MARCH 2015 SUNRAYS | 41
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report on the natural history of Iowa’s
reptiles and amphibians, participate in
a study on the adaptability of turtles in
West Texas, identify a new turtle shell
disease, and provide swift, humane re-
moval of snakes from Sun City homes.
It was the last of these listed endeavors
that brought Jim out to Neighborhood 16
this past fall, responding to a report of a
coral snake – the fourth reported in that
area in the past nine years. Though eas-
ily identified by its red-on-yellow bands,
coral snake sightings are uncommon due
to the creature’s reclusive, non-aggres-
sive temperament. Accounting for fewer
than 1% of all venomous snake bites in
the United States, an individual is more
likely to be hit by lightning than be bit
by a coral snake.
Circumstances, of course, can change
the probability of any scenario, and just
as standing in an open field won’t help
your odds in a lightning storm, handling
a venomous snake with any less than the
utmost of care will create a liability for
even the most experienced of experts.
Though well acquainted with snake-re-
moval protocol, on the day he was called
in to Neighborhood 16, Jim found him-
self hurried by an outside appointment.
Utilizing specially-designed tongs, he
gently moved the coral snake into a cot-
ton bag. However, rather than using the
tongs to ensure the snake was secured
at the bottom of the bag, Jim had simply
pushed the snake down with his boot. As
a result, the snake was not where he had
anticipated, and as he tied a knot in the
top of the bag, the slim reptile made its
defensive move, biting his finger through
the fabric of the bag.
Unlike rattlesnakes, which strike quick-
ly to inject hemotoxin deep into their
victim’s flesh, coral snakes must gnaw
for up to thirty seconds in order to re-
lease their deadly neurotoxin from their
fangs. Throwing the bag to the ground,
Jim was able to break the snake’s hold
immediately. Bleeding profusely and in
extreme pain, he drove himself home
and instructed his wife to call the emer-
gency room so they could prepare to treat
a coral snake bite. Jim began experienc-
ing a strange sensation in his mouth,
and the bite area continued to swell and
ache with a burning intensity. Refusing
an ambulance, he and his wife got in the
car and drove to the hospital.
A true emergency, Jim was treated im-
mediately upon arrival to the ER. Har-
boring one of the world’s most potent
venoms (only the black mamba’s is more
powerful), a coral snake’s bite can dis-
rupt the connections between the brain
and the muscles, resulting in slurred
speech, double vision, and respiratory
paralysis. Antivenin is scarce and enor-
mously costly – the only American man-
ufacturer ceased production in 2003, and
a finite amount of Mexican-produced
antidote is held exclusively in Florida.
After considering his options, Jim de-
cided to hold off on the antivenin. Only
one of the snake’s fangs had made con-
tact with his skin, and he had been able
to remove the snake swiftly, limiting the
damage it was able to inflict. Following a
24 hour stay in the hospital, Jim began
to heal at home. Within four days, the
pain was all but gone, and the numbness
in the bite area returned to normal after
a few weeks.
It is crucial to note that, while Jim’s
experience was a truly life-threatening
one, he holds the utmost respect for both
the dangers posed and benefits offered by
venomous snakes, which are an essential
part of our native ecosystem, keeping
rodent and other small animal popu-
lations at bay. As the weather warms,
human encounters with snakes cooling
off or hunting for food in garages, crawl
spaces, gardens and pools will become
more likely.
To avoid contact, Jim advises residents to
look before they leap – or step, or reach.
Never stick your hands or feet into thick
vegetation if you can’t be certain what’s
in there. Wear thick boots when hiking
(on trails, of course) and use gloves when
gardening, landscaping or gathering fire-
wood. Snakes generally only bite for two
reasons: for food or defense. If you can
avoid provoking a snake – knowingly or
otherwise – you can usually avoid get-
ting bit. If you spot any reptiles, living
or dead, call a wrangler. They’ll pick it
up and use the information to add to the
Sun City Texas reptile distribution map.
Jim’s final and perhaps most important
tip? Be sure to keep your garage door
closed all the way. This is how snakes
get into the house, and you don’t want to
find one in your kitchen – but if you do,
call a snake wrangler and go out to eat.
In spite of being bitten by a coral
snake, Jim continues to have the ut-
most respect for venomous snakes
and a passion for all wildlife.
Photo COURTESY OF JIM CHRISTIANSEN
