photo credited to flickr user Brimac The 2nd

Among snakes there are venomous and nonvenomous types. The venomous snakes are the primary dangers, and the vast majority of them are broken into the elapids and the vipers. Among nonvenomous snakes, the only real dangers are the huge constrictors. Their bites deliver no venom, but can cause infection and the larger constrictors can kill via suffocation.

Among venomous snakes, the most common in the United States are the vipers. The only elapid in the US is the coral snake. The vipers are your rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads. Vipers are noted by having large hypodermic like fangs that are hinged. When the snake strikes outwardly, they then stab the victim and inject venom.

Among the vipers, dry bites are somewhat unusual. It has been estimated that around 20 percent of viper bites are dry. While these figures are far from hard and fast, they give an idea about how you can get bitten by a rattlesnake and have no ill effects. (always assume the snake has injected venom and get medical attention though)

Among the elapids, the dry bites are often much more common. The reason for this is partially because of the fact that many elapids have rear fangs that are much smaller than their viper cousins. They make up for this by having more toxic venom in many cases. Still, the fact that they have more trouble biting cleanly as a group means more dry bites.

Why do snakes deliver dry bites? Some think it is because they are conserving their venom for prey they can actually eat. Some say that it is because their supply may have been just used on a prey item. Some say it is just an accident and the snake did not bite cleanly. The truth? Probably a combination of all of these in some form or fashion.

Even a dry bite can cause medical problems however. All snake bites carry a risk of infection. For this reason, you should get any snake bite checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible. Better safe than sorry, dry bite or not.

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Mojave Rattlesnake

Venom generally works in two different ways. Most rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths are what is referred to as Pit Vipers. Pit vipers generally have hemorrhagic venom. In simple terms, hemorrhagic venom causes the snake bite victim to bleed to death from the inside. Hemorrhagic venom is also likely to cause massive tissue damage and scarring.

A coral snake, which is closely related to the cobra family, has what is called a neurotoxic venom. Neurotoxic venom attacks the central nervous system and can cause cardiac arrest as well as cessation of breathing. As a rule, neurotoxic venom is much more dangerous than hemorrhagic venom.

One interesting snake is found in the United States is the Mojave rattlesnake. The Mojave rattlesnake actually has both venoms, and is particularly dangerous. All venomous snakes have some level of both types of venom as a rule, but the Mojave has enough of each for both to be a problem.

As a rule, venomous snake bites are not a problem in North America. The odds of coming across a venomous snake in North America are fairly remote unless you find yourself in the wilderness often. Still it is a good idea to keep in mind how venom works, and the dangers that it can create. Venomous snakes are hesitant to use their venom on anything other than a meal. This is because they have precious little venom, and wasting it on an inedible human makes no sense.

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Eastern Diamondback Picture Credited to TimVickers Wikipedia Commons Public Domain

It is notable that ninety five percent of the snake bites out there are caused by the person trying to handle or kill the snake. Another percentage of people are harmed by their own self while attempting to kill a snake.

It brings to mind the story of a man that went out to kill a rattlesnake in the back yard a couple years ago. He went and grabbed a hoe reportedly to chop off the head. The snake was a eastern diamondback that was reportedly about eight feet long. That is a large snake that was likely highly irritated.

The eastern diamondback is about as deadly as they come in the United States, particularly when they are full grown. The man was over matched to be sure, though he tried anyway to dispose of the snake.

An eight foot rattlesnake is capable of striking at a distance of about half of their body length. Therefore, a rattlesnake that is eight feet long can hit a target that is four feet away. Four feet seemed a safe distance for this man, and he paid for it.

The snake struck him in the lower leg, and the man swung the hoe. The problem was, he stuck the hoe in his leg missing the snake altogether. In his panic, he was struck a second time by the snake before the snake slithered away.

Fortunately, the man lived due to quick action by the EMTs and antivenom, but the point was clear – if you are not a herpetologist or a professional, leave the snakes alone.

If not, you just might get bitten and hoed to death…..

