To limit the side effects of black widow antivenin, the patient should consider the following:

• If they have had reactions to black widow antivenin before, they should tell the doctor.
• If they have any serious allergies, they should tell the doctor.
• If they are pregnant, then the doctor should know right away.
• If they are using any other types of medicines, the doctor needs to know.
• If they are breastfeeding, they should tell the doctor.

Assuming that these things are considered, and that the patient shows no other problems with black widow antivenin consideration, then black widow antivenin may be given as a rule.

Some more benign symptoms of black widow antivenin include:

• Fever
• Joint Pain
• Aching Muscles
• Enlarged Lymph Nodes
• Rashes

More serious symptoms of black widow antivenin include:

• Trouble Breathing or Swallowing
• Itching in the Hands or Feet
• Ears Becoming Red
• Swelling Anywhere above the Neck
• Sudden Weakness

The vast majority of black widow spider bites are relatively benign in nature. It is very very rare that someone dies from a black widow spider bite. Occasionally a small child or a elderly person may succumb to the Black widow spider bite venom. This is rare as well. In spite of the relatively small chances of death, the suffering of the black widow bite victim is usually rather common. For this reason, the black widow spider antivenin is widely used and accepted. Not only can it save a spider bite victim’s life, but it can reduce their suffering as well.

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Indian Cobra Courtesy of Wikipedia user Kamalnv

The big four venomous snakes in Asia are the four snakes that are most common to kill. These snakes are all quick to bite and can be deadly in a very short period of time.  What truly makes the big four dangerous, however, is the fact that they are all found in and around the human population.  This leads to more venomous snake bites than in most countries, and in turn, more deaths.

Each of these powerful venomous snakes are capable of killing a human, and each of them can be readily found throughout the cities of India.  These venomous snakes are kind of a win/lose situation for the residents there – on the one hand they keep the vermin population in check, and on the other they are deadly if you are bitten.  Anti-venin is available widely throughout India in the event of a snake bite, and is a must if you are bitten by these big four snakes.

You will notice that the lengendary king cobra is not on this list of the big four.  The reason?  The king cobra is a reclusive snake that is content to hang out in the jungle.  For this reason, they do not come in contact with the people of India nearly as often.  Therefore they are not as dangerous.  A bite from a king cobra is as deadly as they come, but they are just much rarer.

Here are some interesting notes about each of the big four venomous snakes of Asia:

The Indian Cobra – also called a monocled cobra.  The Indian cobra is the cobra of legend that has a pair of monocled glasses on it’s back.  They are quite venomous, and will bite readily if you surprise or harrass them.  This is the snake that is used by snake charmers in India.

Russell's Viper Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons User Saleem Hameed

The Russell’s Viper – This snake is one of the most feared snakes in Asia.  One reason is because the snake is so tough to see, and so quick to bite.  They will strike without warning, and deliver a highly potent painful deadly snake bite.  The Russell’s viper is no joke in India.

The Saw-Scaled Viper – This little buggar is interesting in that it sounds much like a small rattlesnake.  The sound that it makes comes from rubbing it’s own scales against one another to create a buzzing noise.  This noise is sure to get people’s attention in India as they know the danger of this highly aggressive viper.

The Common Krait – Another potentially deadly snake that is famous in India.  It appears this

Saw Scaled Viper

snake is prone to climbing into bed with you in pursuit of a rodent or other vermin.  This is not a nightime surprise I would want to experience.  The common Krait is a beautiful but potentially deadly reptile.

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I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

The black mamba is named after the black coloration of the inside of their mouths and not their body color. If you notice, the black mamba is actually a greyish color. Their mouths are jet black when they open it however.

The black mamba is also one of the largest venomous species of snake in the world. This African serpent is actually the second largest in the world among venomous species. Only the king cobra is larger. The black mamba can reach fourteen feet in length.

The black mamba is also highly aggressive. In spite of this fact, they will still attempt to escape given the chance. They are not interested in conflict with humans, but if they are cornered they are capable, and highly aggressive fighters. Never approach a black mamba in the wild or anywhere else. They can kill you in a flash if you are not near antivenin. Even with the antidote, the black mamba still can be deadly. Without the antivenin, the black mambas bite is nearly 100 percent fatal.

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Timber Rattlesnake Pattern

The timber rattlesnake, also commonly called the canebrake rattlesnake, is a relatively mild mannered member of the rattlesnake family.  Though they are less likely to jump into a fight, they are still very fierce when cornered.  The timber rattlesnake much prefers staying far away from human contact, and will usually slide away if it has an avenue of escape.

How Dangerous is The Timber Rattlesnake?

