A Denton County man who has dedicated his life to rescuing animals is now fighting for his own life after suffering a serious venomous snakebite at his sanctuary in Sanger, Texas.
Jeremy Sons, founder of Clear Creek Adventure Ranch, was bitten Wednesday while moving a log on the property without first checking underneath it. A water moccasin described as roughly three and a half feet long and as thick as a baseball struck his right hand five times before he could react.
Sons and his wife Caitlin immediately drove to a Denton emergency room after calling ahead so antivenom would be ready upon their arrival. Despite receiving three doses of the treatment, his condition continued to deteriorate rapidly.
Doctors made the decision to airlift Sons to Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth where he received additional antivenom and underwent emergency surgery. Physicians indicated that skin grafts may be required as his case was considered especially severe.
The treating physician told Sons he had already handled six venomous snakebite cases this year alone, underscoring a growing concern about snake encounters in North Texas.
Despite the severity of his injuries Sons showed no anger toward the snake responsible for the attack. He said the animal was simply behaving as nature intended and compared it to expecting a dog not to wag its tail.
“I was the one in the wrong, not him” Sons said from his hospital bed.
Clear Creek Adventure Ranch serves as a refuge for animals that have been abandoned or born with physical defects. Sons has built the sanctuary around the belief that every creature deserves compassion and a second chance regardless of the circumstances.
His outlook following the near-fatal incident reflects that same philosophy. Sons expressed confidence that something positive would emerge from the traumatic experience even as he faces a difficult recovery ahead.
Texas residents are urged to exercise extreme caution in areas where snakes may be present particularly during warmer months when water moccasins also known as cottonmouths are most active near bodies of water and wooded terrain. Experts recommend never lifting rocks, logs, or debris without first using a tool to check beneath them. Anyone bitten by a venomous snake should call ahead to the nearest emergency room and seek treatment immediately without attempting to suck out venom or apply a tourniquet.