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The Copperhead

The family of rattlesnakes, of which there are many subspecies, are among the more deadly along with the coral snake. The coral snake is not quite as dangerous simply because they are not encountered nearly as often, and when they do they are not as quick to bite. The cottonmouth is a fairly plentiful species, and they are certainly not afraid to bite, but they are found primarily in the Southern part of the US. The copperhead is spread all over. They are quick to bite if stepped on or messed with.

Another key factor with copperhead venomous snake bites is that they are found where the people are. Copperheads will set up in residential neighborhoods, farms, and even small forests that line the neighborhoods. If you see a venomous snake around your home, the chances are very high that it is a copperhead. Because of this proximity to people, the copperhead snake bite is the most common venomous snake bite in the United States.

The bite of the copperhead can range from very mild to highly dangerous. Most healthy adults will not have a serious problem with copperhead snake bites. Children, the elderly or anyone with a compromised immune system however can have major reactions to copperhead snake bite venom. As such, any copperhead snake bite should be viewed as a medical emergency. You should head to the emergency room as soon as possible if you are bitten by this snake.

The copperhead is by and large a very harmless snake that wants no part of people. They provide a wonderful service to our ecosystem, and without these snakes we would likely be overrun with vermin and things of this nature.

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Common garter snakes are some of the most common snakes found in the United States. They are the snake you are most likely to encounter in most suburban areas.   As such, many people wonder about the garter snake and whether they are dangerous.   Many garter snakes are needlessly killed annually because of the misconception that all snakes are dangerous. Here are the things you need to know about garter snakes:

Are Common Garter Snakes Dangerous?

Garter snakes are harmless in all of their various species.  There are many different species of garter snake, and they are all nonvenomous.  This does not mean that a garter snake can not hurt you.  It means that they are harmless from a venom standpoint.  Garter snakes can bite, and sometimes do.  When they bite, like any wild animal bite, the bite can become infected.  As such, garter snakes can give you a painful little bite.  All garter snake bites (any snake bites) should be cleaned and tended for infection protection.  On the whole, garter snakes are completely harmless.

Where Do You Find The Common Garter Snake?

Garter snakes can be found in many different habitats and in many places in the world depending on the species.  The most common garter snakes are found in grasslands, neighborhood back yards, and in the woods.  They are very adaptable snakes on the whole, and a garter snake might just turn up anywhere given the chance.

How Big Do Common Garter Snakes Get?

Garter snakes generally run about 5 ft tops and about as big around as a thick thumb.  They are not large snakes, but they can grow large if the circumstances are right.  Garter snakes are among the most beautiful snakes on the whole.

How Do You Identify A Common Garter Snake?

The common garter snake has a very rounded nose, and a black or brown ground color.  The common garter snake also has a series of yellow stripes running long ways down their backs, and the shades of these colors can vary wildly due to age, species, and location.  Their are many other types of garter snakes that can look much different as well.

What Does The Common Garter Snake Eat?

The common garter snake eats salamandars, lizards, earthworms, and any other small prey they can catch and kill.  They are quite adept at finding unique food, and often prey on whatever is available in their range.

Are Common Garter Snakes Generally Biters?

Garter snakes are often kept as pets, and many of these are caught in the wild initially.  When you catach a garter snake in the wild, they are likely to try to bite as would any wild animal being taken from their natural habitat.  Though the garter snake is generally fiesty at first, they end up being very docile as a rule.  If you leave them alone in the wild, they almost never bite.

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Snakes as pets is not a new hobby to say the least.  One of the most popular snakes that people keep as pets is the yellow rat snake. This snake is readily found in the wild, and around farms in particular.  The yellow rat snake can be kind of tough to identify, however.  This article is for those people that want to identify the yellow rat snake in the wild, and possibly even keep them as pets.

The yellow rat snake has no venom like the pit vipers and other dangerous snakes in the United States.  Still, they are very feisty in the wild, and will bite readily.  As such, pet owners should really consider getting a yellow rat snake that was born in captivity. They are much more likely to be docile, and they surely would be easier to attain.  Still, a wild yellow rat snake is sometimes docile as well.

