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RE: copperheads get no respect
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by Buzztail1 on June 15, 2008
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Copperhead bites resulting in death have been reported.
Last year, a man in either Texas or Arkansas was bitten and subsequently died. This year, a woman in Virginia. The woman in Virginia, for some reason is now being reported as a Copperhead bite vicitim although in all of the articles at the time, they said that they never found the snake.
http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/news/headlines/19156464.html
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=13874
R/
Karl
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RE: copperheads get no respect
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by JoeCrotalid on June 15, 2008
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Karl
As you stated the woman in virginia in died but a snake was never found, so a positive identification of copperhead can not be made. I believe we have already discussed this case in the forum prior.
With regards to the other case, I suspect other factors were involved.
In addition-misidentification of snakes is very common. Case in point, I recently had a case where the patient and the hospital identified the offending snake as a copperhead, and when they send me a photo of the actual snake it was a jevenille cottonmouth
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RE: copperheads get no respect
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by JoeCrotalid on June 15, 2008
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Karl:
I read the second article you quote about the woman in Virginia, and it clearly states that her death was due to an anaphylactic reaction, and not the copperhead venom. And no positive identification of the snake was made.
In the case of anaphylaxis death is due to a complication of the envenomation and not the effects of the venom itself. With regards to toxicity, copperhead venom itself does not kill whereas the venom of a rattlesnake can cause coagulopathy causing life threatening bleeding. Copperhead venom will generally only cause swelling and pain and not not cause the necrotic tissue effects like other venoms.
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RE: copperheads get no respect
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by codeman on June 15, 2008
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i just wanted to add that i still have the copperhead and he is about 2 years old now and doing well. i knew when i got the snake it was a risk and do not regret it for a second. i just hope when someone who is considering a hot snake dosent go into it thinking the copperhead is not dangerous. i have to admit i did underestimate the effects of a copper bite. i knew it would be bad but dident know the extent of it. it was a learning experience and will serve me well in the future to always be VERY careful. thanks for all the reply's.
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RE: copperheads get no respect
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by pictigaster1 on June 15, 2008
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I had the oportunity to watch my left index finger melt and rot away then had the pleasure of haveing it removed. I am so very glad pictigaster venom is so mild.I think ill go play with one now!
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RE: copperheads get no respect
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by 23bms on June 15, 2008
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"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."
I'm not so sure the 'public' needs to be educated on that point. The 'public' already 'knows' that EVERY snake is lethal, usually within 5 seconds or so. (Pardon the hyperbole and sarcasm.) The 'public', if anything, needs to have some of it's more ridiculous beliefs deprogrammed.
The groups that need the education the most are the beginning enthusiasts, the non-venomous keepers thinking of moving up to hots and the newer hot keepers. I can't begin to count the number of posts that have appeared on this site asking about the best first hot - usually with the underlying suggestion (hope?) that something like a copperhead will provide an easy, low risk entry into the field. Short of having a good mentor, this site is about the best place to go to disabuse one of that fallacy. This is also, in spite of occasional reluctance, the best place to go for good advice on techniques and care.
I treat my coppers with the same respect that I treat my cobras, mambas, vipers and even my Crotalus v viridis who is unquestionably the most evil thing ever given life on this Earth.
That being said, I really really like copperheads. While I steadfastly refuse to name a favorite (there are some forty of fifty contenders), coppers have to be high up the list. I love the chiseled head, the way they hold it, the colors, the personality. I truly pity all those poor Asians, Africans, Europeans, S Americans and Australians who don't have coppers. Count yourself lucky to be living where you can enjoy these magnificent creatures. Just be careful!
jrb
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RE: copperheads get no respect
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by SiUk on June 19, 2008
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my copperhead is worse on aggression than my atrox, albolabris and V.ammodytes, I definately treat it with alot of respect, the same as I do any others, the mild venom thing doesnt make me more complacent I would like to keep all my fingers where they are and people die from bites all be it infrequently, I agree with whats been said it is a dangerous notion to assume that they are not so dangerous so less care needs to be taken.
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