Cornell Wi. man bit by Rattle Snake!

[mudbrook]

A Cornell man says he was attacked by what he thinks is a rattlesnake Monday afternoon while fishing.

Jim Overton says coming from South Dakota, he's used to the idea of rattlesnakes, but you may be surprised to find out we have two kinds of rattlesnakes in Wisconsin.

When Jim Overton went fishing at the Cornell dam along the Chippewa River, he didn't expect this kind of bite.

They were fishing off a concrete slab, near the rocks when Jim says he heard the snake. They tried to go around it, but it bit Jim before he could move.

He says it bit him in the hand, he tore the snake off his hand, and then took the snake's head off.

There was still a fang in his hand. His fishing buddy took it out and Jim decided to cut his wrist, and suck the venom out.

read more... http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/19477979.html

[mudbrook]

It turns out that the snake that bit Jim Overton was not a Rattle Snake. The WDNR went back to the scene of the bite and retrieved the headless snake and determined it was a non-venomous Northern Watersnake.

Apparently they can be very aggressive and people are advised when they see one to avoid them. 

You can get some info on the Water Snake from the link below.

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/ORG/LAND/ER/herps/snakes/nwater.htm