TEXAS, USA — What could be more relaxing than a trip to one of Texas’ lovely beaches?
That’s what Cheryl Fleming had in mind when she strolled on the beach at Galveston recently – until a not-so-relaxing encounter. She saw a 7-foot Western Diamondback rattlesnake just a few feet from the surf and shared the picture on social media.
The picture drew a huge response from people who were surprised there was a poisonous snake on the beach.
Although someone had obviously run over the head of the rattlesnake in Fleming’s photo, it was a stark reminder that rattlesnakes can be found just about everywhere in Texas – and there are plenty of them living in the dunes along the seashore.
Fisherman Keith Kurwicki had an unexpected rattlesnake encounter on a fishing trip to Port Aransas last summer.
He accidentally dropped some fishing bait in the cracks between the big rocks along the jetties. When he reached into the crevice to retrieve the bait, a surprise awaited him.
“I wanted to see where it fell, plus I also saw something move. And I looked down and it landed on a rattlesnake,” Kurwicki told KVUE's Corpus Christi sister station, KIII.
Kurwicki said the rattlesnake just stared at him.
Even inland areas like Austin have their share of snake bites every year. In Travis County, Austin-Travis County EMS sent 18 venomous snake bite patients to hospitals during a recent 12-month period.
The emergency room at St. David's South Austin sees about two snake bite patients a month during the warm weather, according to Emergency Medical Director Dr. Vard Curtis.
Curtis shared this advice about avoiding snake bites:
“The best treatment is just prevention. Wear long pants. Don't put your hand some place you can't see. Don't go outside barefoot, and just be aware of your surroundings."
So, if the fear of snakes happens to keep you away from the beach this spring, you can always choose to stay inland and enjoy the beautiful bluebonnets. But beware: Rattlesnakes can be found there, too.