DERWOOD, Md. -- Officials are warning residents of copperhead snakes after a man was bitten by one Monday morning near Lake Needwood in the Derwood area.
The man, who was canoeing on the lake was coming ashore when the snake bit him on his foot. The bite marks appeared to be from a venomous snake bite, Montgomery County Fire officials said. This a is fairly uncommon incident, because venomous bites from copperheads are rare.
Despite the bite, officials said the man was in good condition.
Montgomery County Fire officials are giving people the following advice on what to do if bitten by a copperhead:
- Immobilize bitten area and keep it lower than the heart.
- Get medical help.
- Do not attempt to drive yourself.
- Stay calm (to keep from pumping the poison around your system)
- The most important thing is to get to a hospital.
According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, copperhead snakes are about 30 inches long and have grooved fangs that can be 0.3 inches in length. The longer the snake is the longer the fangs are.
Generally the snakes can be found in the United States from the Florida panhandle, north to Massachusetts and west to Nebraska.Copperheads can be found in rocky-forested hillside and in various wetland areas, experts say.
The snakes eat mice, small birds, lizards, other small snakes, amphibians and insects like cicadas, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.
Experts say snakebites often come from copperheads, however the bites are in most cases never deadly. Bites frequently happen when a person accidentally steps on a snake or touches one. They camouflage well with their area.
