Best Snake Protection Boots

Keeping Yourself Safe From Poisonous Snakes

Where Did the Fear of Snakes Begin?

When you see a snake, it’s likely you’ll feel a sense of fear. In fact, ophidiophobia, or an intense fear of snakes, is one of the most common phobias on the planet. Studies show humans of every age have developed an ability to sense snakes and automatically perceive them as a threat. Snakes, among a number of other animals, create fear within us as a survival tactic. The ability to detect and flee from snakes raised the chances of human civilization surviving an attack and reproducing. Therefore, this characteristic was passed down through our genes of many generations. During an investigation, anthropologists realized that babies and toddlers don't initially develop this fear based on their inability to perceive any threat. As they get older, discussions or negative visuals of snakes plant the seed of fear in small children. Over time, this fear grew as a safety precaution, even with little to no contact with poisonous snakes.

How Likely is it You’ll Run Into a Poisonous Snake?

Of the six hundred venomous species in the world, only around two hundred of these species’ snake bites are fatal. Copperheads, rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and coral snakes are among the venomous species found in the United States. On average, between seven and eight thousand Americans experience snake bites every year, with around five being fatal due to lack of medical care. With a number of these species in both wild and city or suburban areas, it’s important to know what to do in case of a venomous snake encounter. Most likely, your snake encounter will be in passing. Nonetheless, it’s important to know what to do in case you come face to face with a venomous snake.

Identifying a Venomous Snake

Oftentimes, people mistake venomous and nonvenomous snakes. The inability to distinguish the two lead to people trying to defend themselves or kill the snake in fact lead to the high number of bites. Knowing how to tell the difference allows you to determine the level of danger you’re in and act accordingly. If you’re able to contact a wildlife specialist, they’ll usually help you identify the type of snake and what to do. When this isn’t an option, there are four characteristics to tell if the snake is venomous. The four characteristics necessary to identify if a snake is venomous include behavior, pupils, head shape, and coloring.

Behavior

When you’re in close proximity to a snake, pay close attention to their behavior. It’s more common to identify behavior in certain species, like the rattlesnake. When in danger, rattlesnakes shake their tails and make a sound to ward off potential predators and threats. In cases when you’re dealing with another species or even a rattlesnake without a rattle on their tail, certain habits are venomous giveaways. For instance, cottonmouths are usually found in or near a body of water. Take heed to these characteristics if you live close to their habitats.

Head Shape

Typically, venomous snakes have a triangular-shaped head compared to nonvenomous snakes, which have circular heads. Venomous snakes use their head shape to also scare away predators. It’s important to know, however, that some nonvenomous snakes intentionally flatten their head to mimic venomous snakes when they’re in danger. Venomous snakes that are classified as pit-vipers have two holes on their snouts. These allow them to detect the radiation emitted by their prey. If you cannot tell if a snake has these pits, do not move closer for a better look. Instead, keep your distance and try reaching animal control to minimize the threat. If the snake appears dead or beheaded, still keep a safe distance when trying to identify it. Otherwise, you can still be in danger and get bit trying to handle the perceived dead snake or detached head.

Pupils

Poisonous snakes typically have thin, black pupils with vertical slits, similar to a cat eye. While both snakes have a yellowish-green eye, nonpoisonous snakes have round pupils. Again, it may be difficult to identify if you’re at a distance, but don’t get closer to verify.

Color

Usually, a snake’s color allows them to camouflage themselves into their environment. Their color is also a way to identify them as poisonous or nonpoisonous. In some cases, however, their color can be similar to each other, making it difficult to tell the difference. For instance, the coral snake, which is venomous, has the same colors as the nonvenomous scarlet king snake. Both snakes have red, black, yellow, and brown bands on their scales. The distinctive difference between the two, however, is that coral snakes’ red and yellow bands touch, which scarlet king snakes have touching red and black bands.

What to Do During a Snake Encounter

Venomous Snakes in Your Home or Backyard

If you find a venomous snake in or near your home, be sure to leave it alone. Usually, they’ll leave on their own, so avoid touching, trapping, or trying to move it with an object. You don’t want them to perceive you as a threat.At a safe distance, call your county’s animal control agency immediately. It helps to be able to identify the type of snake in your home. The same applies if you see a snake swimming in your pool or hidden in your backyard’s debris. If you have pets, make sure to get them to a safe distance until help comes. The snake may consider them a potential predator or prey, making them more likely to attack. A number of pets actually lose their lives trying to defend humans against snakes.

Camp or Hiking Precautions

If you’re camping or hiking, it’s better to prepare for an encounter, even if you don’t have one. You’re more than likely going into their territory, so they may be there without your ability to see them. It’s recommended to wear high boots and pants during a hike, especially when you cannot see where you’re stepping. Doing so minimizes the chances of your skin coming in contact with snake venom. Be sure to also stay on trails whenever possible. Snakes like to hide from predators, so they’re less likely to be on a trail, especially during the day. Venturing off-track may startle them or worse, harm them as they sleep. If you accidentally step on one, they’re likely to attack in self-defense. If you’re looking to start a fire, make sure you look under rocks, sticks, and surrounding materials before picking them up. Otherwise, you may accidentally pick up a snake. They usually seek these materials for shelter, so proceed with caution before moving anything in a wooded area. Whenever possible, travel in a group. That way, you always have enough people to get help in case of an emergency. If possible, have someone photograph the incident and the snake for medical staff.Most importantly, educate your children on how to identify potentially venomous snakes. Usually, kids who are bitten by snakes pick them up without understanding how dangerous they are. Teach them how to respect a snake’s boundaries and allow them to pass to ensure both parties’ safety.

What to Do in Case of a Snake Bite

As previously mentioned, thousands of Americans are bitten by snakes every year. Although there aren’t many, the deaths are due to lack of medical care. In some cases, you may not even realize you’ve been bitten.Once you realize that you’ve indeed been bitten by a snake, there are some dos and don’ts to better your chances of recovery, including:- Remember or take a picture of the snake, if possible. This assists with medical care.
- Keep still to prevent the venom from spreading.
- Call for emergency assistance, but be sure not to move you or the victim’s body as you wait.
- If emergency care takes a while, administer your own first aid. In a comfortable position, make sure the bite isn’t elevated above the heart.
- Immediately disinfect the wound with warm, soapy water.
- Dress the wound with a clean, dry bandage. Make sure to avoid:
- Trying to subdue the snake, otherwise someone else can be bitten by the same snake.
- Using a tourniquet to clot the blood flow.
- Cutting open the would to draw out the poison.
- Sucking the poison.
- Submerging the wound in water or applying ice packs.
- Drinking alcohol or caffeinated beverages. Overall, snakes, both poisonous and nonpoisonous, are likely to attack when they feel threatened. Otherwise, it’s common for them to move along when they see you. Over time, we as humans developed a similar tactic to survive: avoidance. If you’re in close proximity with a snake, do your best to identify the snake and call your local authorities to safely remove them. When you try to capture them yourself, they’re likely to attack in fear. Secure your pet or anyone around you as best as possible to minimize risk. If you are bitten, make sure you call emergency care immediately, if they’re far, you may have to administer your own first aid. Be sure to follow proper safety precautions and avoid trying to clot or draw the venom from the wound yourself. While poisonous snake bites can be fatal, educating yourself increases the chances of what our past generations strived for: survival.