WHOOPS, Mountain Biker Bitten by Rattlesnake

"mountain bikers ... often speed by the snakes without seeing them"

You mean they aren't enjoying nature?!

Mike


http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20...nclick_check=1

Mountain biker bitten by rattlesnake in rare attack

9:10 PM, Aug 25, 2012 |

A bicyclist rides her bike Wednesday on the trail at Kathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area. A sign was posted warning users of the area to watch out for rattlesnakes. / V. Richard Haro/The Coloradoan

Written by
David Young

First aid for snake bites:

• Remain calm so as not to increase circulation and spread the venom.
• Immediately remove anything from the body that may cause increased swelling below the bite area (rings, watch, shoes, tight clothing, etc.)
• If possible, wash the wound with soap and water. If available, a Sawyer Extractor Pump may be used to remove some of the venom. Be familiar with the instructions before you need to use it.
• Immobilize the bite area, keeping it in a neutral to below-the-heart position.
• Get to the hospital immediately. The use of approved antivenin is the most effective treatment. If possible, have another person drive and call ahead to the hospital and poison center.
Source: Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug CenterWhat Not To Do:

• Do not use a tourniquet.
• Do not make an incision at the bite site.
• Do not suck out the venom with your mouth as this may increase the risk of infection.
• Do not pack the limb in ice.
*Source: www.ext.colostate.edu

Rattlesnake bites by the numbers

2009: 6
2010: 6
2011: 4
Year to date July 2012: 2
Source: Poudre Valley Health System

A lot of risks come with mountain bike riding the Front Range. Broken bones, dehydration, flat tires, jagged rocks and cactus are all threats that accompany any ride. However, there is another risk that may go overlooked because it isn’t always as obvious: snakes.

With summer coming to a close, it is a prime time for rattlesnake activity along the Front Range as they prepare to mate before going into hibernation later this year.

For the second time in 15 years, a mountain biker riding along Devil’s Backbone in Larimer County was bitten by a rattlesnake two weeks ago. A rattlesnake sitting just off the path struck him in the lower leg as he rode past, said Travis Rollins, operations manager for the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources.

The man continued riding, thinking he had been stuck by a yucca plant, before the pain sunk in and he saw the puncture wounds. He then went back and saw the snake coiled near the trail, Rollins said.

The man was riding with his nephew near sunset when the attack occurred outside of cell phone range. The man was able to ride to the trailhead where he was taken to the hospital and treated.

Mating season

In the heat of the summer, trail users are less likely to see a snake than they are now. Bob Reed, U.S. Geological Survey Research Wildlife Biologist, said this time of year is the peak of rattlesnake activity because the males are searching for a mate.

Last week, Reed came across a rattlesnake on a rock in the middle of the trail while riding his mountain bike behind Hughes Stadium. Reed let the snake alone and avoided becoming a bite statistic.

When it comes to rattlesnake bites, there are legitimate types, where the person is struck without knowing the snake was there, and illegitimate types, where a person * typically a young male * will see the snake and try to mess with it.

“Illegitimate is where a human interacts with a snake,” he said. “Most are males between 18 to 30. It’s more a testosterone problem than a venom problem.”

Approximately 75 percent of all snakebites occur in people ages 19 to 30 years old. Approximately 40 percent of all snakebites occur in people who are handling or playing with snakes, and 40 percent of all people bitten had a blood alcohol level of greater than 0.1 percent. Sixty-five percent of snakebites occur on the hand or fingers; 24 percent on the foot or ankle; and 11 percent elsewhere, according to city of Boulder records.


The number of rattlers out there is tied to the number of rodents available to eat. Reed said it is too early to tell what the rattlesnake population looks like for this year but said it has been very hot and dry this summer, meaning there may be less food for snakes.

To have a mountain biker bitten while riding is rare, said Reed, who rides Devil’s Backbone often. “I don’t think there is a need to be scared of these snakes or alter where you go based on them,” he said. “(Bites) are pretty darn uncommon.”

Rattlesnakes do a good job of warning people that they are going to attack with their rattle, said Reed.

If bitten, remain as calm as possible and try not to move, Rollins said. Call for help and try to get to the hospital as quickly as possible.


Snake attacks rare

The odds of being attacked by a snake are slim. When it comes to mountain bikers, they often speed by the snakes without seeing them. Rollins noted there also may be an unknown number of strikes that are not reported or missed.

For the thousands of hikers or walkers that use Larimer County’s trails each year, there only have been 5 reported rattlesnake bites in his 15 years here, Rollins said. The Larimer County Department of Natural Resources does not keep official records of snakebites, said Senior Ranger Steve Gibson.

Expanding outside the trail system, there have been fewer people who have sought medical treatment for rattlesnake bites to date this year than in previous years. Poudre Valley Health System has treated two people this year with antivenin for rattlesnake bites, compared to four people in 2011, six in 2010 and six in 2009.

Poisonous snakebites result in 12 to 15 deaths per year in the United States. There are two main families of poisonous snakes in the United States and Canada: pit vipers and coral snakes. Pit vipers include rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths, or water moccasins, according to city of Boulder records.

Some mountain bikers are acutely aware of snakes while riding.

Devin Hirning, of Fort Collins, is an avid mountain biker who has a healthy fear of rattlesnakes as he rides with his two boys ages 9 and 10 years old.. Hirning often rides Devil’s Backbone and has seen snakes along the trails.

“My biggest concern is because of the kids,” he said. “My two boys, they freak out.”

While Hirning leaves it to his kids to decide if they want to ride, he will stick to heavily used trails to avoid rattlesnakes and has considered riding with Snake Guardz, a protective leg covering that shields from rattlesnake fangs.