A man in Tennessee has died after picking up a rattlesnake during a hike at Savage Gulf State Park.
The incident happened around 12:30 p.m. on Friday, August 8, according to the Grundy County Emergency Management Agency. The man, whose name has not been released, was hiking about half a mile down the trail when he picked up what witnesses believe was a timber rattlesnake. The snake bit him on the hand.
Emergency responders began CPR and rushed him to the hospital, but he later died from his injuries. The exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo says timber rattlesnakes are generally calm, but their venom is strong enough to kill a human. A bite from one is considered a medical emergency.
Grundy County EMA Director Matthew Griffith reminded hikers to be cautious around wildlife. “If you see a snake, stay calm and don’t touch it. If bitten, get medical help right away,” he said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, venomous snakes bite between 7,000 and 8,000 people in the U.S. each year, and about five of those bites are fatal.
