A hiker has died after being bitten by a venomous snake in a Tennessee state park after making the fatal mistake of picking up the reptile. The incident occurred at Savage Gulf State Park last Friday, just half a mile from a trailhead, according to the Grundy County Emergency Management Agency (EMA).
Rescue workers administered life-saving efforts at the scene before transferring the man, who has not been identified, to a local hospital where he later died. Witnesses reported seeing the hiker pick up the snake, which then bit him on the hand. Officials believe the snake was a timber rattlesnake, a highly venomous species found in the eastern United States.
Matthew Griffith of the Grundy County EMA said the man is thought to have suffered an allergic reaction to the venom, though the full cause of death has yet to be confirmed. He urged the public to remain calm if encountering a snake and not to attempt to handle it. 'As always, it's strongly recommended to have some kind of first aid supplies while enjoying outdoor recreational activities and be mindful of wildlife,' he added.
The timber rattlesnake is described by the Grundy County EMA as the 'largest, and the most dangerous, of the four venomous snakes in Tennessee.' They can grow up to five feet long and have a distinctive triangular head and rattle on the tail. However, the U.S. Forest Service notes that less than one in 600 rattlesnake bites results in death, and bites from timber rattlesnakes are rare, as the species is generally docile and often remains motionless when encountered.
