Many hikers from Long Island do not realize that there are poisonous snakes north of Long Island.
There are three species of poisonous snakes in New York - the Timber Rattlesnake, the Eastern Massasauga, and the Copperhead.
All three are uncommon. The Timber Rattlesnake is considered "threatened", and the Eastern Massasauga is considered "endangered".
Timber Rattlesnakes are found mainly in the southeastern part of the state. It has scattered populations as north as Lake George and along the Southern Tier in western New York.
The Eastern Massasauga habitats only two wetland locations. One is located northeast of Syracuse and the other is west of Rochester.
The Copperhead is mainly found along the lower Hudson Valley south of Kingston and scattered through the Catskills.
Hikers concerned about poisonous snakes should wear thick leather hiking boots which go above the ankle. Most strikes are at ankle height, and fangs rarely penetrate thick leather hiking boots.
Also, never place your limbs on a ledge, or under logs/rock formations, because a snake may be basking in the sun or hiding underneath.
If you encounter a poisonous snake you should stay at least 5-6 feet away. Snakes can strike about 1/3 to 1/2 of their body length.
Move slowly away from the snake. Snakes strike at movement and heat. If the snake’s head is raised, and its tail is rattling, it is preparing to strike.
If someone is bitten by a poisonous snake, ignore what you learned from movies.
Do NOT cut the skin, try to suck out the venom with your mouth, or apply a tourniquet.
If you cut the skin, you will open capillaries which will create a direct route into the bloodstream, where the poison will travel.
If you suck the poison with your mouth, you risk being poisoned, especially if you have cuts or open sores in your mouth.
Applying a tourniquet will cut off blood flow completely and may result in a loss of the affected limb. In addition, a tourniquet will concentrate the venom in one place, increasing the likelihood of localized tissue damage
Instead, you should try to remove the venom using a manual suction device (ex. Sawyer’s “The Extractor”).
Also, apply a lightly constricting wrap (a bandanna, torn clothing, etc.) approximately 2" above and below the bite. The purpose of the wrap is to restrict lymphatic flow, not blood. Therefore, it should be no tighter than the “rubber band” used when donating blood).
Try to keep the person still and keep the bitten limb lower than the rest of the body. This will slow down the movement of the venom to the torso where cardiovascular and kidney failure can occur.
Have someone contact the hospital so they can prepare and obtain the necessary anti-venom (ex.“CroFab”).
Some snake bite are “dry” (no venom was released). Dry bites happen approximately 25% of the time.
If a person is envenomated, he/she will feel the effects within 15 minutes. The bite area will swell rapidly. There may be a drop in blood pressure, breathing problems, sweating, numbness, and vomiting
Note that some “expert” sources state that suction devices waste time, and should only be used if medical help is more than an hour away. However, if I was bitten, I would want as much of the poison removed as soon as possible, rather than hope I get to the hospital on time.
http://www.wildbackpacker.com/wilder...-a-snake-bite/
timberrattle.jpg emassasauga.jpg ncopperhead.jpg de0c070f-1983-40a2-980a-ce370ee15278_1_d0301ae8a179c7dfec59a684dc00cfd5.jpg
There are three species of poisonous snakes in New York - the Timber Rattlesnake, the Eastern Massasauga, and the Copperhead.
All three are uncommon. The Timber Rattlesnake is considered "threatened", and the Eastern Massasauga is considered "endangered".
Timber Rattlesnakes are found mainly in the southeastern part of the state. It has scattered populations as north as Lake George and along the Southern Tier in western New York.
The Eastern Massasauga habitats only two wetland locations. One is located northeast of Syracuse and the other is west of Rochester.
The Copperhead is mainly found along the lower Hudson Valley south of Kingston and scattered through the Catskills.
Hikers concerned about poisonous snakes should wear thick leather hiking boots which go above the ankle. Most strikes are at ankle height, and fangs rarely penetrate thick leather hiking boots.
Also, never place your limbs on a ledge, or under logs/rock formations, because a snake may be basking in the sun or hiding underneath.
If you encounter a poisonous snake you should stay at least 5-6 feet away. Snakes can strike about 1/3 to 1/2 of their body length.
Move slowly away from the snake. Snakes strike at movement and heat. If the snake’s head is raised, and its tail is rattling, it is preparing to strike.
If someone is bitten by a poisonous snake, ignore what you learned from movies.
Do NOT cut the skin, try to suck out the venom with your mouth, or apply a tourniquet.
If you cut the skin, you will open capillaries which will create a direct route into the bloodstream, where the poison will travel.
If you suck the poison with your mouth, you risk being poisoned, especially if you have cuts or open sores in your mouth.
Applying a tourniquet will cut off blood flow completely and may result in a loss of the affected limb. In addition, a tourniquet will concentrate the venom in one place, increasing the likelihood of localized tissue damage
Instead, you should try to remove the venom using a manual suction device (ex. Sawyer’s “The Extractor”).
Also, apply a lightly constricting wrap (a bandanna, torn clothing, etc.) approximately 2" above and below the bite. The purpose of the wrap is to restrict lymphatic flow, not blood. Therefore, it should be no tighter than the “rubber band” used when donating blood).
Try to keep the person still and keep the bitten limb lower than the rest of the body. This will slow down the movement of the venom to the torso where cardiovascular and kidney failure can occur.
Have someone contact the hospital so they can prepare and obtain the necessary anti-venom (ex.“CroFab”).
Some snake bite are “dry” (no venom was released). Dry bites happen approximately 25% of the time.
If a person is envenomated, he/she will feel the effects within 15 minutes. The bite area will swell rapidly. There may be a drop in blood pressure, breathing problems, sweating, numbness, and vomiting
Note that some “expert” sources state that suction devices waste time, and should only be used if medical help is more than an hour away. However, if I was bitten, I would want as much of the poison removed as soon as possible, rather than hope I get to the hospital on time.
http://www.wildbackpacker.com/wilder...-a-snake-bite/
timberrattle.jpg emassasauga.jpg ncopperhead.jpg de0c070f-1983-40a2-980a-ce370ee15278_1_d0301ae8a179c7dfec59a684dc00cfd5.jpg
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