Texas Summers Bring Out Snakes! Here’s What To Do If You Are Bitten!

Summer is officially here and one of the main critters you should keep an eye out for is snakes. Now that the weather is getting warmer the cold-blooded snakes will be coming out to warm up. You never know where one may be sunbathing to warm up or just hanging around looking for something to eat. Be careful in your garages, plant pots, and piles of grass any place like this where one can hide.

You also need to know what to do if you are ever bitten. This seriously happened to a friend of mine yesterday. He got bitten in his bed while sleeping. Now he lives out in the country in a camper and never thought one would get inside, but it looks like it did. He said he woke up in the night in excruciating pain his ankle was swollen and he could not put any pressure on it to walk. He sent a picture and I knew immediately he had been bitten by something. His ankle was red and swollen and he had bruising running up his leg. We later found out that was the venom eating his muscle and tissue. Please, please, please, if you think you have been bitten by a snake get to a hospital immediately. Luckily we did get him to a hospital but things were very serious by the time we got him there. Don't waste any time at all seeking medical attention if you think you have a snake bit.

He was given anti-venom and later released.

What To Do If Bitten By A Rattlesnake!

1. Call 911 or get to a hospital as quickly as possible.

2. Try to see if you can recognize the color of the snake, any patterns it may have, or how big it is. Remember the smaller the snake the worse the venom is.

3. Remove any kind of restrictive jewelry or clothing.

4. Keep the bitten area below your head and your heart.

Things To Know!

1. Rattlesnakes don't always rattle before they strike, so be sure to always be aware of your surroundings because they are very good at blending in.

2. A rattlesnake can still bite even if its head has been removed from its body.

3. A rattlesnake's striking distance can be as far as half their body length.

Ways of Prevention!

1. Keep all bushes and shrubs trimmed and off the ground. This is a perfect hiding place for snakes.

2. Keep your planters cleaned out from leaves and overgrowth.

3. Remove birdseed from bird feeders. This will attract rodents and rodents attract snakes.

3. Stay alert when outdoors or in sheds or garages.

4. Always check shoes and boots that have been left outside before putting them on.

5. Get a cat. Cats will help keep away rodents and snakes.

6. Snake Repellent. You can find snake repellent at most local hardware stores. You can even contact exterminator companies to come out and put out repellent.