North Carolina Man Survives ‘Worst Bite Ever’ By Deadly Venomous Snake
A North Carolina man was recently was bitten by one of, if not the world’s deadliest and most venomous snakes. Luckily a Myrtle Beach Fire Department paramedic and a doctor from Grand Strand Medical Center stepped in to help save the man’s life. The man was bitten by a Gaboon viper . While not native to North Carolina it is one of the deadliest and most venomous snakes in the world. Gaboon vipers are originally from Africa. The man, who is from Wilmington, was bitten while attempting to care for the reptile.
Thad Bowman and Dr. Jarratt Lark were called in from Myrtle Beach to help save the man’s life. “Patients that are bitten by these snakes often don’t survive,” Lark said told News 13. Both Bowman and Lark have experience with bites from exotic snakes so they were the natural choices to assist.
Gaboon vipers bite, immobilizing and digesting their prey in a matter of seconds. Blood clotting is also affected to the point that the person’s blood cannot clot. All of those effects were experienced by this man.
“We consulted with a doctor in Colorado who goes to Africa all the time,” Bowman said according to News 13. “From what he’s seen in the field there, and speaking with some other experts in Africa, this is going to be the worst Gaboon bite that’s ever survived.”
They treated the man with 44 vials of anti-venom. To put that in perspective it’s more than twice what would be used for a rattlesnake bite. Still, the man spent months in the hospital completing physical therapy and dialysis. He also suffered the loss of some fingers. However, he is finally back to living a normal life.
Both Bowman and received a Civilian Life Saving award for their life-saving efforts.
North Carolina has Six Venomous Snakes On Our Ultimate Snake List
Cottonmouth: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
Every year I see probably about ten of these lovely creatures. They make me jump out of my skin. This venomous snake is also called Water Moccasin. This is the most common venomous snake out of the six. It is found literally everywhere throughout North Carolina. The bites for these bad boys are he bites are pretty painful, but deaths from copperhead bites are extremely rare. You can see more on this snake here.
The Longest Snake in the World
This is a worthwhile one if you like snakes. The average length of a reticulated python is 20 feet. That’s the length of two basketball hoops! These snakes are found in southeast Asia. The habitat preferences of these animals appear to depend on their location, but they enjoy rainforests, woodlands, and grasslands. You can see more on this snake here.
Eastern Coral Snake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
Though I love the colors, I wouldn’t get close to them! The Eastern Coral Snake is often referred to as the candy stick snake. It is normally the most misidentified snake found in North Carolina. In the southern Coastal Plain from North Carolina to Louisiana, including Florida, the eastern coral snake is scattered. Throughout their range, they can be found grazing in areas of scrub oak sandhills and pine Flatwoods that flood seasonally. You can’t legally kill the Eastern Coral Snake due to their endangered status. You can see more on this snake here.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
Just seeing photos of this snake gives me nightmares. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the largest and perhaps the most dangerous species of rattlesnake in the world. The backs of these heavy-bodied pitvipers are covered with black diamond patterns outlined in dark diamonds. In North Carolina, diamondbacks are usually found in sandy pine Flatwoods in the southeastern Coastal Plain. You can’t legally kill the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake due to their endangered status. You can see more on this snake here.
The Heaviest Snake in the World
Wow! The heaviest snake in the world is the green anaconda. They can reach up to 220 pounds and 16 feet in length. A native of South America, the green anaconda inhabits swamps, marshes, and streams. These snakes are nonvenomous. You can see more on this snake here.
Copperhead: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
Do you often see these? I sure do. Most North Carolinians know at least the name of the copperhead. Copperheads are typically between two and three feet long, with a fairly heavy body. North Carolina is home to the most common and widespread venomous snake, the copperhead. You can see more on this snake here.
Pigmy Rattlesnake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
They’re kind of cute, aren’t they? Pigmy Rattlesnakes are also venomous snakes in North Carolina. In the United States, pigmy rattlesnakes are the smallest species of rattlesnake. Snakes that live in this region usually have dull gray bodies with a row of dark spots running down the center of their backs. In North Carolina, pigmy rattlers are found in pine Flatwoods and scrub oak habitats in the southeastern Coastal Plain and the Sandhills. They have been found at Crowder’s Mountain State Park in Gaston County. You can see more on this snake here.
Timber Rattlesnake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
Rattlesnakes of this species are large and heavy-bodied, with dark bands or chevrons protruding from their bodies. They are most commonly found in mountains and coastal plains. One of the most impressive things about this snake is the fact that it can strike up to 1/3 to 1/2 of its body length. I am not a fan of this snake. You can see more on this snake here.
