Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello,

i am have a question on copper head bites.
if i were to get bitten by a copperhead what should i do. should i go straight to a hospital and use the same precautions as if i were bitten by a rattlesnake, or would i be find. Im asking this question because some one told me that copperheads arent that toxic to people. I do a lot of field herping and mostly catch constrictors but sometimes i run into venomous species. O and if the toxicness of depends of age and place im a healthy 15yrs.old in Pa.

thanx in advance

Go directly to the hospital. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

thanx for the response i hope i never have to do that (by that i mean never get tagged) i normally dont handle the ones i find out field herping but just incase i do and get tagged its good to know what to do. this ? has been plagueing me for a while.
thanx again

This guy I used to work with got bitten by a copperhead while he was out camping because someone else threw a rock at it. Even though he was taken straight to the hospital, he still has a scar on his leg. If the copper got you in the wrong place, it could be a lot worse. So it's good to know what to do!
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) venom is not generally lethal to humans, but the potential for an allergic reaction is there. Bites by this species are incredibly painful and there is a possibility for tissue damage and necrosis. One should most definitely seek medical treatment after being bitten by this species if for no other reason than to make sure you are not going to have a severe alergic reaction.

I heard that northern copperhead (Agkistrodon Mokasen) venom was more potent than southern copperhead (A. Contortrix) venom. Does anyone know if that's actually true or not?

that Trans Pecos' have the most potent and northerns the most mild. I believe Southerns, Osages and Broad Bands are all about the same potency and are all about tied for second place. I've kept Mokasen, Contorix and Pictigaster and in my experience with those 3, that holds true according to how fast they're prey succumbs to a bite.