Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I realize this is not an alterna subject but I heard someone had a real nasty bite from a lepidus 3-4 weeks ago while out in W. Texas. I would really like to talk to them if possible about it. If anyone had any info about the person or the incident let me know. Thanks. BA

Didn't recall hearing about a lepidus but, according to Fred aka "unofficial security guard" right now for Black Gap, some guy was bitten by a scute in Black Gap the weekend of 6/22. Now all of this information was directly from Fred but supposedly the guy tried pining the snake with a stick then proceeded to pick it up, getting bit in the process. From what I gathered, he was rushed to the hospital to find that the bite was dry. I don't know about you all but that situation could have been much, much worse and this individual was lucky as hell! Unfortunately, death many times kills stupidity. I hope he learned his lesson.
Nathan

But I just do not pin and pick up by hand any hot... I have in the past, but decided that the right tool for the job was a better way to go. responsibility is one way to lower excitement I guess?

Get some tongs....

Lance

Yes everything Fred said was true. I'm the stupid one that got bit by the scute. Thank God it was a dry bite. I have tongs I was just so rushed to get out of town that I forgot them. By the way this is my second bite from a hot. The first was last year by a atrox, I guess some people don't learn the lesson the first time around. O well maybe I learn the next time I'm bitten.

I am glad you escaped that with nothing but the memories.

Next time tie a string on your finger about getting the tongs loaded

Lance

I very rarely pick up hots but I like those screw top lids that fit on top of a 5 gallon bucket. I think you can get them at WalMart for about $10-15. Just hook or use tongs to put it in the bucket. It's very easy and safe.

Well, it's certainly good to hear that you survived your experience without much incident. Hopefully, you'll think twice next time and remember to pack and use the tongs. Glad you are well.
Nathan Wells

Have not heard of a lepidus bite in West Texas. There was a bite in East Texas, Houston to be exact. From what I saw of it the swelling was up to the elbow and the doctor made several cuts to "relieve" swelling. I have seen the wound since healing, which healed well with out tissue loss. There are pictures out there and several people know the individual. I am not one to spread names so, you will have to ask someone from the Houston area who it is.

ECT

That individual has been a friend of mine for almost 10 years and many people on this forum know him as well. Unfortunately that was his second lepidus bite and the results of this one were far worse than his first. I was glad that he healed up nicely though, the pictures were pretty gruesome.
Nathan Wells

Brad,

My buddy was tagged in the hand by a Lep Lep a couple years ago and he took 47 vials of Cro-Fab. I have pics of his arm. We were going to write something up about it but didn't. What is your interest in this? Just curious.

Further, it is recommended that you DO NOT let them cut you under any circumstances. They will do a compartment test and then recommend a fasciotomy. We had like 6 doctors crowded around my buddy in the emergency room trying to bully him into one. We had Carl Barden (Med Toxin Venom Lab) on the phone the whole time saying "Don't let them cut you". We listened to Carl! Later we talked with Dr. Kitchens (UF colleague of Van Mierop) and he agreed that a fasciotomy is not recommended in snake bites. Look what happened to George Van Horn about a decade ago when he got one. It took almost a year to heal and was a major problem requiring a skin graft not to mention the horrible scar.

Anyone keeping venomous should have a snake bite protocol that includes contact numbers for experts in the field of snake bite so ignorant docs don't start cutting you.

Mike Welker
El Paso, TX

Wow! 47 vials, thats a lot. I had 11 vials in 2001 from a lep bite.The emergency room physician luckily had quite a bit of venemous bite experience so I never got sliced up. Did spend 3 days in the intensive care unit though that cost 38,000 bucks. He also said my next bite would be much worse as my immune system had been totally compromised.
Anyway thats why I had an interest in this last lep bite, because I heard he was cut on to relieve the swelling. I was under the assumption that debridement was not done anymore in crotalid bites. Just wanted to "compare notes" with this person who I understand is from the Houston area.
On another note Mr Welker, how about photos of your Hueco and Observatory gravid females you caught? Thats an impressive month you had. Congrats. BA

Brad, I sent you an e-mail about the person that was bitten.
Nathan Wells

Nathan,
I have answered your emails twice you have sent me, but no reply, did you ever receive them? Thanks, John

Hello John,
I did receive your e-mail and I had sent you a response. I guess you didn't get it? Well, I'll send you another this weekend.
Thanks for following up with me.
Nathan

Nathan,
I did not receive any emails from you since the first 2 emails, dated on 6-8 & 7-5, I am still receiving emails on a daily basis here from other friends & family, what a mystery? I even checked my barracuda spam account to see if your emails got tossed in there, they were not there. Try sending me another email when you get the chance. John F.

Brad,

My secret is out. Who let the alterna out of the bag? I will be happy to send pics to people who are not BAN advocates. No offense but I am very upset about HCU's agenda and anyone who supports them is my enemy. Until I know who all my enemies are or know who my friends are then I will choose to pass for now. I moved my family out to Texas to live a dream of catching/breeding locality animals and acquiring animals in a conservation minded sustainable manner for people who need them and all I have gotten is a hard time. I am not upset with you that I know of but I will not post anything that my enemy could enjoy. Except for this post .

Mike Welker
El Paso, TX
OHI2007@elp.rr.com

>>Further, it is recommended that you DO NOT let them cut you >>under any circumstances.

Yeah,

In the recent example that Nathan is referring to, they fasciotimized the crap out of his arm. It will be long time before he loses those scars, if at all.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas