A terrified shopper was bitten on the head by a snake at a Lowe's in Mississippi

[Are_grits_groceries]

A terrified shopper was bitten on the head by a snake at a Lowe's store in Mississippi.

The customer was opening a cabinet at the Corinth outlet 2:30 p.m. Saturday when the chicken snake suddenly jumped out, reports WTVA.

The nonvenomous critter locked its fangs onto the unidentified victim's head.

It's unclear how the victim managed to dislodge the serpent, which is also known as a black rat snake, corn snake or pilot snake.

But the shopper was rushed to Magnolia Regional Health Center for treatment. The patient's current condition is not known.
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http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/snake-bites-customer-head-lowe-store-article-1.2086391

There's a video at the link.

It bit him between the eyes and wouldn't let go. My Mama would have died on the spot.
I've seen a 7 foot chicken snake.

[KamaAina]

1. I've heard of plumbing snakes,

but this is ridiculous!

[tblue]

2. GAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!

was that doing there?

[Are_grits_groceries]

4. The expert in the video said it probably came from a warmer climate.

He's in Mississippi. It probably came from down the road. It may have been chilly at some point at night.

[MineralMan]

3. Those snakes have no fangs. Just small teeth..

It bit the person on the bridge of the nose, apparently. The only treatment required will be cleaning off the area with peroxide and maybe putting a bandaid and some antiseptic cream on it.

It's not a serious thing at all, just surprising and alarming for the person.

This article way overstates the problem. Nothing dangerous about any of those snakes. They can't really hurt a human being in any real way. Here's a photo of a rat snake's teeth:

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. It does overstate the danger,

but tell that to the person who got bitten.
My aunt had a true phobia about snakes. I really think she would have died.

[MineralMan]

7. I'm sure the person who got bitten was

quite alarmed, but wasn't really hurt all that much.

I dislike overstated stories about non-venomous snakes. They keep people scared of those useful, harmless critters. I've been bitten many times by large non-venomous snakes. That's because I can't pass by one without picking it up to get a better look. The worst that can happen is some small puncture wounds, like pin-pricks. Clean up and get on with life. That's all that's required.

Encountering snakes is pretty common in many parts of the country. Not so much here in Minnesota, which makes me sad. I love to see snakes in my environment. They're fascinating.

[beam me up scottie]

23. ^^THIS^^

I am constantly trying to educate people about snakes, people persecute them because of extreme ignorance and irrational fear.

'The only good snake is a dead snake' boobs unjustly kill millions of beneficial predators.

Out here in farm country we need all the help we can get, that includes both venomous and non-venomous snakes.

[Archae]

10. My Mom is terrified of snakes, too.

Her brothers used to tease her by chasing her with cottonmouths.
Hey, of course they were idiots back then.

My Mom would have died of a heart attack on the spot, or her screams would have shattered all the glass in the building.

[wheniwasincongress]

26. Cottonmouths?!

Did they know cottonmouths are venomous?!

[Archae]

36. Of course they did.

My uncles were like most other teen-age boys.

Stupid.

[still_one]

8. Actually there are all kinds of infections you could get, some which could

Go septic if proper treatment isn't given

[MineralMan]

12. You can get an infection from any injury.

Again, some peroxide on the tiny punctures, a little antiseptic cream and a bandaid is the appropriate treatment. Just as I said in my post. I've never even done that much, and never got any sort of infection from such a bite. I can't even count how many times I've been bitten by snakes like that. When I was a kid, I handled ever snake I could find, except for rattlers. Those I left along to go about their business.

[still_one]

21. You are luckey you didn't get a cellulitis or staph infection

[MineralMan]

27. Not really. I've been bitten by snakes like that dozens of times.

None of them ever got infected, even when I didn't do anything about the bite. It's not any more risky than any kind of minor skin penetration or abrasion. Yes, an infection is possible, which is why they used peroxide at the hospital they took the woman to. She may have gotten a bandage, too, but probably not.

Snakes are not dirty animals. They eat infrequently. They're just not a big risk of infection if they bite you. Most snakes don't even have teeth long enough to break the skin. A big rat snake, though will leave a U-shaped set of small punctures in your skin. Peroxide or Bactine or something like that is all that's needed.

[Arkansas Granny]

9. You are exactly right. I was bitten by one when I was a kid and it barely broke the skin.

They are usually non-aggressive and do an excellent job of controlling rodents. We had several that lived in and around our barn. My dad would not allow anyone to kill them because they kept rats and mice out of the animal feed. Every now and again we would find one in the house. The rule was to catch it, take it to the barn and "don't tell your mother".

I don't know if it's true or not, but my dad maintained that if you had a healthy population of black snakes (which is what we called them) that you wouldn't have any poisonous snakes around. I will tell you that I never saw a poisonous snake the whole time I lived there and as kids we explored every square foot of the property. There were other snakes, but no copperheads, water moccasins or rattlesnakes.

[Are_grits_groceries]

11. I was surprised at the story.

I have been around a lot of snakes both venomous and not. I know the nonvenomous ones can bite, but I never ran into one that was that aggressive.
Copperheads and Water Moccasins are notoriously mean. They will come for you.

We never killed nonvenomous snakes.

[MineralMan]

15. Rat snakes and gopher snakes will bite defensively.

Their teeth aim backwards, so if they manage to get them embedded, they can get stuck a little. Gopher snakes are especially prone to bite if picked up or disturbed. If you wait a second or two, though, they'll open their mouths again to get away from you.

