Key Takeaways:
- A 23-year-old woman, Mikayla, was bitten by an eastern brown snake in her backyard in Queensland, Australia.
- Despite being a professional reptile handler, Mikayla made two common mistakes that led to the bite: walking in the grass without shoes and not paying attention to her surroundings.
- Mikayla suffered severe pain, vomiting, and headaches after the bite, but was treated with antivenin and recovered within 36 hours.
- The incident has not deterred Mikayla from working with snakes and she continues to advocate for their importance and rarity of negative encounters.
- Australians have a higher chance of being bitten by a dog or dying in a car crash than being bitten by a snake.
Introduction to the Incident
A shocking incident was captured on a home security camera, showing the moment a Queensland woman, Mikayla, was bitten by an eastern brown snake in her backyard. The 23-year-old was walking barefoot on freshly cut grass, wearing pink shorts and a blue shirt, when she felt the snake’s fangs puncture her foot. Mikayla, a professional reptile handler with Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 and a paramedic, confessed that her light attire was a "big mistake" and that she wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings, two common mistakes that can lead to snake bites.
The Bite and Its Aftermath
Mikayla’s immediate concern after the bite was not her own survival, but the welfare of the snake that bit her. She feared that she may have crushed the snake, and replayed the encounter in her mind to ensure that it had not been harmed. Thankfully, the snake slithered away quickly, and Mikayla was left to deal with the aftermath of the bite. She suffered severe pain in her leg, followed by vomiting and headaches, and was treated with antivenin at the hospital. Despite the pain and discomfort, Mikayla was grateful for the prompt medical attention and the availability of antivenin in Australia.
A Professional’s Unlikely Response
As a professional reptile handler, Mikayla’s response to the bite was unexpected. She did not panic or focus on her own survival, but instead worried about the snake’s well-being. This response is a testament to her training and experience working with snakes. Mikayla has been bitten by harmless reptiles before, but this was her first encounter with a venomous snake. She acknowledged that she had made mistakes that led to the bite, including walking in the grass without shoes and not paying attention to her surroundings.
Recovery and Reflection
After being treated in the hospital, Mikayla was home within 36 hours and was recovering well. She reflected on the incident and was thankful for the first-rate medical care and the program at the Australian Reptile Park that involves milking snakes and sending the venom to biotech companies to make antivenin. Mikayla’s story was shared on social media, and some people responded with negativity towards snakes. However, Mikayla attributes this response to people’s "insecurities, ignorance, and phobias" rather than any fault of the snakes themselves.
Advocating for Snakes
Despite being bitten, Mikayla is comfortable leaving the snake to live its best life in her backyard. She believes that snakes are not aggressive and are only defensive when threatened. Mikayla is determined to continue working with snakes and highlighting the rarity of negative encounters with them. She points out that Australians have a higher chance of being bitten by a dog or dying in a car crash than being bitten by a snake. Mikayla’s experience has not deterred her from her work, and she continues to advocate for the importance of snakes in the ecosystem and the need for education and love towards these often-misunderstood creatures.
