What kind of snake did Uncle Rip use to kill Roark?
Was that one of those African Black Mambas or something? Do North American pit vipers usually kill humans in a matter of seconds to minutes?
shareIt appeared to be a big rattle snake. Now if you were bitten on the arm or leg it would have taken quite a bit longer to die from it and you would have plenty of time to get medical help before you died. But if you were bitten in the face as he was then all bets are off. The rattlesnake is the more likely to kill you than something like a copperhead... but it still is quite survivable with medical treatment.
Most cases are not on the face, with most being on the arms or legs... The one case I am familiar with where a guy was bitten in the face by a rattlesnake required a breathing tube to be inserted because of the swelling that made it impossible for him to breath otherwise. The tube stayed in for over a week... In the show you noticed Roark went to the ground and was foaming at the mouth, the most likely thing would not have been foaming as much as it would have been swelling. It wouldn't have happened quite that fast but given he appeared to freak out and panic that racing heart beat would have help the venom to do its thing faster but his death should have preceded his face and neck swelling up like a balloon... probably a bit too gory for TV.
Might had been a prairie rattlesnake. Some populations have traces of the 'Mojave toxin' which is the most potent rattlesnake venom.