Frequently Asked Questions About Venomous Snakes
What are my chances of dying from a venomous snakebite? How much venom is in a snake? What snake venom is most toxic? Below are the answers to these questions and more. If you have a question that is not answered here, contact Dr. J for more info.
What are my chances of being
bitten by a venomous snake in the U.S.?
How many people die each year from venomous snake bites?
The chances of being bitten by a venomous snake in the United States are very low, and the chance of death is virtually nonexistent, particularly given the availability and quality of medical care in the U.S. Approximately one out of 37,500 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the U.S. each year (7-8,000 bites per year), and only one out of 50 million people will die from snakebite (5-6 fatalities per year). The graph below compares deaths from venomous snakebites to some leading causes of death, lightning strikes and other animal related deaths. Did you know that you are nine times more likely to die from being struck by lightning than you are to die of venomous snakebite?
What is the difference between
poison and venom?
If you drink venom, will it kill you?
Poisons
are substances that are toxic (cause harm) if swallowed or inhaled.
Venoms are generally not toxic if swallowed, and must be injected
under the skin (by snakes, spiders, etc.) into the tissues normally
protected by skin in order to be toxic.
How big is the venom gland and where is it located?
The
venom gland is a modified salivary gland, and is located just behind
and below the eye. The size of the venom gland depends on the size of
the snake - this image shows the approximate size of the venom gland
in relation to the skull of this Timber Ratlesnake.
How much venom is in a snake?
The volume of venom in a snake’s venom gland (measured as the amount extracted by milking) increases exponentially with the size of the snake, and can range from 1 – 850ml (or more). In a comparative study of snake venoms, the largest amount of venom (850ml) was extracted from an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake.
What snake venom is most toxic drop for drop (LD50) in the US? Globally?
A
comparative study showed that the snake venom most toxic to mice (of
the species tested) is the Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus),
found in Australia. Out of U.S. species, the most toxic venom was
found to be that of the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, #23 on the
list of most toxic venoms (of those tested). It is important to note
that these venoms were only tested on mice. While this certainly
provides valuable information about those species that eat mice and
other small mammals, it may not accurately reflect toxicity to humans.
Based on documented deaths by snakebite, the world's deadliest snake
is probably the Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus). However,
many of these deaths are likely due to lack of medical care.
What percent of bites are dry
bites (no venom injected)?
Can all venomous snakes deliver a dry bite?
Venom delivery is voluntary, and all venomous snakes can deliver dry bites. 20-25% of all pit viper bites and 50% of Coral Snake bites are dry bites. Occasionally, the venom may be prematurely expelled before the fangs puncture the skin, which may also result in a dry bite.
Have there been any reported deaths from a Pygmy Rattlesnake bite?
No, there are no reported deaths from a Pygmy Rattlesnake on record.
However, in certain cases or situations (victim is very young or
elderly,
no medical care accessible), fatality could occur.
Where did the venomous Cottonmouth,
also known as the Water Moccasin, get its name?
The
name 'Cottonmouth' comes from the defensive behavior of this snake.
When threatened, the snake will coil its body and open its mouth to
show the white, cotton-colored inside as a warning. Although there are
several theories about the name 'Water Moccasin', no one knows for
sure where these snakes got this name. Early settlers may have called
the Cottonmouth and the closely related Copperhead "Moccasins" due to
their brown, "moccasin-colored" skin, or due to the fact that these
pit vipers lack rattles, moving as silently as the moccasin-wearing
native Americans.
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