I just got bit by a snake. Ask me anything!

[Taverner]

OK...so I go out for a cigarette, smoke it, and then throw it behind the bushes. Then I think better of it, and reach over to stomp it and throw it in a garbage can. Snap!

A snake, small one, bites me on the hand and I see two small marks. I look at it and it isn't a rattler. and looks like a green garden snake. Could be a Green Krite, but I don't think they have those in California. Anyway, I go to the hospital, they check and sure enough, I'm not gonna die.

They give me antibiotics and my hand hurts, and now there are two small bruises where the snake bit me.

Was this divine retribution for smoking?

[GOPisEvil]

1. If that's not a "stop smoking" sign, what is?

You have a kid, you shouldn't be smoking anyway.

</Dad>

[Taverner]

4. Yeah I know

But I read something on Phillip Morris's website that cigarettes are now safe and have 700% less cancer in them...

[prole_for_peace]

16. and they make you look cool.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. No, it's a "stop picking up litter" sign

That's how I would interpret it.

Obviously, picking up trash and litter is dangerous. Best to leave it there.

:-)

[XemaSab]

2. I got bit by a snake on the mouth.

True story.

I've also been bit on my finger by a snake, a gopher, a dog, a cat, and an alligator.

[Taverner]

12. Why were you playing tonsil hockey with a snake?

First box turtles....now this

[XemaSab]

19. I wasn't

I was holding it and it lunged at me!

I swear!

[texas1928]

3. Smoking kills

That is what I am told.

[Taverner]

7. Snakes don't really value the culture of life much either

[Shell Beau]

6. Damn. Those snakes sure are sneaky.

Glad to hear you are okay!

[Taverner]

9. Reminds me of a song I heard when I was a kid

"Sneaky Snake" by Tom T. Hall, all about a snake that steals root beer...

[Shell Beau]

11. Oh! Never heard of it, but I guess that snake was

trying to steal your cig!

[CitrusLib]

8. I guess I can add that to my list of why my husband shouldn't smoke

Potential for snake bite. Hmmmm. Well, the pulmonary embolism didn't stop him, so I doubt a garden snake will, LOL.

Glad it wasn't serious. Now stop smoking!

[MuseRider]

10. Snake bites HURT!

I used to work at our Zoo and helped the vet with anesthesia experiments on the snakes. I used to have to pull out one snake from an aquarium with 15 or 20 and I would always come away with about 5 of them hanging off my arm. OUCH!

Be sure to use the antibiotic. Snakes are more suceptible and more likely to suffer from biting you but still you should use it every day for a while. Poor baby. (you and the snake)

[Spinzonner]

18. Like all reptiles, snakes can harbor and pass on Samonella

so follow the antibiotic regime.

[maveric]

13. Rattlers are the only poisonous snakes in CA. So dont worry.

[Shell Beau]

15. Are you sure? I mean I am no snake

expert at all, but it seems there would be a few more. No copperheads, water moccasins, coral snakes?

[Xithras]

21. Nope, the OP is right.

There are a few varieties of rattlers in California, but the only other poisonous snakes you'll find are in zoos.

[Shell Beau]

22. Well damn that is lucky. We have quite a few here in MS!

[Taverner]

32. Nope no poisonous snakes

And also no poisonous spiders in the bay area either! Black Widows don't go North of the Grapevine, and Hobos or Brown Recluses don't go south of Mendocino.

We do, however, have bloodthirsty chickens who would no sooner peck at you than the would look...

[Left_Winger]

14. I was bitten by an eel once

and it hurt like hell!

[VelmaD]

17. Does this mean you get time off of work?

Like, maybe, this Thursday?

[Taverner]

25. Naw it just means I get a dumbass sticker on my hand

[stellanoir]

20. It augurs great transformation for you

I was going to refer you for confirmation to modem butterfly's absolute hoot of a thread from yesterday about past lives based on middle names but the thread is so-o-o long that my silly 'puter crashed whilst I was attempting to get the link.

Sure it hurts like hell. but thank goodness it was just a green snake.

Did they tell you to soak it? Espoms salts are always great for drawing out toxins. Hope you feel better soon.

[Taverner]

27. They told me it was non venemous

And that the most I have to worry about is an infection.

It's not swollen, just looks like a stapler misfire

[ronnykmarshall]

23. Naww!

The snake wanted a drag off that butt and you pissed him off.

[Gormy Cuss]

24. The garter snakes are everywhere this year around here

I've seen one on every trail walk recently and ususually I don't see them more than once a year. OK by me, since I haven't been seeing any rattlers.

Sounds like it may have been a baby racer. They have a green hue, drab rather than bright like a garden snake. They aren't venomous but will bite hard in defense. There are racers in the East Bay open spaces.

[Taverner]

26. Sounds like it

Almost like army green - and yes it bit HARD!

Bruised the shit out of my hand. It's sore, but I can still type.

[4_Legs_Good]

28. Why would non venemous snakes have fangs?

[Taverner]

29. It's not like a fang mark

But it's definitely two bites, and a half circle of a bruise.

[4_Legs_Good]

30. Ahhhh, gotcha!

Sounds painful!

david

[Lone_Star_Dem]

31. Ouch!

I got bit by a bull snake on my calf a few weeks back. I thought I was a goner for sure. Well, for about one minute until my thinking brain kicked back in and told me all he had done was pinch the hell-outta-me. Left a nasty bruise, too.

[NV Whino]

33. Worst thing about snake bites

(excluding rattlers) is they are puncture wounds that get infected very easily. Who knows where those nasty little fangs have been?

I've had cats bitten by rattlers. The vets never give them antivenom, but really dose the hell out of them with antibiotics.

[leftofthedial]

34. did you ever git bit by a dead bee?