Yeesh .... tortoises protected one day, birds the next. Ya don't supposed that the rattlers have hired themselves out as bodyguards to other critters do ya?
CALLER TIMES (Corpus-Christi, Texas) 01 October 05 Bird expert has close call with rattler (Phyllis Yochem, a Corpus Christi resident, has studied birds in Texas since 1960.)
Gene Blacklock has probably taught the art and skill of birding to more South Texans than anyone else. His knowledge is profound and his enthusiasm contagious. I always recommend his classes, taught at the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, to whoever wants my advice.
Blacklock had a misadventure recently that would have been funny had it not been so serious. He was bitten by a rattlesnake. He, and we, are lucky he is still alive. I thought his many friends would be interested in reading the letter he wrote about it:
Rattlesnake!
During my quest for knowledge within the natural world, I have survived several near death adventures. The most threatening one thus far has been an encounter with a diamondback rattlesnake.
While planning for a breeding bird survey scheduled for the next morning, I was attacked by a rattlesnake.
I was busy gathering field materials, such as snake leggings and binoculars in preparation for the trip. I remembered that I needed to replenish seeds at the bird feeders around my home (near Swinney Switch). Not thinking and dressed in shorts and sandals, I dashed out to accomplish the feeding.
I did not see the large rattlesnake, coiled, next to the feeder. One lunge delivered a bite that penetrated flesh near the back of my left leg. Through peripheral vision, I saw a large rattlesnake departing. Later, I observed that the fang marks measured in excess of one inch apart.
Stunned by the attack, I went into shock. Ruben, a friend of mine, helped me to the house and called 9-1-1. The person representing 9-1-1 instructed me to rest on the ground with my leg extended at an incline - a tourniquet was not recommended. The ambulance was at the house within 30 minutes and within 25 more minutes, I was delivered to the hospital in Beeville.
Almost immediately following the bite, I experienced a burning sensation; by the time I reached the house, I was in extreme pain.
In the ambulance, I received morphine and antibiotics. Upon arriving at the hospital and being admitted to intensive care, a synthetic antivenin serum was administered. I was somewhat incoherent by then. I do remember a doctor telling me that he was concerned about my heart and that in some snakebite cases, it may be necessary to amputate.
My leg started to swell and turn colors: black, green, dark purple-green. I tried not to look.
Following stays in two hospitals, two rides in an ambulance, several trips to the doctors and a month on my back at a cost of $30,000, I am almost back to normal.
I did not experience a heart attack. I have not yet noticed any of my anatomy missing. My doctors suggest that I am extremely lucky, but for some reason, I do not feel that lucky. No, I did not run down the snake to kill it following the attack.
I have not seen the snake since.
Bird expert has close call with rattler
