Tennessee Hiker Dies After Picking Up Venomous Rattlesnake

The timber rattlesnake carries venom that is potent enough to "kill a human."

"The timber rattlesnake — also called the American viper, black rattlesnake, eastern rattlesnake, timber rattler and canebrake — is a large pit viper with a wide distribution across the eastern half of the U.S.," according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.

A hiker in Tennessee made a fatal error when he saw a timber rattlesnake and picked it up.

According to WKRN-TV, the man died on Friday, August 8, after "being bitten by a rattlesnake while visiting Savage Gulf State Park in Grundy County."

Grundy County Emergency Management officials told the television station that park rangers "received a distress call" after the man was bitten by the snake. He died at a hospital.

A witness told authorities that the unidentified man "had picked up a snake, and the reptile then bit him on the hand," adding that his cause of death may have been an allergic reaction, although that is still being determined, CBS News reported.

"As always, it's strongly recommended to have some kind of first aid supplies while enjoying outdoor recreational activities and be mindful of wildlife and the dangers that some wildlife may pose," Matthew Griffith, a Grundy County Emergency Management official, told CBS News. "If you encounter a snake, simply remain calm and do not attempt to handle it. If bitten, seek immediate medical attention."

Only about 50 rattlesnake bites are reported in Tennessee each year, WKRN reported.

"These large, heavy pit vipers vary in coloration. They are gray, sometimes with a pinkish hue and have a stripe down their back. This stripe is orange, yellow or pinkish in some timber rattlesnakes, while others have a brown or black stripe," the Smithsonian wrote.

"When threatened, it props itself up and shakes its rattle, which presses the buttons together producing a rapid, crisp rattling sound. The sound serves as a warning before the snake strikes."

Added the Smithsonian: "Adults typically reach lengths of 2.5-5 feet (.76-1.5 meters), but there are reports of timber rattlesnakes growing up to 7 feet (2 meters) long."