How do you clean off venom?

[CharlieJ]

We experienced interaction with our first hot last night -- a copperhead. S/he was lying on the road near a fairly busy intersection. We didn't want the snake to end up as "car kill", so we decided to move it along. I don't have a snake hook yet, so I used an umbrella to prod the snake into moving. S/he wasn't very receptive to moving off the road, so s/he struck the umbrella end. I picked the snake up with the umbrella and moved it off the road, but not before it struck the rubber end of the umbrella two more times. There is venom all over the lower 3" rubber tip of the umbrella.

So, not knowing much about handling venom, I would like to know how to clean the umbrella tip. Are there any special considerations?

THANKS for your expertise.

PS- I know not to handle venomous snakes that I'm not familiar with. However, this was a fairly safe rescue attempt. In any event, chastise me as needed (IOW, as deserved)

[HavocovaH]

seems like you could just wash it off with hot water, if nothing else the heat will break up the venom...and if that doesn't work you can always try the redneck route - cover it in tobacco and pee on it.

[BWSmith]

Venom in that capacity is fairly harmless. It can simply be washed off so long as you have no open wounds for venom particles to get into. Even if some dried venom got into an open wound, likely irritation and perhaps slight edema would be the only symptoms. That being said, I wear latex or nitrile gloves whenever I am cleaning dried venom off of cages. This effectively eliminates the risk.

Remember the difference between venom and poison. Poison affects an organism by ingestion or contact with the skin. Venom but be introduced into the bloodstream. While venom is still often an irritant, it is not really fatal when exposed to the exterior of the body (spitting cobra venom in the eyes may blind you, but won't kill you).

[CharlieJ]

THANKS BW! I knew you'd give me the skinny on how to handle this. BTW, nice pics on the snakehook.net main page. Take care and have a good weekend!

[Brandon28]

I was going to suggest licking it, but BW's adice might be safer. JK...good question!

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Congrats on helping another snake not to become road kill. I think the redneck way seems interesting

[NicoleRussell]

Remember the difference between venom and poison. Poison affects an organism by ingestion or contact with the skin. Venom but be introduced into the bloodstream.

I LOVE this...