Four Green Pit Vipers Invade Hospital Wound Room
Four green pit vipers were captured and removed from a hospital's wound treatment room in Surin province on August 14, with rescue teams using insect repellent spray to flush them from hiding spots throughout the second-floor facility.
Staff and patients at Chumchang Health Promotion Hospital in Chom Phra district, Surin province, were alarmed on August 14 when four green pit vipers slipped into the wound treatment and emergency room on the second floor. Rescue teams from the subdistrict office responded and spent approximately 30 minutes locating and capturing the snakes, which had hidden in corners and crevices throughout the room. Using mosquito repellent spray to drive the snakes from their hiding places, rescue workers successfully caught and removed all four snakes from the building. Inspection confirmed three males and one female, classified as green pit vipers. All snakes were subsequently released into a suitable natural area.
The incident was unprecedented for hospital staff, as they had never encountered multiple snakes in the wound room simultaneously. The fortunate discovery was aided by the hospital's clean, well-organized facilities. Officials believe the snakes likely emerged from the forest area adjacent to the hospital and entered the building seeking shelter in the comfortable indoor environment. The simultaneous presence of both male and female snakes suggests possible mating season behavior.
While the exact cause remains speculative, the incident prompted patients to convert the snake count into lucky numbers—413—to be used for lottery betting. Health authorities have issued a warning to the public about the increased likelihood of encountering reptiles during unpredictable weather patterns, with both rain and heat driving animals from their natural habitats in search of shelter. Residents are urged to increase vigilance, particularly in dark corners, storage areas, bathrooms, and spaces near forests or overgrown land. If an unfamiliar snake or reptile is encountered, the public is advised not to attempt capture but to maintain distance, block the area, and alert trained professionals. This incident serves as a reminder that even well-maintained, enclosed buildings can become refuge for reptiles, warranting regular inspection and constant caution.
