Timber rattlesnakes are generally not aggressive unless you get close to them.

A hiker died after a rattlesnake bit his hand when he picked up the reptile while on a trail in south-central Tennessee, local officials said.

Around 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, rescue crews were called to a trailhead at the Savage Gulf State Park in Grundy County, about two hours southeast of Nashville, according to Matthew Griffith, the director of the Grundy County Emergency Management Agency.

When rescuers found the hiker, they immediately began CPR, which they continued until he was eventually hooked up to a mobile CPR machine, Griffith said. The man was then rushed to a hospital, where he later died, likely from an allergic reaction to the snake's venom, he added. However, the official cause of death has not been released yet.

The snake that bit the hiker was likely a timber rattlesnake, reported The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency says their habitats include mature and heavily wooded forests with rocky hillsides, bluffs or ledges.

Most snake bites occur when a rattlesnake is handled or accidentally touched by someone walking or climbing, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

What to do if you are bitten by a rattlesnake

If you or someone with you is bitten by a venomous snake, call 911 immediately, especially if the bitten area changes color, swells or is painful, according to the Mayo Clinic.

While waiting for help, the Mayo Clinic recommends these steps:

  • Move far away from the snake
  • Stay calm
  • Remove any jewelry, watches or tight clothing before swelling starts
  • Sit or lie down so that the bite is in a neutral, comfortable position
  • Clean the bite with soap and water. Cover or wrap it loosely with a clean, dry bandage

How common are rattlesnakes in Tennessee?

Tennessee is home to two varieties of venomous rattlesnake — the timber rattlesnake and the pygmy rattlesnake.

Tennessee's other venomous snakes are copperheads and cottonmouths.

Timber rattlesnakes are the largest and most dangerous of the four venomous snakes in the state, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. The large, heavy-bodied snake has a large triangular head, vertical pupils and a rattle. Their bodies can vary in color from tan and brown to gray and black.

Pygmy rattlesnakes are much smaller with a tinier rattle and are considered very rare. They're listed as imperiled, or endangered, by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and largely reside along the Western Highland Rim from Stewart County to the southern border, according to the agency.

How many people are bitten by venomous snakes per year?

Between 7,000 to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the United States annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

About five people die from venomous snake bites in the United States each year, the CDC added, warning that the number would be higher if those bitten did not seek medical treatment.

Globally, around 5.4 million people are bitten by snakes per year, with around 80,000 to 137,000 dying from bites, the World Health Organization reports.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hiker dies after venomous snake bites him at Tennessee state park

Reporting by Kirsten Fiscus and Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect