Bogalusa Director of Parks and Recreation Landon Tims said everybody at City Hall is sorry that six year-old Bella Rigdon was bitten by a copperhead snake at Cassidy Park on Friday, May 26.
The child was hospitalized for four days to recover from the bite.
“I have a three-year-old and we’re out here all the time,” Tims said. “It could have very easily been us who walked up on a snake.
“This is the first time in my seven years with the city that I’ve heard somebody got bit. We hope this is an isolated incident.”
The city keeps the park mowed and well maintained, he said.
“But this park is very natural,” Tims said. “And with the warmer weather and lots of rain, creatures come out. And snakes can be hard to see. So we’re asking everybody who comes out to the park to watch your step. Watch out and stay alert.”