Photos

Snake sightings up with rainy W.Va. summer

Williamson Daily News photo by Kyle Lovern Betty Smith of Valley View subdivision near Williamson killed this huge timber rattler in her front yard a few days ago. Snake sightings in residential areas have seemed to increase this summer.
Williamson Daily News photo by Kyle Lovern
Betty Smith of Valley View subdivision near Williamson killed this huge timber rattler in her front yard a few days ago. Snake sightings in residential areas have seemed to increase this summer.

WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — There have been several posts on social media this summer about people in the region being bitten by poisonous snakes.

Pictures have also been posted where persons have killed either copperheads or rattlesnakes, the only two types of poisonous reptiles in our neck of the woods.

A check with some local hospitals about whether they have had to treat more people for snake bites this summer than usual turned up some information.

A spokesperson for Williamson Memorial Hospital in Williamson, West Virginia stated they have not had an increase in snake bites in the emergency room this summer. Those types of cases have been normal.

A spokesman for the Tug Valley Appalachian Regional Hospital in South Williamson, Kentucky stated that they have not had an increase or above average cases of snake bites. Although they have treated a couple of cases.

Brandi Davis, Trauma Coordinator at Logan Regional Medical Center, said that at her facility it has been an “average year” for treating people with snake bites.

She said just because someone has been bitten, doesn’t always mean they may need the anti-venom. It depends on how much venom a person has taken in from the snakebite.

Jackie Caudill, Trauma Outreach Coordinator for Pikeville Medical Center, agreed with those from other area hospitals. “I review all of the reports and from my standpoint, I have not seen an increase in snake bites.”

Caudill attributed the above average rainfall so far this summer for persons seeing more snakes in residential areas…

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