August has been a busy month for Providence with fifty-six calls to date (8/18/21). Yesterday was no exception.

Just after 9:00 AM on August 17th, Baltimore County 911 received a call reporting an adult female who had been bitten by a snake on the Merryman’s Mill Trail in the watershed area of Loch Raven Reservoir. Baltimore County Fire Department (BCoFD) units from the Texas Station, Providence Volunteer Fire Company (PVFC) and Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Company (JVFC) were dispatched, which included the Urban Search and Rescue Team and off-road All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV). Using advanced 911 technology, dispatchers relayed pertinent information, including latitude and longitude of the caller to rescuers. Thanks to this technology, the rescue teams were able to pinpoint the caller’s location and locate her more efficiently. Once located, the patient was stabilized from what appeared to be a bite from a venomous copperhead snake. The patient was placed onto the PVFC ATV and safely removed from the woods. She was then transported by a BCoFD Paramedic unit to a local hospital for further treatment.

Copperheads are one of two types of venomous snakes that live naturally in Maryland – the other being the Timber Rattlesnake. For more information about them, visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources information page at: https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/plants_wildlife/herps/venomous-snakes.aspx

Hiking safety is very important. For tips and information about hiking safety, visit the National Park Service’s Hike Smart page at: https://www.nps.gov/articles/hiking-safety.htm