Cochise County can be a dangerous place. A rise in serious Mojave Rattlesnake encounters is prompting pharmacy students to learn more about their venom and possible find a change in its composition.

From the Arizona Daily Wildcat:

As Part of their senior year project at the College of Pharmacy, students Kelvin Richards and Ryan Curtis teamed up with Daniel Massey, Pharmacy resident at University Medical Center. By Studying the Mohave rattlesnake, the most common species in Cochise County, and comparing it with Pima County's they will determine if those Mohave rattlesnakes venom is becoming increasingly potent.

The research began in July, and is a project Massey has wanted to do for three years. "It's a personal passion of my own," Massey said. "I've been collecting snakes... I have pictures since I was 10 years old with rattlesnakes." He met the students through the Arizona Poison and Drug Control Information Center, which is supporting the collaborative research.

The venom of 19 Mohave rattlesnakes have been collected by a third party which provides them with the GPS location of the animals in order to make sure the snakes are from the area they are examining.

Longer recovery, more trouble stabilizing patients and unusual lab results led to the study. To read the full story click here.