and the snake in the other, it would make it's way to the food.

Two flix of the toung and snatch it up.

In the end I let it go were I found it.

Now I'm sure all are not going to act like this but they are not aggressive like other venom snakes.

The only way your going to get bit is if your stupid like I was in handling the things .

If you do find your self being bit, just PULL IT OFF! You would really have to be asking for it! There mouth is so small it could only get you between the webs of you fingers, or other soft parts. I won't go there.

Back fanged they have to chew a bit to Envenom you.

Yep! Charlie was Cool!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

What a Hoot!


Now I'm sure all are not going to act like this but they are not aggressive like other venom snakes.

No one said they were aggressive.

The only way your going to get bit is if your stupid like I was.

You said it. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I have little experience with the Coral as I have only seen one in my lifetime but somehow 100 people a year manage to get bit. I used to keep poisonous snakes as "pets" myself as a kid but I dont think its too smart.

Heres an interesting article I found online.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HFI/is_7_50/ai_54949017/