How to Identify Venomous Snakes in America
All snakes are dangerous to a degree. They have constricted, bitten, and envenomed their way into the history books as nasty creatures. Snakes have been depicted as devils, tyrants, and even Satan himself.
They get a bad rap, but snakes aren’t all that bad when they aren’t trying to kill you. Corn snakes and garden snakes take care of pests, like mice, that can spread diseases. If you happen to step on one of those snakes, and they strike you, it probably won’t be that bad. A cottonmouth takes care of pests too but is not one you want to step on since its venom is potent enough to kill you.
Whether you are bugging out off-grid or gardening in your backyard; you have a chance of creeping up on a snake. Knowing the difference between a venomous and a non-venomous snake is helpful in survival situations and everyday life.
Contents (Jump to a Section)
Check the Eyes
If you are close enough to see their eyes, you might be in a bad situation. This is still recommended as one of the easiest ways to identify a venomous snake though.
Slanted eyes are a surefire sign that a snake is venomous- and only one venomous snake in the US doesn’t have slanted eyes: the coral snake. The other best way to know whether or not a snake is venomous is to simply learn all of the venomous snakes. There are only four major types of venomous snakes found in America, and they can be easy to spot if you know what you are looking for.
Identifying a Coral Snake
Coral snakes are colorful but can still be hard to spot if you are not careful. They also have non-venomous copycat snakes in the king snake and the scarlet snake, which have markings that look very similar to a coral snake. The saying that makes this easy to remember is:
Easy to Remember: “Red touches yellow, kill a fellow; red touches black, safe for Jack”
Coral snakes are relatives of sea snakes, mambas, and cobras. They grow to an adult size of around three feet long and are slender. Coral snakes live in the southern part of the United States and there are a few variations that exist in Texas and Arizona. They have the most potent venom of snakes found in the US. Bites are rare though, since coral snakes are not common, live in sparsely populated areas, and are very reclusive.
Coral snakes are the only venomous snakes in America that are not pit vipers. Unlike vipers, they do not have sensory pits that detect thermal radiation. Another weird fact about coral snakes is that they are the only venomous snake in America that lays eggs; the rest give live birth to litters.
Identifying a Rattlesnake
Rattlesnakes come in many sizes and color patterns. With 36 species, rattlesnakes are among the most varied of snakes found in the US and can be found all over the country. Rattlesnakes are easy to spot if you can see their rattle attached to the tip of their tail. Most extend their rattle out from their bodies when coiled so you can spot them even if they are small.
You may hear a rattlesnake before you see one, due to the distinctive rattling sound they make with their tail.
If you are bitten by a venomous snake in America, it is most likely to be a rattlesnake bite just due to how many of them there are. They are not particularly aggressive, but they still cause the most snake bite injuries.
The good news is that rattlesnake bites, although venomous, are rarely fatal.
Identifying a Copperhead
Copperheads can be confused with rat snakes and corn snakes due to their coloring, but have a distinctive pattern and head shape. Adult copperheads are typically between two and three feet long. They have a tan or pinkish-tan coloring and dark brown bands that run the length of their body.
Copperheads are found in the eastern US and prefer rocky ledges and wooded areas. I grew up with copperheads around my area and noticed they really enjoy rock retaining walls.
Copperheads are not aggressive but are ambush snakes. Their camouflage is extremely effective, so it is pretty easy to step on one accidentally, which will usually lead to a bite. Overturning rocks while gardening or landscaping may cause one to strike when it is uncovered.
Identifying a Cottonmouth
Cottonmouths are one of the larger varieties of venomous snakes found in America and are the only venomous water snake. They are adept swimmers, and can even swim in the ocean and are found on coastal islands. They are only found in the southeastern US and are also called water moccasins.
Adult snakes are usually over three feet long and have wider bodies than a copperhead. They are usually black with dark cross bands, but can still be confused with copperheads. The white band in their mouth is where they get the name ‘cottonmouth’ from and they love to open their mouth to display the white if they feel threatened.
Cottonmouths can be aggressive when provoked. Being very darkly colored, they blend into many areas and can be hard to spot in the water. They will stand their ground against intruders rather than avoid confrontation.
