
Surviving a Snake Bite in Connecticut: What You Need to Do Right Now
World Atlas recently put out a new list of the "6 Most Rattlesnake Infested Areas in CT." One of the six regions was Litchfield County. That means a ton of people in our local area, in towns like New Milford, Bridgewater, Kent and Washington are living in CT's rattlesnake hot spots.

In an effort to keep our I-95 listeners informed, we reached out to our wildlife correspondent Jen "The Zookeeper" for any, and all information you could need about a venomous snake attack. The conversation began with a news story about a man from Florida who was bitten by a venomous snake who had to get 40-50 shots of anti-venom to survive the bite.
Jen: "Venom is a pretty crazy thing, and the way it's processed is crazy too. I'm sure you've all heard about milking snakes for their venom, or maybe you've seen videos of it. The process is pretty neat, but milking is how we get anti-venom. We actually need to collect venom, and this is a really cool process. Scientists inject the venom they collect from milking these snakes into a mammal, like a sheep or a horse. Once the venom enters the animal’s body, it begins to produce antibodies, which is similar to what happens when we get sick. For example, when we catch the flu, our body immediately starts producing antibodies. These antibodies are then extracted from the horse and turned into anti-venom, which we can use if we're bitten by a snake."
Lou: I do have two questions about this, which is why I sent you these articles. From past experience doing our Missed Headlines stories, I've read that anti-venom is very expensive, and that’s number one. When I say very expensive, I’ve heard it can sometimes cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Two, if you get bitten by a snake, do you need to know what kind of snake it is? I mean, I'm sure it's helpful at the hospital, but do I need to know exactly what kind of snake it is to help them determine which anti-venom to give me?
Jen: "That is a big old duh. Absolutely, you need to know! If you can, have a friend take a picture or at least remember the markings of the snake so you can describe it— that’s super important. Anti-venom, not only is it super expensive, but it may not be covered by insurance, and you may not even know if the hospital carries it. So it’s really important to call ahead so they can triage the situation and say, 'Okay, we know what you have, we know what happened, and we’ll get the anti-venom for that specific species ready as quickly as possible for your arrival.' First of all, call 911 if you're bitten, even if you don’t know if it's venomous or not. Call 911—you need to find out if you’re going to get sick, and they will be able to help you through that. Obviously, move away from the snake, stay calm, and stay still. Don’t apply a tourniquet; we’re actually discovering that you might do more damage to the area that way. Just try to sit down and relax in a neutral, comfortable position because the more active you are, the more the blood flows, and the neurotoxins will break down more quickly. If you can, clean it out. And no, don’t suck on it—I know you’re going to ask me that. Don’t try to remove the venom, and also don’t take any Advil or anything like that because it’s a blood thinner, and you might end up bleeding out even more."
What to do/not do if you get bit by a snake in CT Recap:
- Either make detailed mental notes of the snakes features or take a picture of the snake.
- Call 911.
- Move away from the snake and it's area.
- Find a place to sit and be still.
- Stay Calm.
- Don't try and suck the venom out, don't ask anyone to suck on your venomous wound.
- Don't apply a tourniquet.
- Don't take Advil.
Check out the Ethan, Lou & Large Dave Podcast on Apple and Spotify
More on Jen "The Zookeeper"
Jen has been immersed in the conservation science education field for over 30 years. While working as Director of Animal Care for The New Canaan Nature Center in Connecticut, she was responsible for the care of native wildlife and birds of prey, while teaching the public about the roles of these wild neighbors. While with the Bronx Zoo and Los Angeles Zoo, Jen’s main priority was the care of exotic hoof stock, again while teaching the public about the delicate balance of humans & habitats. While working with a wildlife sanctuary in Half Moon Bay, CA, Jen played a major role in the wildlife training and handling of some 50 exotic species. Her major focus was creating curriculum for a variety of programs including at-risk and foster youth programming. These programs encompass helping fragile children gain a sense of trust and worth while developing a healing relationship with the non releasable wildlife at the sanctuary. Currently, Jen is the owner and sole proprietor of Jen Kotkin Pet Care, providing pet care as well as mental and physical exercise & stimulation for dogs, cats, horses, birds and more!
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