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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- The mojave usually has white and black bands on the tail. The white bands tend to be larger than the black. The western also has this pattern, but he bands tend to be the same size.

- The mojave sometimes takes on a greenish tint in color, whereas the western diamondback does not.

- The western diamondback tends to be a good deal larger, but this is misleading because of variance in ages.

- The mojave lacks the banding around the eyes that the western normally has.

- Both species are highly aggressive and bite readily.

- Both species are dangerous particularly in spring, when they arise from hibernation and are hungry.

- The mojave tends to bite first and rattle later. The western diamondback usually will warn the rattle in advance. This is far from one hundred percent, but just a general observation based on case studies.

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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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Copperhead

Perhaps no other venomous snake in North America is more widely confused than the copperhead.  The copperhead actually has three different subspecies throughout North America.  These subspecies are all quite similar, and all venomous.  The copperhead snake is also the most common snakebite in North America among the dangerous snakes.  This fascinating reptile is not the evil serpent people think.

How Dangerous is The Copperhead

The copperhead has venom that is roughly half the toxicity of a rattlesnake.  Additionally, the copperhead also has relatively small fangs and delivers a much smaller amount of venom.  Because of these factors, the copperhead often is a much less serious snake bite than that of the cottonmouth or rattlesnake.  Still, as with any snake bite, it is considered a medical emergency and can be extremely dangerous.  The copperhead is not a ready biter, but will bite if it feels threatened.  Often, people accidentally step on them due to their fantastic talent of blending with their surroundings.  The vast number of a copperhead bite victims never see the snake.

Copperhead

Where Do You Find The Copperhead

The copperhead is found throughout the United States and is the most widely distributed venomous snake in the country.  They like to hang out in brush, under leaves, and anywhere that they can find a meal.  They are also the most likely venomous snake to encounter around your home.  The copperhead is very adaptive in this way.

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

A copperhead snake will generally grow to a maximum of about three feet.  They all have copper colored heads, and have a ground color of pink, brown, or even tan depending on the subspecies.  They have triangular shaped heads, and the trademark facial pits that pit vipers are known for.  They also have markings that are smaller around the spine and widen as they go towards the underside of the snake.  These markings are darker than the ground color of the copperhead.

Copperhead

What Does The Copperhead Eat?

The copperhead eats small rodents, vermin and anything else they can capture.  They have been known to kill and eat lizards and other similar types of prey as well.

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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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The cottonmouth, commonly referred to as a water moccasin, is a stout bodied snake that is alternately described as reclusive and aggressive. My personal experience with this pit viper is that it is highly territorial, and not likely to give ground when confronted. That said, the cottonmouth has never exactly been aggressive as far as what I have seen. It will stand it’s ground, gape open it’s mouth, and wait for you to leave. This is not exactly aggressive behavior as much as stubborn.

There are at least three subspecies of cottonmouth found in North America, and they are all fairly abundant within their ranges. There is the Eastern Cottomouth (Agkistrodan piscivorus piscivorus), the Florida cottonmouth (Agkistrodan piscivorus conanti) and the Western cottonmouth (Agkistrodan piscivorus leucostoma). They all are similar with coloration being the primary difference among them. This article will deal with the Eastern cottonmouth as this is the species of which I have the most knowledge of.

Is the Cottonmouth Dangerous?

Cottonmouths are venomous, and the venom is somewhat comparable to the bite of most large rattlesnakes. They are not quite as serious as those rattlesnakes, but they are more toxic than the copperhead. The bite of the cottonmouth can cause massive tissue loss at the site of the bite, and often will make you incredibly sick. Can it kill you? Absolutely it can if you do not get treatment for the bite. The vast majority of cottonmouth snake bites do not end in death, however. Bites should be considered serious and should always be treated as an emergency.

Where Are Cottonmouths Located?

Cottonmouth snakes are very common throughout the Southeast to include North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Arkansas. This list is far from all inclusive, but it is the “hot bed” of cottonmouth locations.

How Big Do Cottonmouths Get?

The cottonmouth can grow up to about 3-4 feet on average. They do not get extremely long, but they are known to get quite fat. Their bodies are very stout and the snake is quite powerful looking as a rule. Baby cottonmouths are usually about a foot.

Identification of the Cottonmouth

Cottonmouth snakes are usually identified by the white coloration that is clearly shown to anyone that happens to be close. The cottonmouth will generally curl into a strike position and gape open its jaws, thereby showing the reason they are called cottonmouths. The two large fangs that are hinged back when the snake closes its mouth are sometimes visible as well. If you are close enough to note the fangs, then you are way too close.

The head of the cottonmouth is noticeably larger than the neck, and they are generally triangular in shape. The head also houses pits which allow the snake to hunt effectively. These heat sensing pits are a primary feature of a pit viper such as the cottonmouth.

The cottonmouth also can be highly variant in color, depending on where it is located and the species. In general, cottonmouths are darker as they age, and markings begin to fade. The cottonmouth often has bands that are serrated at the edges. The ground color can be black, grey, brown, or even a olive color.

Cottonmouth Behavior

The cottonmouth has been known to do some odd things. They are not your everyday snake by any means. For example, when a cottonmouth goes into the water, they swim with the head up and over the body. Most other water snakes swim low in the water.

The classic urban myth about a water skier falling into a bed of cottonmouths is simply not true. Cottonmouths do not nest in the water, and they tend to run when in the water. Oddly, they do not seem as brave in the water as they are on land. On land, the cottonmouth is usually going to stand its ground.

Though the cottonmouth is widely feared, it should not be. The snake is a formidable reptile that deserves respect, not fear. As long as you give them a wide berth, the cottonmouth will never be a problem for anyone. They are beautiful and quite necessary in our ecosystems throughout the United States.

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The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is actually a rather shy and reclusive snake.  It has no interest whatsoever in encountering human beings, and if you heed it’s warning you are not likely to get bitten.  The eastern diamondback rattlesnake will bite if it is surprised or harassed, and when it does the results can be rather bad for humans.

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is a pit viper.  That means that it has little heat sensing pits on the snout of the snake that act as a sort of infra-red vision.  The snake sees warmth which comes in handy when hunting warm blooded mammals.  Another common pit viper trait is a triangular shaped head.  The eastern diamondback is known to have a large head with a skinny neck, and fits that pit viper profile to a tee.

One of the most telling features about the eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the racoon like features around the eyes and down the side of the head.  This is common to most all eastern diamondbacks.  The eastern diamondback also has the trademark rattle that one would expect.  This is not a good gauge of identification, however.  That goes for any rattlesnake.  The reason why is because the rattles on a rattlesnake can be missing for any number of reasons.  For example, the rattlesnake may have gotten into an altercation and lost it in a fight.

The eastern diamondback is a stout, heavy bodied snake that can grow in excess of eight feet.  Extra large eastern diamondbacks can grow up to ten feet, though this is far from common.  The average size of a full grown adult is probably around seven feet or so.

The eastern diamondback has hinged fangs that spring forward when the snake strikes.  The snake then buries the fangs deep into the snake bite victim, and injects venom through the hollow fangs.  The eastern diamondback has large fangs, and extremely large venom glands.  This means that it can inject copious amounts of venom into a bite.  This is one of the reasons the eastern diamondback rattlesnake is so dangerous.

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