A Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden staff member had a rattlesnake bite incident on Thursday afternoon, as reported by the city’s fire department.
Paramedics promptly responded to the reptile house following a report of a snakebite involving an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake shortly before 4 p.m., as stated by fire department spokeswoman Lindsay Haegele.
Fortunately, the employee sustained only a partial bite, and after a thorough medical assessment, it was determined that no antivenom was required. The individual’s prognosis is positive, according to zoo spokesperson Curley.
The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is noted as the largest rattlesnake globally and the largest venomous snake in North America, according to information from the zoo. It holds a prominent position in its food chain, primarily preying on small mammals and birds.
Native to Florida and the nearby coastal regions along the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is recognized for its venomous bite.
However, fatalities from such bites are infrequent due to the availability of antivenom, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
“Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are well known for their rattle and painful, venomous bite, which can be fatal to humans. The toxin in their venom, called hemotoxin, kills red blood cells and causes tissue damage. That said, human deaths from rattlesnake bites are rare, because the antivenom is available throughout its range,” the zoo wrote in its website.
In the United States, there are approximately 30 species of venomous snakes, including 23 rattlesnakes, three coral snakes, two cottonmouths, and two copperheads.
While venomous snakes can be found in nearly every state, exceptions to this include Hawaii, Maine, Rhode Island, and Alaska. Timber Rattlesnakes were once present in Rhode Island and parts of southern Maine but have been eradicated from these regions.
Annually, it is estimated that venomous snakes in the U.S. bite between 7,000 and 8,000 people, resulting in about five fatalities.
Rattlesnakes are responsible for the most lethal bites, while copperheads account for the majority of snakebite incidents among North American venomous snakes. Notably, a bite from a rattlesnake is approximately four times more likely to lead to severe complications or death compared to one from a copperhead.
