OMG! I am glad to hear that he is okay.

We live by the natural forest in Arkansas and we have TONS of rattle snakes. We were told by the forestry service snake person that in our area, it is not uncommon to have 30 rattlesnakes on an acre!!! An acre!!! AND we have over 30acres!!! Whoa!

I have never been bit (thank goodness) and we live so far out, I would hate to think about if that ever happens.

I do kill just about every snake I see....expect for the ones I know are NOT venimous (black snakes, king snakes, etc). I actually like to have those around.

Most snakes will avoid you, but in this case, he couldn't avoid a human! Hee,hee.....silly man!

We, in fact, let Mojo out last week and I was walking behind him....we had just stepped off our front porch and I just happened to look over and there was a copperhead RIGHT there!!!!! I quickly scooped up Mojo and tossed him inside and grabbed a shovel and killed it! Whew! Close call!

Please keep us updated on your husbands condition!!!

I hope hes going to be okay!! Thank god he had Robert there to aid him. I hope he isnt in too much pain while recovering.

Most scropions are never seen....they normally come out at night in rocky, debris areas. Our area has the little yellowish/tan ones and those can be seen at night w/ a black light. (they glow a bright greenish/yellow - pretty crazy).

I think that the trantulas are becoming more and more rare in our areas. Years ago, there were tons of them....I mean, driving down the roads, you would run over several of them on your way somewhere, but I haven't seen many in the last few years.

We camp all the time w/ Mojo and we have never had a problem. If you are camping in a nice camping area, I would say that you will be okay...course, just notice your surroundings...stay away from rock piles, tall grass, etc.

I'm not expert....but I just know our area (lived here all my life) and I just want you to feel comfortable about your trip and have fun!

I, myself, worry more about ticks and misquitoes anymore, over anything else. That is pretty sad isn't it??!!!

Speaking of not knowing about snakes.....we talked w/ our forestry snake person not very long ago, because we had noticed several odd looking snakes. So, I was wondering if it was possible for the snakes to interbreed/crossbreed, etc. They said no, but I still do not know.....

For example....we had a HUGE snake that we thought was a garner snake, it was the black w/ greenish yellow stripe (what they should be), but it was huge....it was over 4ft long and about as thick round as a garden hose. AND it's head was big and a fat triangle look. The garner snakes I have researched online and in books, are skinny and perfectly rounded at the head. Nothing like this one. I had managed to wrangle it into a 5gallon bucket w/ lid, but the forestry man never came out, so my husband killed it.

Another occassion, we had what we thought was a hognose snake...they look so evil (also called a spreadinadder because when messed w/ their heads spread flat and wide like a cobra). They do everything to make you leave them alone (like hiss and play dead, etc). They are said not to be dangerous, but we found one that had a different looking head (a coppery sleek one like a cooperhead) and the colorings were different. I thought is was a copperhead and when I went to kill it (w/ a shovel) it's head flattened out and it tried to play dead. I killed it anyway and my husband looked at it when he got him and said that the markings and head were definitely a copperhead, but he wouldn't know why it would act like another snake.

It is crazy.....I say, you just never can be too careful!!!!

ewwww i ahet snakes i hate them with a passion, :eek:
i am so sorry for your hubby i cant even begin to imagine how he feels, but good thing hes doing better and that he will be ok, how scary it is to think that they are like right there next to you, my dad works out in this mine, with gyp and manure and stuff and he says there are snakes there all the time, its just like the desert just not as hot, and its scray and we go out there and im like oh no kids over here kids stay here, and my 7 year old likes to wonder around and im like ohmy goodness get over here, nowwww

i am so scared of them, i sure hope he feels better and that all the poison or venom goes away and quick and that he starts to feel better

We got home about half an hour ago. He's on the couch blanket, pillow, remotes, Cheez-Its, and drink, lol, he's already back asleep. Which I'm about to head for bed myself.

I made an appt. with his regular Dr. for tomorrow morning. He'll be able to evaluate Donald's hand better once the swelling goes down. Right now the main possiblility is losing some mobility from nerve or joint damage in the thumb where the venom actually entered. Of course he'd use his left hand to pick up that stupid snake, and he's left- handed, so we are hoping and praying very hard for minimal damage. The hospital Dr. said he thought our chances looked pretty good. Even with the swelling Donald is able to rotate and slightly bend the thumb. Looks to me like the swelling is really was impeding movement. Oh yeah, and it hurts like hell, that seems to be a bit of a limiting factor also. ;) He complained all the way home about the throbbing in his thumb and hand, man, I'm glad they gave us some good stuff to make him sleep, lol. Seriously though, the Dr. was impressed that Donald was able to do that much. . .so that's a good sign.

Yes, no more animal planet for a while. Namely Jeff Corwin, which both Donald and my son love to watch. Also, I'm using this to scare Jacob, my son, into being more cautious. I've always felt he was a little too fearless when it came to bugs, lizards, and really any creepy crawly he spots outside.

Okay off to bed. Thank you everyone, ya'll have been really really wonderful and supportive!!! And please watchout for snakes; never pick them up by the tail -- no wait, never pick them up at all, no matter how small. The hospital staff says that babies can actually have more venom than a full grown adult, so be careful.

