Texas Principal Rushed to Hospital After Rattlesnake Bite Outside School Door

A Texas elementary school principal landed in the hospital after a frightening encounter with a rattlesnake just steps from a school entrance.

Dr. Craig Wilson, principal of Double Creek Elementary School in Jarrell, was bitten while trying to move the venomous snake away from a side doorway, according to local reports.

What began as an effort to keep the snake away from students and staff quickly turned into a medical emergency.

Williamson County ESD 5 was called to the school following the bite, KXAN reported.

Jarrell ISD Assistant Superintendent Bob Mabry said the rattlesnake was relatively small and that Wilson had been attempting to clear it away from the entrance when it struck.

Despite the terrifying ordeal, school officials said Wilson was recovering well and was expected to be released from the hospital soon.

Mabry said he spoke with the principal after the incident and described him as “doing well.”

Rattlesnake sightings are not unheard of around schools in the district, according to Mabry, although officials have reportedly not experienced major problems with the venomous reptiles in the past.

Texas is home to several species of rattlesnake, and encounters can become more common in areas where neighborhoods, schools and other development sit close to brush, grassland and undeveloped property.

The snakes generally strike defensively when they feel threatened, cornered or handled — making attempts to physically move one especially dangerous.

Following Wilson’s bite, Jarrell ISD is taking additional precautions.

Maintenance crews are working with pest-control professionals on prevention measures, while teachers and other employees have been told to keep an eye out for snakes around school grounds.

Officials are also focusing on areas around buildings where snakes could potentially hide or travel.

The alarming encounter serves as a reminder that even a small rattlesnake can pose a serious threat — and that a routine day at school can change in a matter of seconds.