Archive for Thursday, July 30, 2009

Retired KU professor being treated at LMH for copperhead snakebite

Photo by Richard Gwin. Enlarge photo.

This female Copperhead snake is part of an exhibit at the Prairie Park Nature Center.

By Jesse Fray

July 30, 2009, 10:35 a.m. Updated July 30, 2009, 5:57 p.m.

Retired KU professor suffers snake bite

A retired KU professor is in the hospital after being bit by a venomous snake this morning. Enlarge video

2007

April - 1
June - 1
August - 3

2008

May - 2
June - 4
July - 1
September - 3

2009

May - 1
June - 1
July - 1

A retired Kansas University professor was bitten by a venomous copperhead snake Thursday morning while gardening at his home southwest of Lawrence.

Dennis Domer, who is retired from KU's School of Architecture and Urban Design, called 911 after he was bitten on the middle finger of his right hand around 10:15 a.m.

"I reached this direction to pull some more weeds and … it was just like lightning. Bang," Domer said from his hospital bed at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical emergency responders took him for treatment.

Domer, who was hospitalized in the hospital's intensive care unit on Thursday, believes the snake was after a small toad when it struck, but said the snake came out of nowhere.

The man's finger and right arm are swollen, and doctors pumped him with six vials of anti-venom, said Domer, 65. It's the first time he's been hospitalized since he had his tonsils removed when he was 8.

Aaron Henrichs, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks natural resource officer, said copperhead snakes are common in Douglas County. The reptiles generally live under rocks on wooded hillsides, and during the summer months emerge, mostly at night, to hunt for rodents and small mammals.

"They're just prevalent everywhere here, all the time," Henrichs said.

Copperheads generally are not dangerous and rarely attack humans unless provoked, according to experts.

"The snakes bite generally out of a defensive reaction," said Marty Birrell, nature education supervisor at Prairie Park Nature Center. "If you get too close, you're likely to be perceived as dangerous and the snake will use its only defense.”

Birrell said it's important to look out for the snakes this time of year and to get treatment immediately if bitten by one that's venomous.

Anyone who is bitten could experience discomfort and discoloration around the wound, dramatic swelling, extreme nausea and possible hemorrhaging. The victim can be hospitalized for several days and in worse-case scenarios could lose a portion of skin, because of tissue destruction caused by the snake's venom.

"Any venomous snake can give a pretty nasty bite," said Birrell, who added that copperheads are the least-venomous snakes in the area.

Domer said he's hoping for the best.

"I'm totally optimistic," he said. "I expect to be out of here (Friday) morning and in 10 days I expect to be pulling weeds back in that garden. But, I will be watching for that snake. He better be really good this time."

Domer's finger was stinging on Thursday and doctors have told him he will be sore for several days.

LMH has treated three snake bites this year, compared with 10 in 2008 and five in 2007, a hospital spokeswoman said.

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mommaeffortx2 3 years, 9 months ago

well guess i will let the weeds take over, no way am I going to pull weeds now. May not even walk in the yard either I am freaked out now going to see snakes every where.

Ohyasee 3 years, 9 months ago

They seem to be enjoying this nice weather as much as we are. Hope the best for the professor.

snap_pop_no_crackle 3 years, 9 months ago

Joe No-Shoulders is out there. Be careful.

yourworstnightmare 3 years, 9 months ago

I think Senator Roberts should get big government involved to eradicate all snakes from Lawrence and buy this man out of his snake-ridden home.

It is what a big-government socialist like Roberts does, apparently.

ksdivakat 3 years, 9 months ago

My friend was just bit, a couple weeks ago out at clinton lake, and when they got to the ER, the ER told her family that she was the 6th copperhead bite that week from the lakes(Clinton, Lonestar). Of course they didnt see the snake but by way of exclusion, knew it was, first of all, they said that there are only 3 venomous snakes at the lakes, and 2 of those are rattlers, the other a copperhead, and since they had seen 5 others that week, they treated it as if it was a cooperhead and must have gotten it right. But anyway, the ER told her and ehr family that for some reason this year copperheads were VERY bad otu there...so everyone heads up! She was in ICU for a day getting the anti-venom for it....be careful! And by the way, just to add to that, the snake bit her in the daylight, at the camp site where there were 15-20 people around, loud music, and 3 dogs, the hospital also told her that a copperhead is the only snake who will bite without provocation or lwarning...like a rattler rattles, cobra hoods up..etc...but a copperhead does NONE of that and will just bite you! So yeah, my yard aint getting gardened either!! LOL

Jonathan Kealing 3 years, 9 months ago

ksdiva--

That's what we're hearing as well, that copperheads are out in force right now. We're trying to develop this into a little bit bigger story. Probably by the end of the day.

Jonathan Kealing Online editor

Jersey_Girl 3 years, 9 months ago

Thanks, Jonathon.