It may be a record: An Arizona man was bitten by a rattlesnake on the last day of January 2025. It could be the record for the earliest rattlesnake bite as typically the reptiles don’t get active until warmer weather.
Banner Health Care, a major Arizona medical provider, said it saw its first rattlesnake bite case and determined the public should know more. Eloy, Arizona resident Tommy Niebrzydowski came home from work on January 31. He cautiously opened the lid covering a water valve, and carefully looked for black widow spiders and reptiles before reaching inside. Evidently, he didn’t spot the lurking rattler. But the rattlesnake noticed him—and bit.
Earliest rattlesnake bite victim: “It felt like I had acid shot into my hand”
“It was bizarre. It felt like I had acid shot into my hand, and I could feel the poison running up my arm,” Niebrzydowski related in a report on Fox10Phoenix. “I was home alone, and there was no one here to take me to the hospital, and we’re way out in a rural area, so I know an ambulance ride would have taken more than an hour.”
Niebrzydowski managed to get himself to Banner’s Casa Grande Medical Center Emergency Room. There he was given the first dose of antivenom and then taken to Banner–University Medical Center in Phoenix. He ended up in the intensive care unit for two days.
Snake bite uncommon even in February
“It’s uncommon for us to see rattlesnake bites in February, especially early February,” said Dr. Anne-Michelle Ruha, chief of the department of medical toxicology at Banner–University Medical Center Phoenix. “And this patient was bitten on Jan. 31st, which is even more uncommon.”
Dr. Ruha said people should be aware that as the weather is warming up, snakes will be more active.
“People should be aware of their surroundings not only when they are out hiking, but even around their homes doing routine chores,” Dr. Ruha added.
Men aren’t as cautious as women
Are rattlesnake bites a big deal? The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center’s 2023 annual report would suggest they are. Rattlesnake “envenomations” were the second-most reported bite or sting exposure in 2023, with 175 reported cases that year.
“All rattlesnake bites require hospital evaluation,” says the report. “In regards to level of healthcare facility care, 68.93% of patients were admitted to a critical care unit.” And listen up guys There was a male predominance in rattlesnake envenomation cases: 66.10% of cases occurred among men while 33.33% of cases occurred among women.”
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Cue up the “it’s all manmade global warming” hoax or “this is because the last election” howling. It’s inevitable.
If only they could blame waste, fraud and abuse on climate change…. maybe they would pay attention to it. Instead they are blaming the climate for the waste, fraud and abuse in a lot of the cases coming to light.
Nobody went there until you did.
“Men aren’t as cautious as women…” totally uncalled for. While in Vietnam I saw plenty of snakes…some more deadly than any rattlers..and I sure never saw any women in the jungle.
Thanks for the information. Rattlers are not to be taken lightly! It doesn’t take a large rattler to be dangerous either. I would think men are more prone to this as they spend more time outside and doing things like stacking wood or working on the ground or in it and tall grass or weeds etc, etc.! While both sexes hike – I think both hikers are more apt to be extra cautious and stick to trails. (Women don’t like worms, snakes, spiders or any crawly things……..). HA!
Only because they are made of sugar and spice, and everything nice….
Thank you for the news, Russ and Tina! This is certainly disturbing news. It also is a good reminder, given how much of our winter has been overly warm, to be alert for snakes. Have a great week and safe travels!
Yep, just heard reports today of them being seen here in Quartzsite and Yuma, AZ.