In this blog, I thought we would learn more about snakes and how our interactions with them can be positive and safe.
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| Eastern Kingsnake. Photo by ME. |
If you live in wooded areas, swampy areas, or areas with plenty of places for critters to hide and water sources, it is likely at some point you have and/or will encounter a snake. Encountering a snake is a pretty cool event, though not for a lot of people. Especially, when the snake is not expected to be found. There are many reasons an encounter might be "scary". One big reason is that snakes are misunderstood animals and there is also a lot of false information and misconceptions about them. Another reason, is that the fear of snakes may have been passed on from another person in your life through their own fear or experiences or even false information they have learned. Another reason is that snakes bite. Well, they do, but they do not have hands, and they need to defend themselves somehow. Of course there are the venomous snakes; of course deaths have occurred but they are not as common as you may think.More on the venomous snakes next in the blog.
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| Copperhead. Photo by ME. |
According to Snakes of The Southeast, authors Whit Gibbons and Mike Dorcas write "One of the biggest misconceptions about snakes is the extent of the danger they pose to humans. In actuality, in the United States, a person is far more likely to be killed by lighting than die from a venomous snake's bite. Certainly, some snakes can seriously harm or even kill humans. But although hundreds of people are bitten each year by copperheads ( which are responsible for most of the venomous snakebites in the Southeast), only one human death has ever been documented, and no deaths from pygmy rattlesnakes or eastern coral snakes were reported between 1983 and 2003." They also write that "According to the Centers for Disease Control, more people are seriously bitten by domestic dogs every year in this country (800,000) than by venomous snakes (7000)."
So deaths by venomous snake bites are uncommon, and many of them happen when people keep venomous snakes in their homes. That being said, there are many responsible keepers out there, but there are also dumb keepers too.
In regards to venomous snakes around your yard, here are a few things to keep in mind that can help you avoid a bite:
1. Know you're snakes! Try to learn about the snakes in your area and what venomous snakes are found in your region. Learn the venomous ones at least. Teach your kids about them too! Teach them to enjoy them from a safe distance.
There are 6 species in NC. The copperhead is the only one in wake county; though there are a few records of cottonmouths, but they are pretty rare in wake county. I did a series of blogs on NC venomous snakes, be sure to check those out to learn more about NC Venomous Snakes.
2. Watch where you step and use common sense. If your out in your yard around sundown or at night, have a flashlight and walk carefully. Copperheads tend to be active around sundown and sometimes at night. Do not step in places where you cannot see your own feet. Do not put your hands in places that you cannot see your hands either.
3. Do not attempt to handle or capture a snake if you do not know what that is, that could get you in trouble. Also DO NOT ATTEMPT TO KILL THE SNAKE. A lot of the copperhead and other venomous snake bites occurred because of individuals trying to kill the snake.
4. Keep a distance from the snake. Snakes are not out to get you, they are just afraid of you as you are of them. If you leave them alone, they will leave you alone.
So those are some basic things to know in being safe around snakes. Again, with the medicines and technology we have today, death by snake bite is not a common thing at all. It does happen.
Pictured below is an Eastern Cottonmouth ( water moccasin) it is venomous. Myself and a few other people were able to get some photos and enjoy this cool reptile safely and calmly, while the snake was pretty relaxed. We gave it some distance and it was fine.
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| Eastern Cottonmouth. Photo by ME. |
In regards to a snake bite. I will begin with venomous snake bites and what to do if you are ever bitten.
First of, the copperhead is really the only venomous snake in wake county. Cottonmouths are pretty rare in the county and it is not likely you will encounter one, if you live in wake county. Though if you do, scientists will want to know about it.
Copperheads can be found in various, wooded habitats. They are common and it is recommended that you know how to at least identify this species. They are often mistaken for corn snakes and mole kingsnakes. As far as their bites, "they can be very painful, but only one death has ever been documented. The venom of copperheads destroys red blood cells and other tissues but is not considered highly toxic to humans. However, if you are bitten, you should seek medical attention immediately." (Snakes of The Southeast)
Here are some things to know if a bite happens, and many of these tips come from the book Venomous Snakes of North Carolina written by Alvin L. Braswell, William M. Palmer, and Jefferey C. Beane; all three whom are highly respected and well known herpetologists. Some of these tips also come from the book, Snakes of the Southeast, by Whit Gibbons, and Mike Dorcas.
1. Stay calm! Getting super anxious and running all over the place will just make the situation worse.
2. Seek medical attention as soon as you can.
3. Try to identify the snake if at all possible. But do it without putting yourself in any further danger.
4. Do not try to kill the snake as I wrote why earlier in the blog.
5. Do not use a tourniquet.
6. Do not cut the wound.
7. Do not try to suck out the venom.
8. Do not pack the wound in ice
9. Do not drink alcohol.
10. Do not use a snake bite kit. To quote a movie "son, just don't!" quote from The Avengers.
Some other things to know is that snake venom can be a lot more dangerous to small children and to elderly people; so they will need medical treatment ASAP. But again, the chances of dying is still low, if situation is handled properly.
Gibbons and Dorcas writes this: "The good news is that a study of more than 1,000 venomous snake bites in the United States found that in more than 60% of cases, the snake injected little or no venom." So even when a bite occurs, there is a good chance no venom is released. Snakes are thought to use their venom primarily for catching prey items. However, you still want to seek help.
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| Neonate Northern Water Snake. Photo by ME. |
In regards to non-venomous snake bites, some of the larger snakes such as boas and pythons, their bites are going to hurt. However, the non-venomous snakes around the NC region have small teeth and if they do deliver a bite, will generally cause lacerations. I have been bitten many times and they are not so bad, certainly not nearly as painful as a bite from say a rabbit, squirrel, hamster, or other rodents kept as pets. In my experience, the bites have felt like someone with lengthy finger nails, pinching me. I am sure there people out there whose bite experiences have been different from mine, but again, just sharing from what I have experienced.
Sometimes a snake bite will draw some blood, other times it will not. It really depends on various things like the size of the snake, what kind of bite, and where the bite is delivered. Pictured below is my hand after receiving a bite from an Eastern Kingsnake. This bite was my own doing; I grabbed the snake when it was not expecting it and was simply trying to avoid being eaten. Snakes will not go out of their way to bite you. They will bite if you pick them up and startle them ( like in my case), or they may be hungry and mistake your hand for food ( this happens more often in captivity, especially if you do not feed the snake in a separate container or handle it much), or a snake may bite if you step on it or deliver a serious injury to the animal.
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| Kingsnake Bite. Photo by ME. |
I do not wish to scare anyone, just simply shed some light upon these misunderstood and important animals. They help keep rodents and other animal populations in check as well as being food for other critters.
I will say that snakes are cool and unique creatures. They do not have any limbs whatsoever, they gotta eat, defend themselves, thrive somehow. My goal is to help you understand snakes a little better and hopefully gain less fear of them. Again, feel free to ask me questions.
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| Corn Snake. Photo by ME. |