I'll keep ya'll posted on the condition of Donald's hand. At least it forces him to rest for the a few days; he's a bit of a work-a-holic, and rarely even closes the shop for a day. Robert said he'd cover all the jobs that Don is currently working on (Donald runs an Auto Repair Business- in case I haven't mentioned). We're really going to owe Robert -- definately dinner. . .I'll need to think of something more; he's been a literal life-saver.

:) :animal-pa

Sounds to me your hubby was very lucky. My mail carrier told me she opened a mailbox & a pigmy rattlesnake was in there & she got bit. She warned me to be careful, that they'll climb in their to stay out of the sun. I've only seen blue racers so far in our yard that are about 4 feet.
I hate snakes, but I know they keep the rodent population down.

Yay! I am glad that he is home and comfy. I sure hope that with the bite being in his joint that he doesn't have any future problems w/ it. Do they think there will be problems w/ mobility or arthritis?
You are both in our thoughts and prayers.
Please keep us posted when he goes to the doctor.

So sorry
 

:eek: :eek: We are headed home in our motorhome and will be in NM for two nights, two nights in OK and one night in Arkansas .. I don't want to stop!!! I am mortified of snakes, scorpions and spiders!!!! Toto and I won't be stepping outside the TotoMobile, that's for sure!! :(

I will be praying for your husband!!! I wouldn't have worried about venom .... the fright would've killed me!! Please keep us updated.

How is he doing today ? With little Maddie missing and all the excitement of her being found I wanted to check on him ...is he feeling better ?? No residual effects from the venom ??

Thank you your concern, V, you're such a sweet person. :)

He's doing a lot better today. His thumb is still swollen, but not nearly as big. Very red though, you can definitely see where the fangs got him. He keeps it wrapped up, but I have to clean it every 3-4 hours. I know it really hurts. . .he insists on having the TV on and won't look at what I'm doing. Also he gets really pale and clenches his teeth. I feel so bad; they have him on an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and a mild pain killer. Whenever he's gotten things done, including surgery, he's very rarely taken his pain medication, but he's counting down the time between when he's allowed another pill.

We had his 1st appt. with Dr. McCaffey (our family physician). After lecturing Donald he was very optimistic. Donald is able to bend the thumb more, and rotation is easy. Dr. McCaffey said that he thinks the main thing impeding movement is the swelling and of course the pain. And actually the pain concerned him more than the swelling. He changed out the pain meds and anti-inflammatory, but said to keep going with the antibiotic. He also gave me some samples for a antibiotic cream that's similar to neosporin but that's specifically for human and animal bites.

We go back on Friday, and Dr. said we should see a big difference in the swelling. He said the pain would lessen, but it might be a week or so before it's gone. Dr. McCaffey said that ironically the more pain, the better because injured nerves can heal, but dead numb nerves did not. But he liked the movement Donald was able to achieve, even though it caused him agony.

I wanted to take a picture of his hand; the fang marks are very red and angry looking with this funny white ring around them. But Donald got a little annoyed with me, and said he wasn't a science project to show my friends. Lol, :shrug: I think he's very embarrassed about the whole thing. Also he can't work until next Monday at the earliest. Dr. McCaffey was very firm on this, and I think he's already starting to have work withdrawal (he's a work-a-holic, if I haven't mentioned before.)

Kinda ruined our plans for the weekend, too, I was planning on going to a my first Dog Show in Grove, OK. (not showing, just watching, and wanted to meet a very nice lady I met on here.) I booked a cabin to stay over on Saturday and everything. I just got off the phone with them to cancel. Oh well, we've had some movies just sitting there from blockbuster.com that we'll be able to watch, and with the exchange at the store option, I'll be able to trade them out without waiting for the mail. Also today the kids come home after school, so it'll be nice to have 'Daddy' around. Normally by the time he gets home they are in bed.

Okay, done with the dissertation, sorry; I guess when I get started I can't stop, lol.

Thank you everyone for your concern and support. I'll keep you posted, but things are looking good so far. . . I really still want to post a picture of his hand, lol. Maybe next time his drugged up he'll let me. ;)

Oh, thank goodness Maddie was found!!! I know the relief Denise is feeling. When Rhapsody was missing; I kept breaking into tears, and had to rush to the bathroom so as not to upset my daughter. :)

LOL he wasn't a science project ?? Tell him ALL men are science projects ....what goes on in the male brain is actually one of the great Mysteries of Science & I doubt they'll ever figure it out :p It's probably ranked up there with Stem Cell research ...no wait - they figured THAT one out already lol :p :p

That's great to hear seriously....I'm glad the swelling has gone down and man oh man - you can see fangs ?? I got CHILLS reading that....Poor guy..it sounds like he's getting the best care with you as his nurse and sending him more get well wishes - not many people can say they survived a rattlesnake bite. He's a hero.

That poor man! I hope he gets well soon....very soon! Thanks for keeping us all updated!!! I hope the new meds work well for him! I am sure that you are being a good wife and catering to his every whim! And I am sure he appreciates you dearly!!!

I have heard that even non-poisonious snakes bites can be bad too, the bacteria or something. YUCK! So you need to watch out for any of them!

There is a dog show in Grove??? When?? I need to look that up....
We go into Jay and Grove often w/ our classic cars....they aren't too far from us! Yay!