The venom of a cottonmouth is more potent than that of a copperhead and has a toxin that kills tissue. This can leave nasty scars and possibly even require amputation if not treated. The bites are rarely fatal, however. Bites are reported most commonly around the Mississippi and Gulf area.
Do Snake Bite Kits Work? (Venom Extractors)
No.
In fact, it’s been scientifically proven NOT to work for over two decades now by many academic sources and peer-reviewed studies. These include:
- Bush, S., et al. (2000). Effects of a negative pressure venom extraction device (Extractor) on local tissue injury after artificial rattlesnake envenomation in a porcine model. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. Volume 11. Issue 3. Pages 180-188. (Source)
- Alberts, M., et al. (2004). Suction for venomous snakebite: A study of “mock venom” extraction in a human model. Annals of Emergency Medicine. Volume 43. Issue 2. Pages 181-186. (Source)
- Parker-Cote, J., et al. (2018). First Aid and Pre-Hospital Management of Venomous Snakebites. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. Volume 3. Issue 2. Page 45. (Source)
The results of the test are pretty harsh- venom extractor kits come nowhere near working. They extracted 0.04% of the venom in the best case observed. People in the medical industry are aware that they are not valuable for first aid, except with one exception: the botfly.
The suction kits can be useful in extracting botfly larvae laid in your skin. Botflies are usually only an issue ranging from Mexico to Northern Argentina, but they have been found outside of those areas.
Here is a video of a dog in Colorado having a botfly removed with an older version of “The Extractor” from Sawyer.
Recently, Sawyer changed up their ‘snakebite kit’ by making it smaller and branding “The Extractor” as a ‘sting relief’ kit now.
Still, we’ve tested better options for sting relief.
How to Handle a Venomous Snake Bite
Antivenom is always preferred when dealing with venomous snake bites. Whether or not you can get a hold of some is another story. While many hospitals and urgent care centers keep certain antivenom, others are not stocked. Coral snake antivenom is prohibitively expensive to make, and Pfizer no longer makes Coralmyn antivenom. CroFab antivenom can treat cottonmouth bites, diamondback rattlesnake bites, and the Mojave rattlesnake bite.
Various snakes of different sizes and ages can inject venom at varying amounts and potencies. This means you may experience different symptoms if the same type of snake bites you under different circumstances. Your own size and body composition can also affect your symptoms. Rattlesnake venom can cause blisters at the bite area, whereas most of the other snakes do not show additional signs beyond the puncture wound other than rapid onset bruising.
Anyways, you want to get to an urgent care or hospital when you are bitten by a venomous snake. Calling ahead and knowing the type of snake can help speed up their reaction time and get you care even quicker.
Besides antivenom, some people are obsessed with finding a vaccine:
How to Handle a Non-Venomous Snake Bite
Snake bites from snakes without venom can still pose a health risk. Long fangs and a mouth full of bacteria leave snake bites prone to infection. If the bite is deep or has torn tissue, stitches may be required. If not, the steps simple for cleaning the wound:
- Rinse out the wound with clean water
- Clean the wound with mild soap and water
- Dry the wound with a clean towel or cloth
- Don’t put a bandage on the wound to help prevent bacteria growth
When you are unsure whether the snake was venomous or not, it is always best to get checked out by a medical professional than risk losing a limb or your life.
Infections and Diseases from Snake Bites
We mentioned before that snake bites can obviously become infected if not cared for carefully. If they become infected, you will need to do a round of antibiotics like penicillin. Snakes can also host diseases.
Tapeworms, snake mites, and salmonella can all be passed on by a bite. If you are bitten by any animal you should get help from a medical professional if possible.
The Final Word
Venomous snakes may not quite be the devil incarnate, but they can still be pretty nasty creatures. If you learn about them and respect them you are less likely to have an incident with one. A seasoned outdoorsman is less likely to get bit than someone thrashing around in their flower beds with a garden rake.
Here are some other guides our subscribers have found helpful:
- How to Identify a Spider Bite and Treat It
- 10 Homemade Mouse and Rat Traps
- Survival First Aid Kit Guide, Gear List, and Checklist
Keep exploring, stay prepared, and be safe.
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excellent article Pictures always are a huge help Thanks