MOHAVE VALLEY NEWS (Bullhead City, Arizona) 26 October 05 Last hurrah for rattler season (Franklin Clark)
Bullhead City: Rattlesnake bites, while dangerous if not treated quickly, are a rare problem in the area, authorities said.
Western Arizona Regional Medical Center treated three rattlesnake bites in 2004 and 2005, said hospital spokeswoman Ruth Padilla.
There have, however, been no fatalities, Padilla said.
In one of the incidents, an 8-year-old girl was bitten near Lake Mohave and had to be flown to University Medical Center, but was later released, said John McClachlen, director of emergency services at WARMC.
In another incident, a rattlesnake crawled into the sleeping bag of a transient at Bullhead Com-munity Park and bit him in the leg, and he was later treated and released by WARMC, McClachlen said.
In the other incident, a hiker stuck his hand down a small hole in the desert area near Laughlin Ranch and was bitten, then treated and released by WARMC, McClachlen said.
Two of the more common rattlesnakes in the area are the Western Diamond-back and the Mohave Green, which is said to be aggressive.
In any snake bite incident, medical workers try to alleviate the pain, watch for swelling around the bite, and deliver the antivenom, McClachlen said.
There is a regular antivenom which is used to treat bites from most poisonous snakes, and a special antivenom for bites from Mohave Green rattlesnakes.
According to Bullhead City Animal Control Director Leah Rojas, in the past five years animal control has only treated one rattlesnake bite and two or three bites from nonpoisonous snakes.
Usually, animal control does not have to be called with snakebite incidents, and the paramedics are typically called before animal control on such incidents, Rojas said.
Animal control generally deals with mammals or other animals which spread communicable diseases, and snakes do not, Rojas said.
However, in one incident, which happened about eight years ago, a resident caught a wild rattlesnake, which bit him after it was placed in an aquarium, Rojas said.
By the time animal control showed up, paramedics had already arrived to treat the bite. Animal control later had to euthanize the snake, Rojas said.
When animal control receives a call about a snakebite incident, it goes to the residence and relocates the snake to a more isolated place in the desert.
Animal control also calls for paramedics if the bite is from a poisonous snake, as quick treatment is required.
Long Lake Animal Control in Mohave Valley has not had to treat any snakebites this year, but has gotten reports of people complaining about rattlesnakes on their property, said Chawdae Cuncio, director of animal control.
So far, there have been no reports of any fatalities as a result of rattlesnake bites in the county.
According to a story by the Associated Press, October is the most active time of year for rattlesnakes, which will soon be going into hibernation.
Last hurrah for rattler season