On the trail
Watch where you put your hands and feet. Stay on established paths, use a light at night, and wear closed-toe shoes. Never reach blindly into brush, logs, or rock gaps. Keep pets and children close.
If you see a snake
Stop and allow plenty of space. Wait for it to move or turn back. Do not handle, chase, move, or kill it. Copperheads, cottonmouths, and rattlesnakes occur in Alabama; nonvenomous species also benefit the ecosystem.
If someone is bitten
Call 911 and seek immediate medical evaluation. Move away from the snake, keep the person still, and remove rings or tight items before swelling. Sit or lie down with the bite in a comfortable neutral position. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions; do not delay care to identify the snake.
Do not worsen the injury
Do not use a tourniquet, ice, suction, cutting, or a snakebite kit. Do not catch the snake. Avoid alcohol, and do not drive yourself. A photograph is useful only if it can be taken safely without delaying help.