Why my new long walks might be hazardous for my health

feelslikeadream

So last week FI and I started going on long walks down to the river near our house.  You take trails and paths made by vehicles or others who have walked down there so you can find your way.  It took me the first week to stop being freaked out by all the little noises (I am more of a city girl and FI is more of a country boy).  

Anyways today we were walking along on a path that wasn't used as much and all of a sudden FI yells out "SNAKE!" just as I hear the hiss and rattler.  He had warned me that if we were to come upon a snake it would warn us first and they are more scared of us then we are of them and to just back up and go the way you came.  

Well upon hearing him yell out "SNAKE!" I screamed and ran diagonally.  When I turned around I could see the damn thing back where we had ran from.  FI and I were both okay but he was probably a foot away when the thing shook its rattler at us.

I started asking a million questions out of being nervous and FI told me to be quiet for a second as he was scared too.  I wanted to run through a grassy area to get back on the dirt path but he told me not to and just to wait.  We both agreed we wanted to go home and so after a couple minutes the nasty freaky snake slithered away.

I felt nautious and my heart was pounding until we made it out of the woodsy area and back into civilization.  I'm sure that being that we took the less walked on path is why we saw the rattler but I think I will stick to walking in the neighborhood from now on.

Ugh so gross and scary.

MyWedding13

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would have passed out!!!! I'm glad you are ok!!!

GBroc22

Ohhh...I would've freaked too! Good for you for getting out there.  Unfortunately, being outside, you're "fighting" the elements.  On the road, I dodge cars/pot holes/exhaust fumes/etc. but in the woods and trails, there are roots to trip over/slithery wildlife/bugs/and more! Pick your poison, haha...but keep in mind, that you're doing something good and healthy, even if it did scare the poop out of you!

OuachitaTrixie

You might want to get some snake boots if that will help your comfort level.  They are nearly knee-high and bite proof.  Also, I always carry a long walking stick because it can be used to defend yourself by flinging the snake away if necessary, although it's usually best to do what you did. 

You should probably look into what types of snakes are in your region.  We have 5 deadly varieties in this part of Arkansas.  It's always good to know what's out there and be able to identify it without any hesitation.  Also most of the first aid advice for snakes is not good advice at all.  Don't try to suck out the venom, don't try to lance the area or cut away flesh, and don't try to catch the snake for identification unless you can do it 100% safely (by which I mean the snake is dead).  Just seek medical attention immediately.  All medical facilities will have the correct anti-venom on hand.

feelslikeadream

Woah Trixie you totally just put everything in perspective for me.  FI said that he would have died because in the five minutes it would have taken us to get back to the main road the poison would have spread through his body because you're supposed to sit still (I'm sure he's exagerating a bit or at least I hope so).

I looked it up and most in our area have venom that affects your nerves.  It also said about 7-8k people are bit each year in the US and only 5 die.

Snakes are still creepy though and I'm thinking that maybe if we just stay on the more traveled paths we will be okay.  I'm sure part of it has to do with the river been really high this year and more snakes getting up higher.

Ugh I still have the chills but thank you ladies

OuachitaTrixie

There's no reason to avoid nature, just know what you're doing when you're out there.  You're right about death counts being extremely low in the US.  Probably because anti-venom is readily available at hospitals, etc.  If you're really out in the boonies there are anti-venom kits you can take with you.  They have syringes of anti-venom for the different types of snakes.  I don't think that I would try it, but I do know that they are available.  You're probably right about the high waters bringing the snakes higher.  Also just a FYI, if it's a venemous snake, the venom is in higher concentration (more deadly) the smaller/younger the snake.  Don't think that because it's small, it's safe!  Also, skunks eat snakes, so it you smell a skunk a the rattlers do to and a rattler won't rattle.  It's doesn't want to draw attention to itself.  Just keep your eyes peeled!  Avoid areas that attract snakes.  They like rocks in the sun, small overhangs and cliffs, brush piles, rock piles, etc.  If you live in an area that has water moccasins watch the trees on the banks and the edges of the creeks.  They like to drop into canoes!

gettingmarried412

I would most def. be sticking to the neighborhood myself. I'm a city girl too, FI is a country boy also. Snakes are the scariest thing ever to me (and I am born & raised in Arizona! hah). I once saw one in one of the lakes here, swimming right along side of me. I freaked. I'm glad you both are okay and that your FI was being observant and noticed it!

lolomilly

God, I hate snakes. I mean...absolutely terrified of them.

However, I've found that educating myself about them makes me a wee bit less terrified of them. Just a wee bit.

A few more tidbits:
Don't even catch a snake when it's dead. Just like humans, they can have reflexes after death (ew), and still bite you.
Also, they stopped producing coral snake antivenom recently, so be especially wary of coral snakes (and any other venomous snakes, of course).
Don't kill nonvenomous snakes, enticing as it may be. They are beneficial - many kill rodents.

OuachitaTrixie

They (non-venomous) also eat venomous snakes!

feelslikeadream

Ewee I just got chills all over now thinking how they might be up above me and look like rocks and not even hiss because of skunks.

Ahhh!!!  Well today on  our walk we stuck to the neighborhood so no creepy crawlys or slithering gross things.

Thanks again ladies for your info, it definately helps to know more!

KTownKate

Whoa - glad you're both okay!

I would've have lost it too, although it's the creepy-crawlers in the South that really terrify me!