Warnings about the dangers of snake bites after Tennessee hiker dies at state park

AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) – Experts are reminding you about the dangers of snakes after a Tennessee man was killed by a snake bite while going for a hike.

Officials say a hiker died at the Savage Gulf State Park in Tennessee after he picked up a venomous rattlesnake that bit him.

This happened just a few hours from Augusta, so experts with the Savannah River Ecology Lab are weighing in.

The ecology lab says between 7 to 8,000 snake bites happen on average every year in the United States.

Last year in Georgia, there were more than 500 snake bites—but experts say deaths in the state are rare.

“In the state of Georgia, there’s only been 9 or 10 people die in the last 40 to 50 years. So, it’s not a real common occurrence, but it is still something to have knowledge about,” said outreach coordinator Amanda Hurst.

There are 6 venomous snakes across the two-state, and Hurst says 5 of them can be found in our area. 

“The only one not found locally is the eastern diamondback—and it does make it to about Allendale County, but not quite into the CSRA. We do have timber rattlesnakes, or canebrake rattlesnakes, it goes by a number of names,” Hurst said.

The timber rattlesnake is the same one that officials suspect was involved in the Tennessee hiker’s death last Friday.

According to reports, the hiker had an allergic reaction from the snake bite, but the full details of his death are still under investigation.

After first responders performed CPR, the hiker was transported to a local hospital where he later died.

Experts say it’s important to be aware of your surroundings. 

“Your best thing is to be observant while you’re working out in the garden, grabbing vegetation and stuff, just watch where you’re sticking your hands. If you’re out on a trail hiking and you see a snake, just give it its space. These snakes want nothing to do with us. We are not a prey item, but they will defend themselves—and if you pick one up, it probably isn’t going to go well,” she added.

In turn, she says giving them proper space also benefits us more than you might think. 

“They eat rodents that can spread ticks—and we’ve had some serious tick diseases here in the Southeast. Lyme disease, alpha gal—alpha gal makes you allergic to red meat. I do think it’s important to leave them in the ecosystem and let them do their job,” said Hurst.

Hurst says whether you’re an expert on snakes or not, the best thing to do is leave them be.

For more resources on what to keep in mind, you can visit the UGA Savannah River Ecology Lab’s website.