Anywhere between 7,000 and 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the U.S. yearly.
Although that may seem like a high number, only about 5 people die from said bites.
You are more likely to suffer long-term injuries from a venomous bite than to actually die from one. 10-44% of those bitten will suffer lasting injuries which may include losing a limb entirely.
Rattlesnakes are among the most common venomous snakes in the United States. Contrary to popular belief, they DO NOT always warn off predators with their rattles before striking.
Weighing in at around 35 pounds and eight feet in length, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes are by far the largest venomous snakes in America. Their fangs have been known to reach a full inch in size.
The Western Diamondback may have less toxic venom than its easterly cousin, but it easily makes up for it with the quantity it produces. Up to 800mg can be injected at one time.
Cottonmouths are fun little bastards! Also known as Water Moccasins, these semi-aquatic snakes live up to their name, and often reside in or around water. Cottonmouths average about 4.5 feet in size, and typically can be found in the southeastern United States.
“Red touches yellow, it kills a fellow. Red touches black, venom lack.” If you’re in the wild, that saying could very well save your life. Meet the Coral Snake (venomous) not to be confused with the King Snake (not venomous.) As the saying goes, corals have a black, yellow, red, yellow, black pattern. While kings have a red, black, yellow, black, red pattern.
Coral snakes often hide or burrow in leaves and dirt. They can be found in sandy, wooded, and marshy areas of the southern U.S.
The only FDA-approved Coral anti-venom is the North American Coral Snake Antivenin. However, it is no longer in production and current stock is set to expire in June of this year.
Copperheads do typically have a reddish hue to them, but can also appear more on the tan side.
Copperheads are big forest dwellers, and they love setting up habitats near creeks, rivers, and other bodies of water. They don’t typically grow larger than 3 feet as adults.
Copperheads usually freeze when they feel threatened. They also rely on camouflage, so it’s more likely that you’ll step on one before you see it.
In general, snakes tend to be most active at dusk and dawn. They also prefer warm weather over the cold.
If it’s not obvious that you’ve been bitten by a venomous snake, these horrifying symptoms should give you an idea.
– Nausea
– Vomiting
– Diarrhea
– Rapid heart rate
– Blurred vision
– Metallic, rubbery, minty taste in mouth
– Numbness
– Sweating and salivation
– Twitching muscles
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The one-eyed trouser snake is pretty harmless.