Summer is here, and so are snakes. After all, we share the outdoors with them.
Next time you’re working in the yard or headed out to enjoy Mother Nature, keep an eye out. Many different types of poisonous snakes are found in west Georgia, Here are six poisonous that you should be able to recognize:
- Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
- Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin)
- Copperhead
- Timber Rattlesnake
- Pigmy Rattlesnake
- Coral Snake
Learn how to identify all six poisonous snakes in Georgia.
Protect yourself from snake bites
The best way to treat a snake bite is to avoid it in the first place. Always:
- Wear boots or sneakers when hiking or walking along areas where you’ve seen snakes
- Avoid areas where you suspect snakes may live, whenever possible
- Carry a flashlight when you’re out after dark
It’s also helpful to know that a snake’s first choice isn’t to bite — it will likely try to hide or scare you first. Stay calm and back away slowly if you see one nearby.
Treating snake bites
Fortunately, snake bites are not usually deadly, but that shouldn’t keep you from getting immediate medical attention. Prompt care can help reduce your risk of suffering serious complications from a bite and may even help you heal more quickly.
If you or someone you know are bitten, remember these simple rules:
- Call 911 or have someone drive you to a hospital right away
- Keep the bitten area still and lower than your heart
- Be ready to tell emergency responders what the snake looked like, if you can. But never go looking for the snake — it may try to bite you again.
While advice like sucking out venom was once popular, you shouldn’t do it. It’s best to leave the affected area alone. That goes for other old wives’ tales as well, like applying a tourniquet or taking aspirin. Trying any of these old methods could potentially make the bite and affected area worse. Just seek medical treatment as soon as you can at a hospital emergency department.
Snakes may be alarming, and if you see one, please steer clear. But do keep in mind snakes can actually be good neighbors: They eat insects, rats and other vermin that can tear up your yard. If you spot a poisonous snake in your yard, contact animal or poison control. Otherwise, live and let live! Enjoy your backyard and, if you can, just avoid the spots snakes prefer, like bushes, brushes or groundcover.