One of the dangers of hiking, hunting, fishing, camping or any other outdoor sport is that of possibly coming in contact with a snake. Most people have a fear of snakes and any time that you spend outdoors there will be that possibility of coming in contact with one and then the danger also of being bitten by one. Would you know what to look for and what to do in case of a snakebite? We will try in this little article to give you some pointers in case of an emergency like this.
The first thing to do when bitten by a snake is to determine if in fact the snake is poisonous. If it is not poisonous, there is really nothing that needs to be done at the time, but if it is poisonous, then there are certain precautions and procedures to be done till you can get the individual to the proper medical authorities.
If you cannot find the snake or did not see it, to determine its species, look at the bite. Usually a poisonous snake will have two fang marks at the very top and then there will be little marks made by the other teeth in somewhat a V shape. The bite of a nonpoisonous snake leaves only two rows of teeth marks, but not fang marks. So the fang marks are the tell-tell characteristic as to tell whether a snake is poisonous. If there is any doubt at all continue with the precautions that we will further give.
Once you have determined that it is a poisonous snake that is involved here, there are certain things that need to be done quickly.
1. STAY QUIET, DO NOT MOVE THE BITTEN PART — The more that the bitten part is moved, the faster the poison will spread to other parts of the body. For instance if the snake bite is on the foot, which is a common place for snake bite while you are hunting or fishing, the person should not walk at all.
2. WRAP THE BITTEN AREA– You need to wrap the bitten area with a wide elastic bandage or clear cloth to slow the spread of poison. Keeping the arm or leg very still, wrap it tightly, but not so tight that it stops the pulse at the wrist or on top of the foot. If you cannot feel the pulse, loosen the bandage a little.
3. WIND THE BANDAGE-over the hand or foot and up the whole arm or leg. Make sure you can still feel the pulse.
4. PUT A SPLINT ON – Once the whole arm or leg is wrapped tightly, then put a splint on that part of the body to prevent the limb from moving.
5. CARRY THE PERSON ON A STRETCHER– If possible carry the person on a stretcher to the nearest health center. The object here is to keep the person as still as possible to keep the poison from spreading. If possible take the dead snake with you, because many different snakes take different kinds of anti-venoms. If anti-venom is needed leave the bandage on until the injection is ready, and take all precautions for allergic shock. I knew of a friend who when given the anti-venom became more seriously ill then what the snake bite had done.
POISONOUS SNAKEBITE IS DANGEROUS!!
Being bitten by a poisonous snake is dangerous business. Send for medical help immediately, but always do the things explained above. Most folk remedies for snakebite do little if any good. Some treatments can in fact cause infection or make the effects of the venom worse.
For instance DO NOT:
* Cut the skin or the flesh around the bite
* Tie anything tight around the bite, or the person’s body
* Put ice on or around the bite.
* Shock the person with electricity.
* Try to suck the blood or the venom out of the bite.
* Drink alcohol after a snakebite. It makes things worse!
Snakes are both infamous and revered due to their perplexing way of living and characteristics that vastly differs from other animals. Add to that the fact that they have this unmistakable aura that commands fear among other species in the animal kingdom which is not unfounded. Snakes are very famous for having very potent venom with the most lethal of all able to kill a number of fully grown human adults.
Ironically, the world’s most venomous snakes can be found in only one continent and that is, unlike popular beliefs, the Australian deserts, plains and rainforests. Here are the countdown of the world’s deadliest snakes and how potent their venoms are.
1. Inland Taipan Or Fierce Snake – Oxyuranus Microlepidotus
The Inland Taipan is the world’s most venomous snake with an lethal dose of 0.01 mg/kg, it is about 10 times as venomous as a Mojave rattlesnake and 750 times as venomous as a common cobra. The venom of the Inland Taipan is capable of killing 250,000 mice or the equivalent of 100 adult men. Although the Taipan is the world’s most lethal snake, it has yet to take a victim, several bites have been recorded and successfully treated by taipan antivenom which is produced and manufactured by the Australian Reptile Park and the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories in Melbourne. Its main diet is mainly small mammals, particularly native rats, which at times, reach plague proportions. This snake is found on black soil plains of the ‘channel country’ of the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and North South Wales.
2. King Brown Snake – Pseudechis Australis
In comparison with the Inland Taipan, King Brown Snakes’ venom is not that lethal, however it produces its venom in very large quantities. The average Tiger Snake produces around 10-20mg when milked. In comparison, a good sized King Brown may deliver over 150mg in one bite. Unlike the Inland Taipan, the King Brown Snake has the record of the most killings in Australia. One reason for this is because of its common sightings all around Australia as well as the use of the wrong anti-venom. The King Brown Snake, is not really of the Brown Snake genus but actually belongs to the Black Snake genus. For this reason, many people died because Brown Snake Anti-Venom was used instead of Black Snake Anti-Venom.
