Kentucky Zoo Director Recovering after Bite from Venomous Snake

Summary:

SLADE, KY – A Kentucky zoo director is lucky to be alive after a bite from a venomous snake. Jim Harrison, co-director of the Kentucky Reptile Zoo, told WKYT-TV that he had been attempting to breed two snakes on Monday, April 28, for an anti-venom project when a Jameson’s mamba snake suddenly bit him.

“The male shot out. I grabbed it with wraps, and then the female took advantage of me not paying attention and then shot up and bit me,” Harrison recalled to the outlet. Kentucky Reptile Zoo co-director Kristen Wiley said that after Harrison was bitten, he was “in pretty serious shape rather quickly,” adding that zoo staff needed to rush to get him a dose of antivenom. Harrison, who has received at least 16 snake bites throughout his career, said that he had a keeper drive him from the zoo in Slade to Stanton, about 10 miles away, where the “anti-serum vials” were located. “Those guys here that responded right away, they definitely saved his life,” Wiley told the outlet. “[Harrison] was in the ICU for about three days. He was intubated for about two days, which means he was on a ventilator for that time.”

Wiley said Harrison is “recovering well,” and will hopefully “leave the hospital soon.” However, there are still some lingering symptoms that Harrison is facing, including a shooting pain in the bitten arm.

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