Woman bitten by copperhead snake while trying to do laundry in basement of her Berks County home

Hide Transcript Show Transcript

KIM: WGAL NEWS 8’S SUSAN SHAPIRO EXPLAINS WHERE AND HOW THE WOMAN GOT BIT. SUSAN: THIS HOME IN MT. PENN I WHERE JUDY REED HAD AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER WITH A REPTIL THE 65-YEAR-OLD WAS HEADED DOWN THE STEPS TO THE BASEMENT TO D LAUNDRY, WHEN SUDDENLY THIS COPPERHEAD SNAKE, PERCHED ON THIS LEDGE, BIT HER. SHE CALLED 911. >> IT WAS DEFINITELY BIGGER THAN A BABY. SUSAN: CENTRAL BERKS REGIONAL POLICE AND OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS SHOWED UP. >> SHE SEEMED SHAKEN UP. BUT SHE DEFINITELY HAD TWO BITE MARKS ON HER ARM. SUSAN: THE FISH AND BO COMMISSION SAYS SNAKES IN OR AROUND YOUR HOME COULD INDICATE THEIR PREY IS THERE AND IF ONE BITES, IT’S PROBABLY IN DEFENSE. >> YOU ARE ENTERING ITS SPACE. IT IS REACTING TO THAT. IT IS TRYING TO GET YOU AWAY. >> I WAS AT THE V.A. WHEN SHE CALLED AND TOLD ME. SUSAN: REED’S BOYFRIEND OF 2 YEARS, WHO OWNS THIS HOME, WAS SURPRISED AT THE NEWS. >> THAT’S CRAZY. I CHECKED THE SUMP PUMP TO MAKE SURE NO OTHER SNAKES WERE IN THERE. THEY WEREN’ SUSAN: CONSERVATION OFFERS FROM THE FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION SNARED THE TOOK IT OUT OF THE HOUSE AND RELOCATED IT TO WHAT IT SAYS IS A SAFE LOCATION, HOPEFULLY A LOCATION THAT IS FAR FROM THIS BASEME

Advertisement Woman bitten by copperhead snake while trying to do laundry in basement of her Berks County home WGAL News 8 Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A Berks County woman had an unexpected encounter with a copperhead snake in the basement of her Mount Penn home. Judy Reed, 65, was headed down the steps to do laundry when the copperhead, perched on a ledge, bit her. Judy called 911 and Central Berks Regional Police and other first responders came to the home. “She seemed shaken up. She definitely had two bite marks on her arm” said Det. Sgt. Deron Mannel.Judy was taken to Reading Hospital, where she was in good condition on Tuesday.Officers snare snakeReed’s boyfriend of 20 years, Harry Schlegel, who owns the home, was surprised at the news.“That’s crazy,” he said. “I came down and checked the sump pump immediately. When she told me, I came home and checked the sump pump to make sure there were no other snakes in there. And there weren’t.”Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission officers were able to snare the copperhead and removed it to the house. They said they relocated the snake to a safe location.Mike Parker, with the Fish and Boat Commission, said if snakes are in or around your home, it could indicate that their prey is there. Parker also said that when copperheads bite, it’s usually in self-defense.“You’re entering its space and it’s reacting to that – trying to get you away,” Parker said.Copperhead factsCopperheads are found throughout the eastern and central United States. They can live in a variety of habitats and are part of the pit viper family.According to researchers at Penn State University, copperheads bite more people in the United States than any other venomous snake. The bite is said to be extremely painful. However, for healthy adults, the bite is usually not life threatening. The bite can cause very serious reactions to children, pets and adults with compromised immune systems, according to PSU researchers.Copperhead venom has also been used in cancer research.