3. Papuan Taipan – Oxyuranus Scutellatus
The Papuan Taipan, as its name suggests can be found in the Papua New Guinea, it is a close relative of the Australian Inland and Coastal Taipans. Its venom is just slightly more potent than that of the Coastal Taipans however due to poor facilities and lack of anti-venom supplies, a Papuan Taipan bite is still a very serious medical emergency with almost 50% of its victims requiring mechanical ventilation. Like the Australian Taipans, Papuan Taipan’s diet is mostly small mammals, thus they live closely to human habitations.
4&5. MainLand & Eastern Tiger Snake
Mainland and Eastern Tiger Snakes occupy both the 4ht and 5th places because of the strength of its venom and the large quantity in which it is being administered to the snakes’ victims. Its venom is mainly neurotoxic, affecting the central nervous system, but also causes muscle damage and affects blood clotting. They can typically be found through Western and South Australia and Tasmania.
It is very easy to judge someone or something just because of the harm that it poses on you, but we have to remember that no one would kill someone else unless it is provoked. We want our autonomy so it is little to no wonder why some species would want the same as well.
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This is just a clip of a Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) I filmed going down into a stump in January. There is no need to turn up your volume, there is no sound.
There are many types of water snakes found in the world. The type of snake you encounter depends on the region in which you are traveling. You should know that a snake could strike you from a distance of half of their body length. Hence it is safe to stay at a distance more than half of their body length. This striking distance is only when you encounter the snake in land.
In water their striking distance is very limited. Better avoid the areas in which the snakes sun. Usually they will be sunning in the branches that protrude over the waterfront so that if they find any encounter they will drop themselves into water and escape. That is why when you are canoeing you have to be careful when you move into the low-lying areas where branches of trees protrude over the waterfront. Some of the common water snakes that you might come across are the northern water snakes, red belly water snakes, banded water snakes, cottonmouth snakes, and the brown water snakes. The northern water snake is usually 22 to 59 inches in length and is found in the lakes, streams, rivers, marshes, swamps, ditches, and ponds. It is thick bodied and has a dark band around its neck. You can find half moon spots in its belly. It is found in the central and eastern US. Usually they come out in the night.
The cottonmouth water moccasin is a poisonous snake, which is also aggressive in the sense that it will approach the intruder in the area. It is semi aquatic in nature. Usually they lie on the water logs with part of their body in water waiting for their prey to come within their reach. This kind of water snake could be having a dark body color and a light belly color. It might also have body cross-bands. When this snake bites you it would latch on to the area with its bite rather than the bite and release pattern found in the other snakes. It has a powerful jaw. Some of the subspecies of this water snake include the eastern, western, and the Florida cottonmouth.
The brown water snake is usually active during the day and rarely hunts during the night. Fishes and frogs constitute its main dish. It also climbs the branches to sleep on the overhanging branches over the water. It usually escapes when you frighten it and if you need a bite you can catch it! It is usually found in the southeastern U.S. The Diamondback water snakes have a chain like pattern in its body and have a yellow belly. It is found in the marshes, swamps, and the lakes of south central and southwestern U.S. they have long teeth and hence the bite from these snakes would be more painful.
Water Snakes are strange reptile snakes being showed in videos at anacondasnakes.com. Today you can also freely learn about our newest topic by going to Anaconda Snakes
In the previous section I covered the history of snakes, how they got to be what they are now. But what are they? How do they live their lives, where do they live? This is what I’ll address in this section.
Snakes have a long, narrow body. Their internal organs are made to fit their long and narrow body type. Snakes have only one functioning lung, so it’s vital that their environment is clean and not polluted.
An interesting fact to know; to find out how many “vertabreas” the snake has, you can count the number of belly scales. Usually there will be a new scale for each vertebrea. It’s jaw is evolved so that the snake can swallow prey many times its size. The bottom part of the jaw is not locked together, as it is in most other animals, but it can be separated into two parts. This way its mouth can open up, swallow the prey, and then pull its jaw together again. When the snake does this, it looks like it’s yawning, opening the mouth up wide and shutting it again.
Their vision is just awesome, they don’t see like we do; rather they see heat and movements. They also don’t hear anything but very low frequencies, so talking to a snake will not work. You can shout you lungs out, the snake cannot hear you. It does however feel the vibration, so stomping your feet in the ground will definitely get its attention. If you ever seen a cobra hypnotized by someone playing a flute, you can be sure that the person is stomping his foot in the ground or similar, as the snake would not hear the flute.
The males have two reproductive organs, the hemipenes. During mating only one will actually carry sperm. With young snakes you can sex the snakes by “popping” them. That means that to check for a male you pop out the hemipenes by applying pressure to the bottom of the tail. If done wrong this can hurt the snake and make it infertile, so you should always have someone show you how to do it before attempting. This cannot be done with other then very young snakes. The males are usually a little wider around the vent area before the tail narrows down quickly (because of the hemipenes inside), while in the females the tail narrows down more evenly. But this can be very difficult to see with the naked eye, so the best way to sex a snake is by “probing”. Proping is where you stick a probe into the snake’s vent and see how far in it goes before you meet resistance. In males the hemipenes makes the probe go in further then in the female.
