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copperheads get no respect
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by codeman on June 14, 2008
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so i was watching a show on nat geo about vipers and they showed of course rattlesnakes, cottenmouths and some of the vipers from other countries such as gaboon's and russels vipers. now i know these snake are far more toxic than a copperhead but it bothered me that not one word was mentioned about copperheads and come to think of it you rarely hear anything about copperheads on any of these snake documentaries. now i know there considered mildly toxic so im guessing there not "dangerous enough" to be mentioned. well....ive beeen bitten by a copperhead. got me in my indexfinger and belive me i dont belive there's a such thing as mildly toxic. the pain from that bite was excruciating. my hand was twice its normal size and i spent the night in the hospital and even with the moriphine they gave me for the pain it still dident do much. it was a terrble experience. that being said, i think no posinous snake should be regarded as "mild" and any snake thats venomous should be considered very dangerous and should be handled with a healthy respect. man i just had to vent on that.lol..
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RE: copperheads get no respect
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by Cro on June 14, 2008
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It is unfortunate that someone started spreading that "mildly toxic" idea about Copperheads.
I have read news papers that have stated that on several occasions. This could encourage folks to be less carefull with Copperheads, or to think that they are safe to keep as pets.
As you found out with your bite, there is nothing "mild" about a Copperhead bite.
Best Regards John Z
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RE: copperheads get no respect
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by Buzztail1 on June 14, 2008
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I think it is a sign of the times that we only speak of snake bites in the sense of whether or not the bite will kill a person and not in terms of the symptoms which include PAIN, disfigurement, amputation, long-term pain management, etc.
Years ago, Chris made a video of some snake bite survivors that were at one of the Columbia shows. It was very eye opening. Maybe he will put it up in the File Library again.
I keep Southern Copperheads. They are gorgeous, awesome, VENOMOUS reptiles. It is ridiculous to treat them as anything other than venomous.
Just my opinions,
Karl
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RE: copperheads get no respect
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by pitbulllady on June 14, 2008
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I got tagged by a Copperhead when I nine, for just the same reason some of y'all described: I'd read that they were only "mildly venomous" and really didn't think the snake could hurt me! Live and learn, I guess. It got my ring finger on my left hand, and while it wasn't the worst pain I've experienced from an animal envenomation(THAT dubious award goes to a Saddleback caterpillar, believe or not, and that is in comparison to the Copperhead and a Portuguese Man O' War), it was pretty bad! Not only that, but I tend to have more systemic reactions, and I can't recall ever having the dry heaves quite as bad as this! It's not something I'd want to repeat, though I most likely did not get a full dose of venom, and it could have been much worse. Given that there's always a chance for complications, like acute allergic reactions, no venomous creature, not even things like ants and wasps, should ever be taken lightly.
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RE: copperheads get no respect
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by tigers9 on June 14, 2008
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Well, in my case I only use fatalities for statistics, as it relates to captive exotics . I often compare them to fatalities in car or household accidents. If I got into injuries too, that range from life threatening to simple band aid, I would never finish any statistics.
I need to draw a line somewhere while trying to be accurate and factual. It is easier to be accurate with fatalities which get reported as opposed to injuries where many might not be reported.
Also what is a severe injury to a person who faints seeing blood might be a simple needle prick to another...
Death is the same to all of us, there is only one degree of being dead.
Z
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by AquaHerp on June 14, 2008
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There are indeed deaths attributed to copperhaeads. As Karl perfectly pointed out, there is nothing groovy about disfigurement, amputation, brain damage et al.
DH
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by tigers9 on June 14, 2008
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I agree there is nothing fun about being disfigured, whatever the reason is, snake, car accident, sports…problem is only some politically incorrect selective hobbies get banned, even though with hobbies it is mostly the owner that gets killed or disfigured, NOT the general public.
Do I want to die or be disfigured by exotic animal, car or sport, anything?
NO!
Do I want to ban these activities even though there is a chance I could get harmed by them?
NO!I think they should stay legal
I don’t think anybody is claiming it is fun to be disfigured, we object to being selectively banned.
I remember the copper discussion relating to Muffy where we tried to reason with him regarding his copper Yt video, that he might survive copper bite but not Mohave he planned to get, if he gets hit in his vein on his wrist if he keeps sticking his hands inside venomous snake cages like that, but nobody ever said coppers are safe, at least I do not recall.
Z
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by Cro on June 14, 2008
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Nobody HERE ever said that Copperheads are "mildly venomous," however, that has been printed and repeated on websites and in newspapers for years and years.
It is kind of like the stories that keeps floating around about baby venomous snakes being more deadly than adults, because A. Their venom is stronger, and B. Because they have not learned to meter how much venom to deliver in a bite, so they give a full dose.
Of course, both of those statements are not true !
However, those old stories keep running around and around, and getting repeated in the press again and again. They have become part of the folklore, or colloquial view of snakes, and because of that, they are hard to squish.........
Best Regards John Z
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by tigers9 on June 14, 2008
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If any of you want to write an article dispelling all the venomous myths, (baby vs. adult bite, coppers, etc…), I would be more than happy to upload it on REXANO website, even post it on Bloggernews as REXANO editorial written by….Joe venomous (insert the name),, and it will instantly post on Google as snake news alert.
Up to you guys, I am no expert, I a m here still to learn, I can do stats and other math stuff but when it comes to details, I am not comfortable to write this kind of paper yet, any volunteers?
Z
tigers9@cox.net
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by JoeCrotalid on June 14, 2008
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When the copperhead is regarded to as "mildly toxic" it is in the fact that the north american copperhead has the lowest LD50 of the noth american species, and bites although painful and problematic do not pose the serious effects that other noth american crotalids cause such as severe anticoagulopathy.
With regards to copperhead deaths-since the advent of antivenom there has not been a documented death from copperhead envenomation with appropriate treatment as compared to majave's, WDB and EDB envenomations who have died despite appropriate antivenom therapy.
All snakes are potentially dangerous and should be considered as such, but with regards to toxicity-the copperhead is among the weakness with regards to LD50 and clinical effects. The copperhead is also the only species that many times is not even treated with antivenom due to their weaker venom.
Toxicity aside, we need to focus education towards the public that all venomous snakes are dangerous and worry less about who is the most dangerous snake. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
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