Yikes!! They say you shouldn't move around much if bitten by a snake (at least a venomous one), but even though I'm not normally afraid of snakes I'm sure in your situation I'd scream and run too!

Just when I was planning to work in my garden tomorrow morning! Eeek

Volunteer marigolds can draw those snakes in close. Gotta watch out for things like that!

Now he tells you!!

Yikes!! I would have run screaming too. And probably still be running.............

I'd be getting that bite checked out at the ER since you aren't "sure" exactly what kind of snake it was. Better to be safe than sorry in case that was a poisonous snake.

Ok, now that my heart has started up again, I'll give you my advice:

Call the paramedics & ask them if you're likely to live since you aren't already dead.

I *think* all snake venom acts rapidly, so if you haven't succumbed yet, you likely didn't get 'injected' by the poison sacs, but check with the paramedics anyway.

*******IMPORTANT!*******

Keep applying topical anti-biotics all night long, start taking oral anti-biotics if you have any in the house, & go to your doctor first thing in the morning & get some powerful anti-biotics.

Most critters, people included, who die after being bitten by a snake die not from the venom but from massive infections from the truly disgusting septic tank/plague ship of bacteria that is a snake's mouth.

If you experience nausea, faintness, or anything weird, or if the bite site becomes red, hard, or hot, or if it blisters or oozes or does anything at all, call the ambulance;
don't risk your own & anybody else's life trying to drive yourself.

All this is probably way way over-reacting, it probably is just a glancing blow from a terrified garden snake...
but better over-reacting than under-reacting.

I'll take a badger any day over a snake bite. Hope you are OK, Bob.

I'm sure it was this guy, cause I've seen him several times around in the yard, and I saw him again as I dislodged him from my leg.

One person has told me unequivocally that it is a black rat snake, another person swears it has to be a black racer snake. However both are non-venomous, and mostly harmless, unless you step on them or something stupid like that.

A friend of mine was bit on the hand by a copperhead a couple of years ago, and was going to drive himself to the hospital, gut his wife said "Nonsense, I'll drive". Later he said that before they got to the hospital the pain had grown severe enough that he wouldn't have been able to continue driving.

nice-looking snake, but please don't let that seduce you!

Watch for signs of infection.

Sylvia is correct about the very nasty infections that can come from a snake bite. It would be prudent to have it looked at and let the doctor decide if a preventative dose of antibiotics is advised. You can lose a limb from the bite of a non venomous snake due to the various types of bacteria they carry.

Bob, how scary! I would absolutely see a doctor regarding the possibility of infection. This would be a good time to drop into one of those "doc in a box " (as Robert calls them) clinics for non-emergency medical care. Do you have those clinics where you live?

It is a black ratsnake, by the way. Not only is it physically different from the black racer, but the ratsnake is much more likely to strike if cornered and frightened.

When entering your garden area in the future, be sure to stomp your feet frequently. Snakes can't hear but they sure do pick up vibrations from the ground.

You're lucky to have one of those hanging around ; I wish I did.

Anyway....please see a doctor this morning.

I checked with my doctor's office this morning, and my doctor had had a cancellation so I was able to get in to see her. She said that the standard of care is to not start a preventative course of oral antibiotics, but instead to use topical antibiotics, to keep it clean and to watch for signs of spreading redness or swelling. In that case to call her right away.

She did check and I am up-to-date on my tetanus vaccination. She also said in some ways it was less likely to be a problem then if it had been wild rose thorns, (which is what I first thought it might be when I felt the pricking sensation on my leg) since the thorns often leave their tip beneath the skin, greatly increasing the chance for a nasty infection.

Glad you had it checked out. That would scare the_____out of me!

Thanks for having it checked. We are all happier that you did!

I wish he hadn't bitten you. I am glad you checked. His face is adorable. Your pictures are turning me into a snake lover. I never liked them before, but this is twice now I am seeing the cutie pie faces. Bad snake! don't you bite Bob again.

I'd have to move!!!

I think I must have stepped on him, and he was just saying to me "hey fatso, your hurting me, will you kindly get the heck off?"
Unfortunately the only language he speaks, that I would understand, is biting.

A week or so ago I was taking pictures at a horse show my wife was riding in, from the far side of the ring, when I suddenly heard screams of panic, and saw people fleeing the tent on the other side of the ring. I heard somebody say it was a snake causing all the fuss, and I thought to myself, I'm sure its a harmless, beneficial snake, and some bozo is going to He-Man-Up and kill the poor thing. However at the next break in the show I went over to the tent and found that one of the ladies had picked it up and was holding it to show to some of the kids at the show.

After a while she handed it to another lady who carried the snake over to this unused, out-of-the-way jump, which it briefly explored and then nestled down underneath waiting for the hub-bub to end.

Bob, maybe you should wear long pants when gardening. Glad you are ok. We have no snakes but many lizards.

I'm very glad you had the doctor check you out. Snakes and spiders can be pretty, but I want none anywhere near me. Now I do love the little lizards.

I've been bitten by non venomous snakes several times and they always make little scratches like that, that bleed freely.

I'm with Mare hitting the road on this one. I wouldn't live in an area where snake encounters occur. We have some snakes around in undeveloped hills and properties, but rarely in town or other built-up areas. Thankfully.

I'm glad you are ok, too. I'm happy to be around people that remain calm around snakes. I don't care to get close to them, and it think it is the element of surprise that scares me.

A couple of times now while riding my horse in the woods, I have come across a big black snake. The first time the snake was sunning himself, stretched across the trail. My horse just stepped over it and then it slithered away. The other time was just a couple of weeks ago. I was with my friend. She was behind me and as we are riding along, I start to hear her screaming and screaming. I turned around to see what happened and she said she saw a snake. LOL

As long as the snake is not interested in me, I am good with leaving it alone.

There aren't any snakes where I live. Bears - yes, snakes - no and I'm good with that.

That is NOT the type of "wildlife encounter" I was expecting to see, Bob! Sure glad you're okay. Brrrr, I've got shivers down my spine.

Thank goodness!

Thanks for sharing what your doc said:
topical anti-biotics, watch for redness/swelling/etc.

& I know she's right about those rose thorns;
I once got a scary infection (after a hunnert years of messing around with soil, worms, rabbit poo, decaying matter, compost, etc) after pruning one afternoon.

& the doctor reeeeallllly helped my mental outlook when he said,
"At least it's not the flesh-eating kind. I don't think."

Take care!