KOAA (Colorado Springs, Colorado) 08 June 07 Local judge still recovering from snake bite
"It felt something just like a rock knocked against my ankle." Chief judge Kirk Samelson rides his bike to work most days of the week. But he hasn't returned to Ute Valley park. That's where a three foot snake bit first and then rattled. Samelson says initially it wasn't that painful. His wife rushed him to the hospital where he eventually received 18 vials of anti-venom serum.
"It wasn't until a half-hour later there were symptoms of tingling and a metallic taste in my mouth." Within hours his left leg blew up to three times its normal size.
Remembers Samelson,"It sure seemed like my leg was in a vice. It was amazing the amount of pain that bite caused." Experts say baby rattlers can actually be more dangerous than adults.
Tina Jungwirth is reptile coordinator with the Colorado Division of Wildlife. "Just because they don't understand the threat posed to them. So older snakes might not strike because they understand a human isn't something they're going to be able to eat." As for more snakes this season? Snakes ate well last summer leading to plenty of baby snakes this season. Twenty-six different kinds of snakes live here in Colorado. Only two species are poisonous. Both are common in many Colorado Springs parks.
Reminds Jungwirth, "just be aware of where you are walking make sure you know what's on the other side of that log."
Judge Samelson adds, "when I've been out walking since then, I'm a lot more cautious, I make sure where I'm walking and I'm looking for snakes. Whereas before I didn't pay that much attention."
Local judge still recovering from snake bite