Snake scare: Copperhead bites Chattanooga preschooler during camping trip

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A 4-year-old boy from Chattanooga is recovering after a copperhead snake bit him during a camping trip in North Carolina, and his father managed to grab a photo of the culprit right after it struck.

Jad Pollom was camping with his family in North Carolina over Memorial Day weekend at the Highlands, near the Georgia border.

Jad's mother Stacey told us Tuesday that he was outside a cabin playing on the porch when he was bit.

Jad's father Jesse had the wherewithal to take a picture of the snake as it slithered away:

They rushed Jad to a local emergency room, where he got 10 vials of anti-venom treatment.

But that apparently wasn't enough. The skin near Jad's left ankle continued to swell.

A LIFEFORCE helicopter soon flew Jad to Children's Hospital at Erlanger for extra care. Jad's parents say it was their 'worst nightmare' to not be flying with their son.

A day after he was admitted, Stacey Pollom posted an update on Facebook: 'Gonna be a long time before I go camping again.'

So thankful our buddy is stable and asking for paw patrol and his best friend Oliver,' Pollom continued. 'Thank you Jesus for modern medicine, sweet family, and incredible health care professionals.

Jad stayed in the hospital for 3 days, and he's now home.

We spoke with our NewsChannel9.com/Outdoors correspondent Richard Simms on Tuesday about copperheads.

He says while the majority of snakes in Tennessee don't have dangerous venom, copperheads are more out and about this time of year.

Odds are, you will walk by one totally unseen and totally unaware that that snake was there,' Simms told us. 'However, because they are so well camouflaged, and they are not aggressive, they're not going to bother you if you don't bother them.

Simms stresses how important it is for parents of kids who are Jad's age that they should steer clear and not touch any kinds of snakes they may see -- at least until they're old enough to learn the difference between the venomous and non-venomous kinds.

Simms praised Jad's father for taking a photo of the snake, which helped speed up his medical care significantly.

There are different anti-venoms depending upon what kind of snake it is. So medical professionals would like to know. They don't have to know it, but it would help them a lot if they know it.

Simms says in some cases, a venomous snake could bite you - but not inject any venom into your body.

But he says that's not something to count on, and you should seek medical attention the moment you realize you've been bitten.

We also spoke with Kevin Calhoon, Curator of Forests at the Tennessee Aquarium.

Calhoon says most copperheads are common on ridges and enjoy rocky woods near places like Signal Mountain and Lookout Mountain.

He says summer's can be particularly dangerous for snake bites.

"As it gets hotter, the snakes become more active at night. So people have gotten bitten by running around their yard and bare feet, or even running around and flip flops outside in the grass, which is not a good idea in the summertime because snakes are hunting at night because it's too hot during the day" says Calhoon.

At the Chattanooga Zoo, experts are debunking a popular myth.

“Do not suck out venom because you want you're basically going to encourage it to go to a different spot. And you could possibly get some in your mouth and if you have a cut that could cause problems," saysKate Gore, Animal Care Supervisor at the Chattanooga Zoo.

As for Jad, he's smiling again and on the mend, and he and his family will keep a close eye out for snakes the next time they hit the great outdoors.

Mime Barnes of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) says there are two kinds of venomous snakes in Hamilton County: copperheads, and timber rattlers.

She has some tips for living in areas with venomous snakes:

• Keep yards tidy. Snakes are looking for food, shelter and water. Keep piles of debris and brush at a minimum.
• Recognize that bird feeders could attract rodents, which in return can attract snakes and other predators that feed on rodents.
• When reaching for things or hiking, watch where you are placing hands and feet.
• If you encounter a snake, walk away. Give it time to leave the area or hiring a wildlife damage control operator.

Barnes says snakes play a vital role in the ecosystem, and because of that, it's illegal to kill a snake unless there's an immediate threat to people, pets or livestock.