Rattlesnake Anti-Venom Could be in Short Supply Soon
By: Megan Hunter
Updated: October 4, 2012
Rattlesnakes and cottonmouth snakes can make most of us shudder at the name and dread an encounter, which can be more common in the South.
If these snakes bite, it can be deadly, but those who milk snakes for their venom told WDHN the decisions of some state officials are only making things more dangerous.
It all boils down to an Alabama law that only allows professional venom extractors to have one type of snake in Alabama, the Eastern Diamond Back Rattlesnake.
The problem is 80% of what is needed for the nation's anti-venom is produced in Gordon, Alabama.
According to one local venom extractor, Ken Darnell, if he doesn't get the Western Rattlesnakes he needs, the nation could be seeing a severe shortage of anti-venom.
Darnell said he has reached out to the state conservation board but he's seen no response, and hasn't been given permission to bring in these needed snakes.
He also said he doesn't see how he will meet the quota set for him by the anti-venom companies for next year.