The timber rattlesnake, though not inclined to be overly aggressive, is still potentially lethal.  The toxicity of a timber rattlesnake is not usually as lethal as the more volatile eastern and western diamondbacks, but they are still very dangerous rattlesnakes.  Their toxin is generally less destructive to the soft tissues, but can still kill a person if not treated quickly.  The bite of the timber rattlesnake requires immediate medical attention.

Where Do You Find The Timber Rattlesnake?

Timber Rattlesnake Blending In

Generally, the timber rattlesnake is protected and it’s numbers are dwindling due to a loss of habitat.  They do not generally enjoy being near people, and as we encroach further on their habitat, they are finding themselves with no place to go.  The timber rattlesnake can be found as far North as New England, and as far West as Texas.  They are found in the vast majority of the East.  They generally hang out in open fields, woodlands, prairies and grasslands.  When they den, they usually like to do so in rocky areas.

What Does The Timber Rattlesnake Look Like and How Big Do They Get?

The timber rattlesnake is not a very long snake.  It gets to about four feet on average, but can get as big as six feet in length.  They tend to be on the fat side, and can get quite thick if the food is aplenty.  Timber rattlesnakes can be a dark brown, yellow, or gray.  Sometimes they are black.  The timber rattlesnake has a chevron pattern or cross-band pattern.

What Does The Timber Rattlesnake Eat?

Timber rattlesnakes love to eat rats, lizards, other snakes, birds, rabbits and even the occasional frog.  If it is edible and fits in their mouths, they will generally go for it.

Are There Similar Snakes That Look Like The Timber Rattlesnake

Would You Want To Meet This One Up Close?

The timber rattlesnake shares it’s territory with the Eastern Diamondback, but few would mistake them for one another.  The Eastern is generally much larger, but a young Eastern diamondback might be mistaken for a young adult timber rattlesnake to a person that is not familiar.

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Ironically, the truth about the Sydney funnel web spider is plenty scary enough.  This spider has the ability to kill a healthy human being without proper treatment of a bite, and it is not hesitant to deliver a deep bite.  The Sydney funnel web spider is highly aggressive when threatened or encountered, though not to the levels they are purported to reach.   Here are some of the hilarious Sydney funnel web spider myths and stories I have heard in my studies:

Sydney funnel web spider Myths and Stories:

- One website that I came across said that the Sydney funnel web spider he encountered literally chased him for half a mile….. Really.

- Another myth was that the Sydney funnel web spider was milked and filled up two cups full of venom.  This is not even funny it is so stupid.

- A fairly respected website I came across said that the Sydney funnel web spider can grow as big as a dinner plate.  Again, that is a massive exaggeration.

- The Sydney funnel web spider does not kill people in five minutes.  As a matter of fact, their have been no recorded human deaths since the advent of antivenin.  The venom is seriously dangerous without the antivenin, however.  Not five minutes deadly, but deadly all the same.

- Sydney funnel web spiders do not “set up house” inside of homes.  Males wander at night, and sometimes become trapped inside.   They do not wish to stay there, and will get out given the chance.  They do not stay on purpose.

- The Sydney funnel web spider does not jump up on top of people to bite them.  This again, is an exaggeration probably stemming from the fact that they rear up on their hind legs and stab with their fangs when they bite.  They do not leap across the room to chase you down.

Picture credited to Wikipedia User en:User:Tirin, www.takver.com

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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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Black Widow

Hopefully you are never unlucky enough to be bitten by a black widow spider, but just in case you do, it might be a good idea to know what to do.  The first thing in any venomous spider bite is to remain calm.  The black widow spider injects venom into your system that will spread much faster if you are panicked. Relax and know that you will be okay.

The first thing you should do is apply ice to the bite site. Wrap the ice in something such as a shirt, washcloth, or other covering and then apply.  Leave the ice on for about 9 minutes at a time, and then take it off for approximately the same amount of time.

The next step should actually be done while doing the above.  Transport the victim to the hospital or nearest medical facility.   Your job is done once the victim has reached the hospital.

When the spider bite victim reaches the hospital the doctor may take any number of steps.  These include muscle relaxants and careful blood pressure monitoring.  Certainly pain medicine will be administered if needed, and sometimes a medicine called antivenin is used.

Antivenin for black widow spider bites is called “lactodectrus mactans” and it is reserved for only the worst of the black widow spider bites.  The black widow antivenin is sometimes a problem with certain patients, so they are careful about who they administer it to.

The black widow spider is not always quick to release venom.  Sometimes the bites are “dry” or venom is not injected.  The black widow needs that venom to secure food and prey in the wild.  They do not want to waste it on a huge human that they can not eat.

Children, the elderly, and those in poor health are the most at risk group with black widow spider bites.  If you fall in this category and are bitten, you need to get to the hospital right away.  The vast majority of people that are bitten by black widow spiders recover fully and live to tell the tale.

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