Home / Disasters and Accidents / Man Survives Rattlesnake Bite on Mother's Day Hike
Man Survives Rattlesnake Bite on Mother's Day Hike
13 May
Summary
- A man was bitten by a rattlesnake on a Mother's Day hike near Horsetooth Reservoir.
- He was thankful his wife and children were ahead and unharmed by the snake.
- Rapid response from 911, LifeLine, and local emergency services saved his life.
A man in Northern Colorado is recovering after a dangerous rattlesnake bite sustained during a Mother's Day hike near Horsetooth Reservoir. Cody Neidert, 39, was hiking with his wife and two young children when he was bitten by a snake coiled on a trail rock. He recalled his wife and children passing over the snake unharmed moments before he was bitten.
Neidert immediately ensured his children's safety and called 911, expressing gratitude for being within cellphone range. Emergency dispatchers guided him to remain calm while coordinating a response. The UCHealth LifeLine helicopter team was dispatched from Loveland with antivenom.
Larimer County deputies, rangers, and Poudre Fire Authority also responded to the scene. While Neidert slowly made his way to the parking lot with assistance, his family encountered a second rattlesnake on the trail. The antivenom was administered en route to the hospital, a critical step highlighted by first responders.
Neidert is now in recovery at Medical Center of the Rockies, with doctors expecting a full recovery. Despite the painful experience and his known ophidiophobia, he expressed relief that he was the one bitten rather than his children. UCHealth and PFA advise against panic and recommend calling 911 immediately after a snake bite, also cautioning against attempting to suck out venom or applying ice.