[Arkansas Granny]

19. I have a colony of little brown snakes that live in my yard. When I run across one while doing

yardwork, I just pick it up and move it aside so I don't injure it with a trowel or something. I wouldn't want to kill anything that eats bugs and rodents.

I was dating a guy one time who had a terrible fear of snakes. He was helping me with some yardwork one time and told me when he came in the house that he had killed 5 snakes in my yard. I told him, "No, don't kill my snakes!". He says, "What do you want me to do with them?" I said, "Just call me and I'll come move them for you.". About 5 minutes later I hear a scream and then, "I found another one of your f%ing snakes. You better come get it before I kill it!".

[Are_grits_groceries]

20. My Mama and my aunts hated snakes.

They were indiscriminate snake killers. They just didn't like them.
That one aunt I spoke of was a different story. She had a true phobia and could not help herself.

[beam me up scottie]

25. Northern Water Snakes will bite the crap out of you if you get too close.

People around here confuse them with Water Moccasins and the equally nasty Pine Snakes with Copperheads.

The venomous snakes I've encountered in my travels were usually either going about their own business or trying to get the hell away from me.

Good on you for not being an indiscriminate killer.

[LeftyMom]

28. Reptile bites are very prone to infection.

You should go to the ER and get antibiotics asap if a snake or lizard bites you.

[MineralMan]

29. Not so much. I've had dozens of reptile bites, mostly as a youngster.

Most of the time, I just wiped the bite on my jeans if it was bleeding. Not once did I ever get any redness or anything.

The only lizard in the United states that could bite you and break the skin is the Gila Monster, and it actually is venomous. But, you're unlikely ever to see one. I've been in Arizona hundreds of times and have looked for them. Never saw one. Not even once. I know of no other American lizards capable of hurting a person. Not one.

Large rat, corn, and gopher snakes do have teeth long enough to break the skin, though. Again, I've been bitten many times, but have never had any sort of infection from those bites. There's absolutely no need to go to the ER. Just wash the area with peroxide or just soap and water. If any bleeding continues, which is quite rare, you can put some antiseptic cream on it and a bandaid.

An ER visit isn't needed, and will cost you a pile of money. It's not an emergency at all. It's just a minor skin injury. Treat it like you would any other such injury and you'll be fine.

[LeftyMom]

32. My dad does reptile rescue.

Every organization he works with, every book he's read is very clear on this point. Reptile bites are dangerous and need prompt treatment.

[MineralMan]

34. OK. I'm just telling you that I've been bitten many times, with

no problems. Your dad should do as he thinks best. So will I.

[Aerows]

31. Meh

Nonvenomous.

[MineralMan]

33. Exactly. Harmless critter.

If it bit me like that, I'd remove it and take it outside of the store and release it. I might get a kleenex or something if the bite bled a little. Sounds like everyone over-reacted.

Snakes are amazing creatures. Fascinating.

[rock]

37. Well, I do admire you

First, for the calm realization that the non-poisoness snakes are just part of the ecology (OK, so are the poisoness ones, but ones that I could just as well do without). And secondly for your firm confidence in being able to distinguish these two classes. I personally have some trouble with that.

[WinkyDink]

39. Um, yeah. NO.

[Vinca]

6. Yike! I like snakes, but wouldn't want one to latch on to me while shopping.

That's a story to tell the grandchildren.

[belzabubba333]

13. is the snake ok?

[Are_grits_groceries]

14. I don't know. I hope so.

I wouldn't bet on it though.

[belzabubba333]

18. yea it's why im not reading the story

[MineralMan]

17. Doubtful. I'm sure someone killed it.

Pity.

[Divernan]

16. Indicates there was a food source (rats/mice) where the cabinet was assembled.

[Nay]

22. I like snakes, but if one jumped out of a cabinet and bit me between the eyes,

I'd have a frikkin' heart attack right onto the floor.

[A HERETIC I AM]

24. Was the shopper terrified before opening the cabinet?

Does this person often walk around home improvement stores while terrified?

Maybe the snake was attracted to the terror. Perhaps the snake saw something on that persons head and was trying to kill it so that the shopper could continue shopping in a less than terrified demeanor.

These are the questions that need asking.

That snake deserves a commendation.

[Politicalboi]

30. We had snakes, frogs tarantula's

My brother saved a kid from a rattle snake. He heard the kid screaming ran over there, and picked it up and took it home. The poor thing eventually died. That was the happiest day for my mom. One time we went to a swap meet and my other older brother bought a lizard from some seller. He also bought a Wolfman plastic head on a plastic chain. He put the lizard on the head, and was swinging it back and forth from around his neck. Then all of a sudden the lizard latched onto the inside of his nose and wouldn't let go. I laughed at my brother with a lizard hanging from his nose. When we got home, they put his head under the tap and the lizard let go and got away.

[MineralMan]

35. Good story. When I was about 8, I caught a Western alligator lizard

almost a foot long. It must have been a male, because it clamped down on the web of my hand. Males of that species are aggressive that way. I thought it was funny, so I thought I'd scare my mother with it. I went in the house and said, "Look, Mom!" She looked, cocked her head and said, "That's very nice big lizard. When it lets go, wash up for lunch."

Curses, foiled again by my no-nonsense mother.

[shenmue]

38. Crimony pete!