Yellow rat snakes can vary wildly in color as well.  This can lead to misidentification, and sometimes to dangerous misidentification.  This variation in color is due to regional location, as well as the age of the snake.  Here are some details about the yellow rat snake that can help you to understand and identify them better:

The first thing is to make sure the yellow rat snake is even located in your area.  They are generally foun din the southeast, from about South Carolina down to Florida.  They are very common in these areas, but they are also excellent at hiding from you when you are looking for them.  As mentioned, farms are a wonderful place to find the yellow rat snake, and this is because they are natural exterminators for mice and rats.  A yellow rat snake is true to their name… they eat the mice like crazy.  They can also be found in the woods, however, and anywhere that you might find mice.  Yes, that means in the house too if you have indoor mice.

In the North, the yellow rat snake is actually the black rat snake.  They are essentially the same snake that is colored different and in different locations.

Yellow rat snakes are most commonly yellow, but they can also be brown, black and any other color of the rainbow.  They always have four brown lines that run down the length of their bodies. The rat snake is a constrictor and is capable of powerful squeezes for their size.  They constrict their prey by wrapping around the prey, and slowly squeezing more and more as the prey struggles to breathe.  They then swallow the prey starting at the head, and working their way down the body.

While the yellow rat snake is harmless overall, it can deliver a nasty bite to you.  Any snakebite is important to have checked out at the doctor, simply because snakes eat carrion sometimes, and vermin.  Vermin carry disease, and it is better to be safe than sorry.  The yellow rat snake is generally a very laid back snake as a pet once they become used to you.  Again, consider having a yellow rat snake that was raised in captivity if you truly want a docile snake for a pet.

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I learned to respect this snake while watching an episode of Crocodile Hunter.  Steve Irwin, who swam and wrestled salt water crocs, was literally terrified of this huge snake.  I figure if the Crocodile Hunter fears the reticulated python, then maybe I should too.  So I started researching on the reticulated python (that is what I do when I fear something).

Usually, when I research a snake I find out that the truth is not really all that scary.  Not so with the reticulated python.  This Asian snake has killed and ….. yes even consumed people.  As a rule, pythons and other large snakes such as anacondas do not view us as a food source.  In spite of this, the reticulated python has been known to eat humans.  A reticulated python would have quite a problem consuming a full sized human being, but a child or smaller human would be no problem at all.  Any sized human being can be killed by the reticulated python however.  They are that big and strong.

So just how big do they get?  They have been reported to be as long as 30+ feet.  There are several reticulated pythons in captivity that are in excess of 25 feet and these bad boys can weigh in excess of 300 pounds.  Now that is a lot of snake.

The reticulated python is generally considered to be the longest snake in the world, while the anaconda is considered the largest because of the massive girth.  (they also are rumored to grow to huge lengths)  It really depends on the source as to which snake is actually the largest.

One thing is a given with reticulated pythons.  They are far too large and far too dangerous to disrespect one.  Give them the same large berth that you would to any other dangerous creature.  Your life would likely depend on it.

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The ball python that I had was a pretty stout one. It went about six feet or so, and was pretty thick around the middle. The snake had always been a very laid back snake, and was not prone to strike in the least. We had no small pets or children in the house, and the ball python does not get terribly large, so we did not worry too much about it getting out of it’s cage. Big mistake….

One morning I woke up and walked over to say good morning. When I did, the lid of the cage had been moved away just enough for the snake to get out, and the ball python was gone! No snake anywhere. I searched that apartment for hours. I started to panic a bit, because the snake could be anywhere. I wasn’t worried about the snake actually harming anyone, but I was worried that an escaped six foot python could alarm the heck out of the neighbors not to mention the snake itself.

After about six hours and several uncomfortable conversations with the neighbors, I gave in and when to work.

I got home that night and started to implement some of the many ideas given to me by coworkers. I tried putting out some food. I tried the ventilation system. I tried the heaters and ducts. I tried everything. After about six more hours, I gave up ever finding that ball python.

I fixed myself some supper, and then got myself propped up in front of the television for the latest “Seinfeld” episode. Then it hit me.

