Rattlesnake Bite Sends Man To Hospital At Okemah Lake; City Issues Warning To Visitors

The City of Okemah is warning visitors at Okemah Lake to keep an eye on your surroundings on land and water after a rattlesnake bite sent a man to the hospital over the weekend.

Summertime is here and that means rattlesnakes are out, so people at Okemah Lake are working to keep the grass low and people safe.

Lake manager Ty Holt is working hard in the summer heat to trim tall grass around campsites, a common hiding place for snakes.

"Always try to mow the ditches, we try to mow our campsites all the time," says Holt.

With lake season already here, he wants to warn people to keep an eye out for snakes after a man was bitten by a rattlesnake and sent to the hospital.

"He went to the hospital, it was a pygmy rattler that bit him, so it is not a very nice thing to happen, it hurts a lot," says Holt.

Anita Gaines has been camping at Okemah Lake for a couple of months, and lives by the motto if you don't mess with snakes, they won't mess with you.

"If they swim by when we're fishing or whatever, we just got to back up and they either keep going or turn around and go the other way if they see us," says Gaines.

She says when her grandkids visit, she teaches them to be aware, especially when near water and rocks.

"We know it's that time of season so we're just real cautious and watch what we're doing," says Gaines.

Ty Holt says there will probably be more snake bites as the season continues, but hopes lake visitors can stay safe.

"It's a shame to see anybody bit, but especially someone you know," Holt says.

He says if you get bit, get help immediately.