That really bites: Severed snake head strikes man's finger
Rattling our cage: A rattlesnake's recently severed head still had enough reflexes left in it or other biological properties to be able to bite the finger of a rancher who had just used a shovel to snap off the head. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)Just like Indiana Jones, I’m not too keen on snakes, especially the venomous ones. Now we snake-a-phobes have one more thing to worry about: dead snakes.
Last week a rural Washington state man was bitten by the decapitated head of a rattlesnake. After finding the five-foot snake in the grass while feeding his horses, the man immobilized the snake with a pipe and whacked off its head with a shovel. End of story, right?
Oh no. When he reached down to pick up the snake, the severed head twisted around and bit the guy’s finger. It took about 10 minutes for him to get to the nearby hospital where anti-venom shots were given to him just as his tongue was starting to swell.
I can hear you scoffing: “Urban legend.” But a wildlife biologist in Washington said that it’s possible that the snake’s heat-seeking abilities may still have been intact, or that the snake’s reflexes were still working despite the severing.
Email
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
Google
YahooYour Comments, Thoughts, Questions, Ideas
I'm not sure about the 'twisting around' bit, but I could imagine a reflexive response to the snake's head being handled resulting in it doing what snakes do. But I think that any residual reflex action would fade quickly, so the farmer must have grabbed at the head pretty much immediately after severing it - and let's face it, that's a dumb thing to do regardless.
I remember driving a shovel through a snake years ago. It must have been close to cut in half (the shovel ended up standing up in the dirt). About half an hour later, I grabbed the shovel handle, which distubed the snake and it started writhing about. I expected it to be well and truly dead!
Scared the crap out of me.
Serves him right. Snakes have a place in the natural flow of things. He should have captured and released the snake, or call one of the animal control venues that respond to these kinds of situations. More snakes, less disease carrying rodents.
Totally possible. If you ever see a rattlesnake, or any snake for that manner, leave it alone. If it is in your house, or like Indiana Jones in your plane, then call a professional to take care of it. Remember they take care of rodents which can spread diseases.
why would he chop of its head if it wasn't attacking him
Science Buzz and all related activities
Add a new comment