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A snake suddenly appearing in front of you in the wild is scary, especially when you don’t know what species it belongs to. A venomous snake bite can be deadly. The best way to know if a snake is poisonous is to learn about the snakes that live in the area. You can also find traits associated with common venomous snakes. If bitten by any snake, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Steps
Identify common venomous snakes
- The pit viper is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and throughout the Americas.
- Species of pit vipers found in North America include many species of rattlesnakes and moccasin water snakes, also known as cottonmouth cobras.
Warning: Not all snakes with triangular heads are venomous, and many venomous snakes have small heads and round pupils. Don’t rely solely on these features to identify venomous snakes! [3] X Research Sources
- You should also know about the colors and patterns of rattlesnakes. For example, the diamondback rattlesnake, as the name suggests, has a recognizable diamond pattern along its spine.
- There is a saying in the southeastern United States, “Red next to yellow, kill her. Red with black, won’t hurt you.” The rhyme of this sentence may remind you of the difference between a poisonous coral snake and a harmless king snake – king snakes do not have adjacent red and yellow bands.
- However, some other non-venomous snakes also have adjacent red and yellow bands, so this adage doesn’t always hold true. [6] X Research Source
- Mambas are related to cobras, and they behave similarly when threatened. If chased, the black mamba can raise its head and swell its gills around its neck.
- Similar to coral snakes and cobras, black mambas belong to the cobra family, not vipers. They have small heads and round pupils.
- You can also recognize some types of cobra by their distinctive patterns. For example, the Indian cobra has a pair of connected “false eyes” that look like spectacles behind the gills.
- For example, if you live in the state of Oregon, USA, the only venomous snakes you are likely to encounter is the western rattlesnake. [10] X Research Source
- Similar to venomous snakes, there is no single pattern that indicates a non-venomous snake. [11] X Research Resources To identify non-venomous snakes, you can check out a reptile guide to learn about the types of snakes found in your area and study their unique characteristics.
- For example, the moccasin water cobra is often confused with the harmless water snake. You can tell them by observing the shape of their heads and bodies. The water cobra has a thick body and a triangular head, while the water snake has a slim body and a small head. [12] X Research Source
- People often confuse rat snakes (a kind of benign snake) with rattlesnakes, due to their similar coloration and aggressive behavior. However, unlike rattlesnakes, rat snakes have a pointed tail and no horns. [13] X Research Source
- Don’t put yourself in danger by trying to take a clear picture! You should only take photos from a distance if possible.
- If you don’t have a picture to compare, you can use Google Image Search to find images of similar snakes. For example, if you type in keywords like “Pennsylvania black-necked snake,” you’ll find an image of the Northern ring-necked snake.
Know the symptoms of a snake bite
- While you wait for help, wash the wound with soap and water if possible, and be sure to keep the bite area below your heart. Take off tight clothing, watches or jewelry that can squeeze the injured area and cause swelling.
- Severe pain, redness, swelling or bruising around the bite
- Numbness around the face or mouth
- Shortness of breath
- Heart beat fast
- Weakness
- Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurred eyes
- Fever
- Convulsion
Warning: Although 2 fang marks are the hallmark of many venomous snake bites, not all snakes inject their venom this way. [17] X Research Source Don’t rely solely on the shape of the bite to determine if the snake that bit you is venomous or not.
- Pain in the bite
- Redness and mild swelling
- Bleeding wound
- Itching in the snake bite area
Advice
- You may have heard that most snakes are venomous, but this is not true. In fact, only about 15% of the world’s snake species are dangerous to humans. [19] X Research Source Although you should be careful and treat all snakes as venomous, don’t assume that all snakes you encounter are venomous.
- Do not kill the snake that does not attack you. Snakes help control the number of rodents and other pests that can transmit diseases to humans. [20] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source
- If you are going to catch a snake, a safe option is to set up a snake trap. [21] X Research Source
- When you’re not sure if the snake you’re seeing is poisonous, just assume it’s venomous and stay away!
- Don’t step into the grass if you don’t know if there are snakes lurking in it.
- When dealing with a venomous cobra, be sure to wash all clothing, camera lenses, and other gear after handling the snake. Wear sunglasses or goggles to keep the venom from getting into your eyes. [22] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source
- If you have been bitten by a venomous snake, try to identify it! A very effective way to do this is to take a clear picture with your phone from a safe distance. Identification of a snake can save your life as it helps healthcare professionals choose the right antivenom.
Warning
- Even a bite from a non-venomous snake can become infected. You should always seek medical attention and try to identify the animal that bit you.
- Victims can die if not promptly treated immediately after being bitten by a venomous snake.
- Never try to catch a snake in the wild. If you are sure it is a non-venomous snake and are determined to pick it up, you must act gently, without appearing threatening. A snake catcher is a very useful tool when used correctly.
- Never try to catch a snake that is sputtering, buzzing its tail, raising its head and neck in an S or spitting venom, as that is a sign that they are warning you to leave them alone, otherwise , they will attack. [23] X Research Sources
This article is co-authored by a team of editors and trained researchers who confirm the accuracy and completeness of the article.
The wikiHow Content Management team carefully monitors the work of editors to ensure that every article is up to a high standard of quality.
There are 16 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 69,145 times.
A snake suddenly appearing in front of you in the wild is scary, especially when you don’t know what species it belongs to. A venomous snake bite can be deadly. The best way to know if a snake is poisonous is to learn about the snakes that live in the area. You can also find traits associated with common venomous snakes. If bitten by any snake, you should seek medical attention immediately.
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