The television is often considered a prime hiding spot for escaped snakes because of the heat source. Not so much the television as under the television. The problem was, the only way to check it out was to stick my head down there and look. Now a six foot python that decides to bite you is not very fun. I figured that it would be a bit cranky and maybe a bit hungry as well. Not a good mixture when you are putting your face down into a small area.

I stuck my head down to peek under the television where there was about three inches of clearance. As soon as I did, my ball python bit me right on the nose. The strike nearly gave me a heart attack. I had never seen him strike unless he was eating and seeing it that close up and personal was a snake bite experience I would have loved to have missed.

I finally got him out of there, but only with the promise of food. I waved a little mouse (dead) in front of the opening and slowly brought it out far enough that I could get him behind the head.

I learned my lesson about escaping snakes that day. From that point forward, I always kept my snake safely tucked away and the locks in place. My nose is now healed, but I will never forget that snake bite.

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Kansas Rattlesnake's New Entry

In Kansas, rattlesnakes are not supposed to get so big and nasty.  In some of the larger state parks, more and more western diamondback rattlesnakes are showing up.  Why is this a big deal?  Primarily because Western Diamondbacks are not native to Kansas.

The Western diamondback rattlesnake is nearly three times the size of the average Kansas rattlesnake.  Kansas rattlesnakes are normally very small.  The Kansas rattlesnakes that are natives are the prarie rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, and the massasauga rattlesnake.  These rattlesnakes usually top out at under three feet in length.

Kansas rattlesnakes are dangerous just like any other kinds of rattlesnakes, but the western diamondback rattlesnake is a whole different ball of wax.  This rattlesnake is much larger at around six to seven feet, and it is known for having a particularly nasty venom.  The Kansas rattlesnake antivenin is not effective for the Western Diamondback bite.  That is one of only a handful of problems the Western showing up in Kansas might cause.

Another problem is the fact that they could throw off the ecosystem.  Anytime you introduce a new species of anything into a new area, you are playing with fire.

It is thought this new introduction to Kansas rattlesnakes is due to rattlesnake wranglers releasing them in the wild.  This could be for breeding purposes, or simply to create a new place to have rattlsnake roundups such as you might find in Texas.  Regardless of how, the Western Diamondback is a seriously dangerous snake.

People in Kansas need to add this species of rattlesnake to their list of things to look out for.  The western diamondback is notorious for being stepped on, and they are quick to bite if surprised or disturbed.  The western diamondback snake bite can be deadly, and Kansas rattlesnake enthusiasts would do well to leave them alone.

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Snake bite myths are something else.  I once was told this story by a person that obviously thought I knew diddily squat about snakes.  I laughed and walked away, though I should have informed them that a black mamba does not chase you unless cornered.  Even then, it will quickly take an escape route if given one.  I should have also told them that a black mamba does not kill you in ten seconds, unless it gives you a heart attack from the scare.

This story illustrates the irrational fears that people have about snakes.  The fact is, snake bites are almost always a case of someone doing something stupid.  Maybe they tried to kill the snake.  Maybe they stepped on it.  Maybe they tried to play with it.  I assure you they were not chased by it.

Snakes are creatures that simply want no part of anything that they can not eat.  They do not wish to harm people.  They can not eat us, and so we are useless to them.  We may be a danger to them, and so they bite in self defense.  Snake bites happen when we invade the reptile’s space.

The one exception to this rule might be the reticulated python or the Anaconda.  These two snakes could almost certainly eat a child or small framed adult.  The veracity of those claims is constantly debated.  What is certain is that many snakes can kill humans.  This does not mean they want to.

Venomous snakes bite purely in self defense.  If they feel threatened, they will bite quickly and forcefully.  The thing is, they sometimes do not even inject the venom.  This is called a “dry bite” and is usually because the snake is reserving their venom for food sources.  They do not want to waste their venom on us silly humans.

If you want to see the perfect example of people doing stupid things to get snake bitten, read all about this guy that got bitten in the face by a deadly pet gaboon viper.  It is a good illustration of how we bring snake bites down on ourselves.

The bottom line is that if we leave them alone, they will do the same.  If you come across a snake, ignore it and give it a wide berth.  I assure you, it will not chase you….. Even in Africa.

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