Summer brings rise in snake-bite victims
The Sun 7-23-05
By Gina Tenorio, Staff Writer
Summer days are here with warmer weather and a few more concerns for physician and venom expert Sean P. Bush.
"It's been the busiest year that I've ever seen,' said the Loma Linda University Medical Center specialist in treating snake-bite victims. "I've been following all the snake bites in the area.'
There have been a lot.
Since March, a month in which Bush began to see an increase in snake-bite cases, there have been 35 cases. There are usually about 50 for an entire snake-bite season, March through October.
"I expect that this is going to be by far the busiest season for Loma Linda (University Medical Center),' Bush said.
One reason may be because rattlesnakes are moving around more this year than they have in the past, Bush said. Theories behind the reason for this are varied depending on who you ask, he said.
Bush, whose work treating snake-bite victims was featured on the Animal Planet show "Venom ER,' has worked with colleagues like researcher and biology student Mike Cardwell to track snakes. They have noticed some trends.
Among them, "most of the snakes crawling around are males looking for females,' Cardwell said.
Most of the female rattlers are staying within a certain area while the males are venturing out to find them. This may be increasing the chances of encounters with people, Cardwell said.
They noticed the trend after years of capturing snakes, implanting them with electronic chips and tracking them by radio. Why it's happening this season may be connected to this year's near-record rains, Cardwell said.
Add to this the growing number of homes going up in the desert and foothills, both of which are snake habitats.
Many new homeowners are moving into areas frequented by six species of rattlesnakes: the Mojave, southern Pacific, red diamond, western diamondback, speckled and sidewinder.
"People are looking for housing in the High Desert,' Bush said. "Formerly these were very remote areas. Now (residents) are running into rattlesnakes.'
But increased movement alone does not mean people will be bitten, Cardwell and Bush said.
"Most snake bites statistically occur when people intentionally bother the snake,' Cardwell said. "Instead of turning around, leaving it alone, they try to make it rattle or make it strike or pick it up. Virtually all rattlesnake bites to people are defensive.'
The most likely to be bitten are young males, he added. About 80percent are males and fewer than 20percent are females. The majority of the males were bothering the snake, he said.
Most snake bites are avoidable if people follow some simple guidelines, Bush said.
"Keep the garage door closed,' Bush said. "Eliminate debris from anywhere where they can get bitten. Shrubs that haven't been maintained are a problem.'
Be aware that snakes will sit under a bird feeder and wait for rodents who come to feed on seeds that drop to the ground. They're ambush predators, Bush said.
If you have a wood pile, put it on a rack, Cardwell said. It does not eliminate the snakes, but it reduces the chances of running into one. Hikers should watch where they walk.
"And as long as people are careful where they put their hands and feet, especially their unprotected hands and feet, they should be fine,' Bush said.
If you are bitten, get immediate medical attention.
First aid does no good. Neither does cutting or icing. Staying calm helps.
"The only proven therapy for a snake bite is anti-venom,' Bush said.
