Florida Man Tries to Kiss Cottonmouth Snake, Hospitalized after Bite

[alicewonders]

http://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2015/04/22/florida-man-tries-kiss-cottonmouth-snake-hospitalized-bite/

Florida Man Tries to Kiss Cottonmouth Snake, Hospitalized after Bite
BY: Daniel Xu +  POSTED: 4/22/15


Austin Hatfield holding what appeared to be the cottonmouth before the incident (left) and and in the hospital after the bite (right).


One Florida man learned the hard way that water moccasins do not make the best kissing partners. According to Fox 13, 18-year-old Austin Hatfield of Wimauma was hospitalized last Saturday after being bitten by a cottonmouth while attempting to kiss it.

Friends said that Hatfield had captured the snake from his girlfriend’s yard several days before and was keeping it in a pillowcase. Hatfield occasionally took the snake out to kiss it on the mouth, but on Saturday, the snake decided to end the relationship.

“He took it out, put it on his chest and it was acting funny, and it jumped up and got him,” said Jason Belcher, who witnessed the attack. “He ripped it off his face, threw it on the ground and he started swelling up immediately. It was pretty frightening.”

The 18-year-old was transported to Tampa General Hospital’s emergency room in critical condition, but doctors have since said that he is expected to recover. Although cottonmouth bites can be effectively treated with antivenom, the snake is still considered very dangerous and have been known to cause fatalities. Common symptoms of a cottonmouth bite include severe swelling, intense pain, and signs of shock due to the body’s reaction to the venom.

Officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said they are investigating the case and have euthanized the snake that is believed to have bitten Hatfield. According to FWC spokesperson Gary Morse, Hatfield could face charges for illegally capturing and keeping the cottonmouth without a permit. Cottonmouths, also known as mangrove rattlers or worm-tailed pitvipers, are considered dangerous animals and Morse said that those who come across them should keep their distance.
 
“It really doesn’t want to eat you, but it will protect itself,” Morse told The Tampa Tribune. “Cottonmouths have a reputation of being somewhat skittish when you get near them and they will readily defend themselves.”

(Excerpt)

(Click on the link at top of page to watch a brief interview with Florida Poison Information Center expert Alfred Aleguas.)

[EC]

That's the big problem with a good health care system. It allows idiots like this to keep floating in the gene pool.

[alicewonders]

That's the big problem with a good health care system. It allows idiots like this to keep floating in the gene pool.

True.  This Darwin Award winner should have been flushed for doing something this stupid.  What's wrong with people?

 

[Bigun]

True.  This Darwin Award winner should have been flushed for doing something this stupid.  What's wrong with people?

 

A cotton mouth is the ONLY snake that I know of that will actually come after you if you invade it's space when they have young. I've killed a lot of them in my youth and seen it happen!

[alicewonders]

A cotton mouth is the ONLY snake that I know of that will actually come after you if you invade it's space when they have young. I've killed a lot of them in my youth and seen it happen!

This one sounds like it was extraordinarily reserved - he'd been kissing it all week.  I guess it finally had enough!