Mon Aug 18 13:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Tennessee Hiker Dies After Rattlesnake Bite in Rare Fatality
**Gruetli-Laager, TN** – A hiker in Savage Gulf State Park died on August 8th after being bitten by a rattlesnake he reportedly picked up, officials confirmed on Friday. While thousands of people are bitten by venomous snakes in the U.S. annually, fatalities are rare, making this incident a tragic exception.
The unidentified man was hiking on a trail in the park around 12:30 p.m. when, according to a witness, he picked up a snake, believed to be a timber rattlesnake. He was then bitten on the hand, according to Matthew Griffith, director for the Grundy County Emergency Association. The reason for picking up the snake remains unclear.
Emergency medical workers arrived quickly and administered CPR before transporting the man to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, only about five snake bites out of the thousands reported each year in the United States result in death, largely due to prompt medical intervention.
While the exact cause of death is still under investigation, authorities suspect an allergic reaction to the venom may have been a contributing factor. “It is believed the man’s death was caused by an allergic reaction, but full details have yet to be released,” Griffith said.
William Sutton, a professor at Tennessee State University who studies snakes, explained that some individuals can experience anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction causing airway constriction and blood pressure drop, from snake venom, similar to a bee sting allergy.
Professor Sutton emphasized that most venomous snakes in the U.S. possess hemotoxic venom, which primarily breaks down blood cells, unlike the more rapidly fatal neurotoxic venom found in snakes from other countries. He also noted that snakes typically avoid biting humans unless provoked, as they perceive them as a threat.
“Generally, if you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you,” Professor Sutton said. “They don’t really want to have to bite you.”
Timber rattlesnakes, characterized by their gray coloration, chevron pattern, and distinctive rattle, are commonly found throughout the eastern United States, including Tennessee.
Professor Sutton advises hikers to remain vigilant, keeping their eyes on the trail and surrounding edges. “If you do come across a snake, give it a wide berth,” he urged.
Savage Gulf State Park, a 19,000-acre preserve located in the rugged Cumberland Plateau, is known for its hardwood forests and diverse wildlife, including snakes.
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