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RE: Eastern Timber rattler
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by Gamalot on October 12, 2009
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WOW!
Anyone care to venture a guess if that will be covered under the new Obamacare plan?
Gary
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RE: Eastern Timber rattler
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by AquaHerp on October 13, 2009
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My guess is that the snake was a late comer and just now getting back to the hibernacula. CroFab should never be seven hours away from any hospital. However, because of the cost, many hospitals opt not to stock it.
DH
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RE: Eastern Timber rattler
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by Gamalot on October 13, 2009
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We are about 70 miles NW of NYC and I am quite sure the delay was caused by doctors who doubted it was a Timber bite and sent someone out to ID the dead snake. Either that or they were slow in making the decision to use it.
This bite occurred in Bear Mountain State Park just above NYC which has a number of den sites for Timbers. Our regional hospital has a helicopter and does Mercy flights to Westchester County almost daily. I am pretty sure the Cro Fab was less than an hour or two away once the decision was made.
I do think our unusually fast approaching winter has caught a number of animals off guard this year. We may have snow here on Thursday and someone forgot to send the memo to the forest rescinding Global Warming.
Gary
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RE: Eastern Timber rattler
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by Cro on October 13, 2009
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The Obamacare plan will cover snake bite, however, you will have make a appointment, and wait 3 weeks before a doctor will see you. Then they will schedule you for CroFab treatment in another 2 weeks, LOL.
Best Regards
John Z
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RE: Eastern Timber rattler
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by Gamalot on October 13, 2009
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I think I saw on page 1453 of the yet to be written bill that they are voting on today, " In an effort to trim the costs for "end of life counseling" and/or "Expensive Pharmaceuticals", Ie; The death pill.
It will be mandatory for all seniors with medical issues to participate in Rattle Snake Round ups. LOL.
Gary
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RE: Eastern Timber rattler
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by doctari on July 9, 2010
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My spouse and I were hiking on Stony Man trail in the Shenandoah National Park Virginia. Near the top of the trail, on the immediate right side in some rocks and brush, a timber rattlesnake sounded. We were within a foot when it rattled. I have little doubt we startled it as much as it frightened us. At that closeness, instinct was to turn and run, which we did. My spouse fell on the steep rocky trail several feet later during the escape, injuring both legs. The snake was coiled and its body as big as an adult's wrist. It is difficult to determine, but a guess at its length would be 6 plus feet. We were out of the service area for phones and were at least an hour into the hike. The timber rattler is rare to be seen here, but I advise everyone to always have a plan of "what if" for even the slight possibilities. Our pleasant hike on what is considered a safe trial was only a couple seconds from being life threatening. Had it struck one of us, we would have panicked, and may not have made the best decisions for survival.
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RE: Eastern Timber rattler
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by Gamalot on July 9, 2010
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Glad you both avoided a bite.
What I do find interesting and a bit perplexing is why an injury occurred several feet away. I understand the fear and I know just how loud and chilling the sound can be but the fact is the snake wants only to warn you off and has no desire to go after you. All you needed to do is back away and observe a beautiful reptile in it's natural habitat doing what it needs to do.
If the rattler was 6 feet long I seriously doubt he could hit you much further then 2-3 feet away from a coiled posture. There is no benefit in running but stepping away quickly is a very good idea. I have never had a rattler move out of it's coiled stance to come after me and most first strikes are simply a warning and half hearted when the target is too large to be prey unless you step right on the snake. What I find to be most appreciative about rattlers is they want nothing to do with us and would really rather avoid us more than we want to avoid them. They store their venom for when it will provide a meal and the vast majority of rattler bites come to those who mess with them or step on them. Around here a chipmunk or mouse has a great deal more to be worried about than any 100+ pound human. A dog with a nosy nose might also be at risk but the snake would really rather avoid them too.
Rattlers happen to be a snake with wonderful manners and they don't like or want us any more than we like or want them. I find it very sad that because they have a rattle and give us FAIR warning they usually die.
Gary
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RE: Eastern Timber rattler
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by agkistrodude on July 9, 2010
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If it wouldn't have rattled, (many don't) You would have walked past it and never knew it was there. Take care, Marty
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