A cyclist and Good Samaritan wanted to help a snake get off the road and out of danger, but he ended up putting his own life in danger. The cyclist didn’t know it yet, but the snake was a venomous copperhead, and it bit the man’s finger as he was trying to move it to a safer spot. His story is a cautionary tale for those who recreate outdoors and care about wildlife. Sometimes, as hard as it seems in the moment, it’s best to not interfere.
Dan Geiger, a New Yorker, is the cyclist who came across a small copperhead along his bike path in the Palisades Cliffs. A statement from the Hackensack University Medical Center says Geiger first tried to nudge the snake with his water bottle, but it wouldn’t move.
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“When [the snake] didn’t budge, Dan made a split-second decision he now regrets,” the medical center said. “He reached out with his hand. In a flash, the snake struck, sinking its fangs into his finger.”
Geiger didn’t know the snake was venomous, but he did know pretty quickly after the strike that something was seriously wrong. He sought help from passersby, and an ambulance brought him to the Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.
Hackensack University Medical Center says that copperhead bites are rarely fatal, but the venom contains toxins that “break down tissue, causing intense pain, swelling, blistering, and even tissue death (necrosis).” The venom also disrupts blood clotting, which can lead to internal bleeding. Thankfully, Geiger received anti-venom and treatment quickly, and he is now recovering from the ordeal.
See a local news segment about the cyclist with good intentions who ended up touching a venomous snake and paying the price: