Almost Stepped On..

This is getting posted later than I planned, as I procrastinated in getting the pictures off the camera.  Check out what Joe almost stepped on when we were hiking in Buescher State Park last weekend:

That is a coral snake .  Check out this portion from the Wikipedia entry:

New World coral snakes possess the second most potent venom of any North American snake

Unfortunately, it also says:

The sole manufacturer of Eastern and Texas Coral Snake Antivenom, Wyeth, has ceased production of this product and it is estimated that all remaining in-date stocks of Coral Snake Antivenom in the United States will be exhausted between October and December, 2008

Absent the antivenom (emphasis mine),

Victims of Eastern and Texas Coral snakebite should be transported as soon as possible to a tertiary level hospital which can provide constant monitoring of neurological and respiratory symptoms for 24 hours or more and if these symptoms occur be ready and able to sedate, endotracheally intubate and mechanically ventilate such patients for up to a week or until neurological and respiratory paralysis resolves.