A close call in the wild is cause for a community reminder from Scott Courdin at Georgia Southern’s Wildlife Center: “Walk away if you see a snake. Stay calm, snap a photo if you can do so safely, and seek medical attention if bitten.”
Even a simple weekend in nature can hold surprises. When my parents, Donnie and Donna, decided to spend a weekend camping at St. Andrews State Park in Florida, a favorite spot from my mother’s childhood, a snake bite and five-day hospital stay were not on the agenda.
The evening campout was a wet one, with a summer storm bringing heavy rain, wind, and lightning. In the morning, my parents packed up and began driving home.
Can you spot the snake? Image Provided.
When they stopped near a quiet river to stretch their legs, my dad felt a sting that he thought was a wasp until they saw a small snake, later identified as a pygmy rattlesnake, slithering away.
My mom quickly snapped a photo and helped him back to the car. They were in shock and called 9-1-1, where they were given directions to the nearest hospital and eventually transferred to Tallahassee for treatment and monitoring.
One small bite that felt like a bee sting resulted in several days of care and several rounds of anti-venom. Photo Provided.
Their experience inspired this reminder to everyone courtesy of Scott Courdin, Assistant Director of the Wildlife Center at Georgia Southern University: If you see a snake, walk away. If you are bitten by a snake, stay calm. Take a photo and seek medical attention immediately.
Under no circumstances should you try to catch the snake; a photo or video is sufficient, he explained.
Courdin, a lifelong animal lover who spent much of his childhood learning about snakes and wildlife in nature, says the encounter was a rare one, but not unheard of. “Most snakes are non-venomous, and even venomous snakes rarely bite unless they feel threatened,” he explained.
Scott Courdin, local snake expert, shares some tips for avoiding snake encounters. Photo Provided.
Courdin has been working at the Wildlife Center since its founding in 1997 and has more than 33 years of experience working with animals.
He explains, “A snake’s best defense is camouflage. Remember, snakes can be anywhere — in gardens, woods, or even town streets — and are often hard to see on purpose.”
If you do see a snake, Courdin says the safest action is to leave it alone.
“Walk away. If there are children or pets around, you can contact a professional removal service. Wearing shoes helps, but it’s not a guarantee of safety. The key is awareness of your surroundings.”
He also emphasized that snake bites are uncommon, and responses can vary widely from person to person. “Even if someone is bitten, not all snakes inject venom. Everyone reacts differently, and because bites are so rare, you won’t know how your body will respond. The best steps are to stay calm, get a photo if you can do so safely, and seek medical attention immediately. More people die from lightning strikes than snake bites.”
My family, while shaken by the experience, is grateful for quick emergency response, medical care, and guidance from the 911 dispatchers. Back home, the story has taken on a lighter side, with their grandchildren joking about what superpowers, like Spiderman’s, grandpa may now have.