When it comes to birth, snakes are not good parents. The fathers are completely absent, he impregnates the female and leaves. The female then either lays her eggs, or has live babies. Pythons and corn snakes lay eggs, while boas have live babies. Some snakes lay ontop of the eggs till they hatch, actually regulating the temperature for them, while others such as the corn snake just lays them and leaves. A pregnant snake is said to be “gravid”. After the babies are born or hatched they are on their own. This might be natures way of regulating the snake population, because a snake can have very many babies! However, without any help from the parents most don’t make it. For these it really is survival of the fittest, but also alot of luck!
Snake skin is scaly, but not slimy which is a very common misconception. Snakes are NOT worms!
Their skin is built up by scales, which help the snake’s movement by gripping the surface. As new cells grow under the snake’s skin, the new cells push the old cells up, creating a transparent skin. When the snake grows and the top layer of skin is being pushed even further, the snake goes through a process of shedding.
The shedding has several phases; first the skin becomes rough and the snake’s belly usually turns pinkish. Then its eyes reach the “opaque” stage, its eyes turns blue and the snake is basically blind for a few days. This is because the snake is shedding the layer over its eyes. Then the snake starts looking normal again, and it’s very hard to see that it’s shedding. Next thing is to rub its skin against the surface, rocks etc, to push off the skin from head to tail. It looks like a sock thats pulled off, ending up inside out. The snake’s skin is supposed to come off in one piece. Young snakes shed often; every month or two. When they get older their grow rate decreases, and they shed more rarely. Although they do most of their growing in the first couple of years, snakes never stop growing. Adult snakes shed a couple of times a year. Shedding is also very important in getting rid of parasites. Habitat
Snakes can now be found throughout the world, the only place there are no snakes is in the arctic region. They are such adaptable creatures, there just isn’t any comparison to their success. They live in deserts, cities, oceans, lakes, forests, mountains, savannas, rain forests etc. The list could go on and on. Snakes are everywhere.
Snakes in cooler areas usually go into a sort of hibernation during the wintertime, called brumation. Unlike hibernation where pretty much everything shuts down and wakes up again in spring, brumation is what you could call “do nothing”. All the body functions are intact and the snake even moves around a little bit. However, it mostly lays there and waits for spring. Usually the snake chooses a place underground, so that it can stay as warm as possible during winter. Almost every snake that lives in an area with cool temperatures during winter brumates, otherwise it would not survive.
There are many places where snakes that are not native to the area have been introduced, and now they are thriving. In many cases this proves a real challenge to the natural ecosystem, as the new snakes push other species out, or the simple fact that humans do not want them there. This is why people who have snakes, cannot just go to the park and drop them off! I cannot stress this enough, just watch what’s happened in the Everglades in Florida. Now there are anacondas and reticulated pythons breeding in an area where they do not belong, because careless owners who were faced with snakes they couldn’t handle or didn’t want let them loose. These kinds of actions can have fatal consequences.
All snakes are carnivorous, but the diet varies greatly depending on habitat and size. Most eat rodents; mice, rats, rabbits, gerbils etc. Others eat fish, eggs, lizards and even other snakes. The very big species can eat pretty much everything from hippos to crocs.
Snakes are amazing in terms of patience, they can lay in one spot for days, just waiting for a prey to pass by. If a prey comes by, the snake will use its attack method, whether it is constriction or venom, to kill it.
Snakes cannot taste anything, and does not chew. There is more about how snakes are able to swallow a prey many times its size in the anatomy section, but basically its bottom jaw gets separated in two while eating, and muscle movements help the snake swallow. The teeth are pointed towards the back of its mouth, so when a prey is bitten it’s almost impossible for it to escape. The more the prey tries to push itself out, the better grip the snake gets. It’s so clever, and so simple. Anyone who has ever been bitten by a snake, knows that trying to pull the finger out of it’s mouth rarely works. To get your finger loose, you actually have to push it further into the mouth to get loose from the grip, and then open the mouth and your free.
If the prey poses no threat, such as a pinkie mouse, the snake will usually not bother to waste energy killing it, but rather swallows it alive.
After the snake has eaten it’s time for it to digest its food. This is very important and the snake cannot be bothered during this process. This process usually takes around 48 hours, and if the snake feels threatened, the prey is too big, or the weather isn’t warm enough it will regurgitate (throw up). Regurgitation is a serious thing for all snakes, their systems basically gets turned upside down. The best thing to do after a regurge is to wait at least ten days before trying to feed again. How often a snake eats varies from specie to specie. Very often the males (sometimes females) fast around breeding season no matter if they actually breed or not. Snakes might also not eat if they are shedding.
Snakes. