Border Patrol agents have a busy few days

Rattlesnake bite, smugglers keep agents hopping

By Brady McCombs

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

A U.S. Border Patrol agent was airlifted out of the Huachuca Mountains west of Sierra Vista Thursday after being bitten by a rattlesnake.

The snakebite comes on the heels of a hectic Wednesday along Arizona's stretch of U.S.-Mexican border that included a 63-year-old Tucson man facing charges of smuggling heroin in Nogales, three discoveries of marijuana in hidden vehicle compartments and the arrest of 11 illegal immigrants in the parking lot of Marana High School.

In the snakebite incident, the agent called the Border Patrol station about 10:15 a.m. saying he had puncture wounds in his boots and his toes were starting to turn discolored from being bitten by a rattlesnake, said Rob Daniels, Border Patrol Tucson Sector spokesman.

The agent was on routine patrol in a steep area of the Huachuca Mountains west of Sierra Vista when he was bitten, Daniels said.

Authorities launched a rescue effort that included a pair of helicopters and three search and rescue teams.