Northern Copperhead Bite - Articles Forum at VenomousReptiles.org

Northern Copperhead Bite	Reply
by Crotalusssp on September 4, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Thanks for sharing your story. Sometimes Copper's do not get enough respect with regards to envenomation. It is true you are unlikely to die, but should not be taken lightly. If you could email a few more pictures I would appreciate it. I am a biology teacher and show snake bite photos from time to time while I am trying to educate and dispel myths of snakes. I try educate my students, who come from rural South Carolina, about snakes and their important role in the environment. Most have grown up hearing nothing but that old saying, "The only good snake, is a dead one.". In teaching them about snakes important role, I do however show them bite photos to discourage careless behavior. Respect and enjoy from afar is what I tell them. Thanks again. Charles

RE: Northern Copperhead Bite	Reply
by SnakebiteLady on September 5, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
I got bitten by a copperhead middle of July (7 weeks ago) on the thumb, and my experience was much the same as yours. We took pictures every day for the first couple of weeks. Even though these snakes are very common around this part of Arkansas, the hospital and doctors seemed pretty clueless. The hospital did not stock the antevenin, which may be due to the cost. I saw somewhere on the net that it is $500 a pop. My thumb (where he bit me) has still got a crusty black scab where my thumb print used to be, and I still have some numbness and nerve damage. From the joint to the tip of my thumb is still swollen! Home remedies like comfrey, aloe, and oil of oregano helped me more than anything the physicians did. You are right about the pain, burning, throbbing, and the nerve pain! Pain pills didnt touch it. Good opportunity to practice meditation though. And I guess we have snake medicine now that we have survived the bite!

Northern Copperhead Bite	Reply
by Crazywolf on September 5, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
i keep copperheads and whatever venomous snakes i can legally keep, i have not been envenomated, there is a 3% part of me that wants to experience envenomation but ofcourse the other 97% of me is like "what are you STUPID?!?!" my northerns just dropped 3 babies, im more afraid of getting bit by them than i am the adults due to babies not knowing how to control themselves yet i guess theres no point to my comment, just rambling on but i do have a question, in the article it says its common for locals to stay at home untreated, not saying i would do this but what would happen if i got bit and never went to the hospital for it? other than the rare chance of death, whats the worst case scenario? im just recently getting into copperheads and honestly have not researched anything about them until yesterday when i discovered the 3-4 day old babies under the substrate, but what ive been told is you wont die but likely to lose a digit.

RE: Northern Copperhead Bite	Reply
by thenewdisciple on September 5, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
The odds are in your favor that you will not lose a digit, or die. I would say you should go to the hospital though. If anything you can get a subscription to some pretty bad ass pain pills.

RE: Northern Copperhead Bite	Reply
by SnakebiteLady on September 6, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
I can understand the small desire to experience the bite. I was told the biggest risk was infection, so keep oil of oregano on hand and comfrey and you would probably be ok. They did give me a tetanus shot, too. I valued the morphine the most, because the pain was beyond anything I could imagine, but it still hurt a lot even with the morphine.

RE: Northern Copperhead Bite	Reply
by theemojohnm on September 7, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
The Agkistrodon is my favorite genus, and copperheads are some of my favorite species. I have worked with this genus more than anything else. Northern copperhead bites ussually are not bad and CAN go un-treated, but I still highly feel you should go to the hospital. Without treatment even months later sometimes, some strange side effects sometimes show up like stiffness, or even pain again. My strongest point is however... Unless I read wrong, the locals often times leave Timber Rattlesnake bites un-treated?!! Copperhead bites may be mild, and can somtimes go untreated, but GO TO THE HOSTPITAL FOR A TIMBER BITE. Thanks for sharing by the way! Any more photos of the swelling in your arm, or the blister as it progressed? johnmendrola@yahoo.com Thanks, And Take Care. ~John.

RE: Northern Copperhead Bite	Reply
by JHarrison on September 14, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
All venomous bites should be treated by a Doctor. Infections in snake bite can occur but are only seen in a small number of bites. Usually when you have cut on the bite or have necrotic tissue. No topical solutions will help if you get an infection from a bite. Oral and IV antibiotics are what will be needed if there is an infection. Antibiotics should only be used if you have a known infection.

RE: Northern Copperhead Bite	Reply
by Voided37 on October 2, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Thanks for sharing your story. After numerous close calls from proximity to coppers and growing up around them, along with their bite-first-ask-questions-later attitude, and their great camoflage, I figure them to be about a southern boys and girls most dangerous snake. Regardless of their toxicity, IT HURTS! Sounds like yours wanted to let you know how much it disliked being fooled with! And even though I sympathize with you I also sympathize with the snake! Sorry about that..to both of ya! But your very level headed sounding so I'll bet you know what I mean. Most bites occur because someone is disturbing the snake, so I've read...did you learn anything? [Sneaky little laugh..sorry] Anyhow, again, thanks for sharing and I DO NOT think your pain is funny, quite the contrary. Steve

RE: Northern Copperhead Bite	Reply
by COBRAMAN on October 4, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
I have to agree with Jim Harrison's reply. No two snakebites are the same, and if for no other reason, go to the hospital for comfort measures and antibiotics. By doing so you may also avoid some unforeseen complications that may be unique to your specific bite. Ray Hunter

Northern Copperhead Bite	Reply
by granitback on November 17, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Wow thats crazy. I was bitten by one of my trans pecos copperhead babys about 2 months ago it was alot of pain and dizzyness but after about a week it was all over with. It was my own fault i was given them water and the little guy got me on the hand.

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