A 10-year-old boy was bitten by a copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix) while playing an away game in Kansas City, MO. Carlton Epps, who plays for Team Venom of Branson, MO, was at a tournament and between games when he tripped and fell on some grass, resulting in the bite.
Epps was bitten on the arm. His father, Frank, recognized it was a serious bite when he saw blood coming from his son’s hand. Epps immediately called 911, and an ambulance transported the boy to a local hospital where he received two days of treatment. According to Bill Graham of the Missouri Department of Conservation, copperhead snakes are fairly common in Missouri and are not aggressive. Endemic to North America, copperheads grow to 20-37 inches. Although venomous, their bites are rarely fatal. Tests on mice indicate their venom’s potency is among the lowest of the pit vipers. However, any bite from a venomous snake should be taken seriously.
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