Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was out in a great spot for copperheads near my house (Maryland) this past weekend. I walked by a bush and next thing I knew.... BAM! A hornets nest! They got me pretty good and my arm was twice the size from my shoulder to my hand. I know it's not exactly a snake post, but when you're out looking for hots it's just kind of ironic that it ends up being bees that get the best of you!
Just thought I'd share...
-Will

you are lucky you are not allergic to their stings.
how many times did you get stung?
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Bud

Ouch! condolences....several years back I was climbing up a steep riverbank in Georgia, when I put my hand in a yellowjacket nest and was stung several times. Fortunatly I have a natural strong venom resistance so except for local pain that lasted only a few minutes, I just had some red marks where they got me.

And no...I didn't let go of the cliff...

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

I know the feeling. Luckily, I keep my eyes open for nests as well as snakes. Flight paths are the best way. Never got into a mess, though.

creep

yeah... I usually keep a look out for nests and listen for buzzing, but this was the first time I've ever seen a hornet nest in a bush, all the ones I've seen have been in trees, and there was no buzzing until I brushed against the bush. I've been stung plenty of times in the past, so I knew I wasn't allergic. I'd say it was probably around 5 stings thanks to a quick get away, but they were just all in the same area on my arm... it stunk, but didn't keep me from staying in the woods. I think the worst part was that I came up skunked that day... no copperheads, just a bunch of toads. I think it was because it was still too hot, with this weather they're becoming a lot more nocturnal. Most I've seen have been late dusk, but you could probably say that about most snakes in the summer time. The day before though I found the best looking one I've ever seen in the wild at around 8pm, it was pink as can be with a bright copper head, and bitey! A good reminder of why I always use hooks! (I just had to add that in there, to be frank I'm really getting sick of all this free handling nonsense that I've been seeing lately, but that's just my opinion)
-Will

I always keep a look out for bee's/wasps/hornets when in the woods herping/fishing. A few years ago me and my buddy's went fishing and my friend was walking in front of us and stepped on a wasp nest that had been in between a few rocks right by the lake. They quickly swarmed him and he was stung over 30 times on his back. They mainly got him in the shoulders because they went right up the back of his shirt. He tried to run across the rocks and we yelled for him to jump in the water,which he did and swam back over to us. Needless to say we had to leave and take him to the ER because he was all swelled up and complained of a head ache. He stayed for a few hours to make sure he was ok then released.He has several scars on his shoulders from where he was stung!

These things can build a nest anywhere! When I go herping/fishing I always wear boots,jeans and a long tee shirt. When I am actually fishing I take the long tee off because of heat but when walking in the woods I keep it on no matter how hot it is. I always use off also... Here in PA and NJ there are TONS of deer ticks which cause lyme disease. Better safe then sorry I always say!