Rattlesnake Kills Local Business Man

Mike McDonald

New member
For all you guys that think bigger is badder in the snake world, this should give you pause.

Businessman dies after snake bite

BY DAVID RUPKALVIS

Herald/Review

SIERRA VISTA -- Pat Hughes was a well-respected and well-liked member of the community who was active in a variety of efforts aimed at helping those in need.

Early Sunday morning, the community lost not just a business leader, but also a friend.

Family friends of Hughes said he was bitten on the finger by a small, probably a juvenile, rattlesnake early Saturday evening. Snake experts say bites from juvenile rattlesnakes are responsible for almost all snake bite deaths in Arizona.
Bob Strain and Herb Wetzel said Hughes' wife, Nancy, rushed him to the emergency room at the Sierra Vista Regional Health Center. The 45-year-old was treated with an anti-venom serum, but later succumbed to complications of the poisonous bite.

When asked about treatment for Hughes, hospital spokeswoman Marie Wurth responded, "Due to patient confidentiality we are unable to comment on the specifics. However we are most saddened by the tragic death of Mr. Hughes and the loss to his family, friends and the community. Our dedicated and competent staff provided the medical care deemed appropriate."

Hughes was from California and is survived by his mother, a brother, his wife and two young children, Tiffany and Dan, said Pat Kambouris, a family friend.

Hughes became a fixture in the Sierra Vista area when he opened The Mesquite Tree restaurant in 1986. He was active in the business community. He was a longtime member of the Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors and served a term as the chamber's president.

Hughes also established the Sierra Stampede Women's Profession Rodeo in 1998.

HERALD/REVIEW reporter Diane Saunders contributed to this report.
 
I dont know if its true or not but i hear that the baby rattlers venom is more concentrated than the older snakes, I guess it has more poison than when they get older.
 
My understanding is that the baby's poison isn't more powerful so much as the young snakes pump so much more poison in a bite than adult snakes do.

Glenn
 
I've also been told what Glenn said. Older snakes aren't as apt to blow their whole load on a single bite. Frequently older snakes won't even use any venom on a human strike.
 


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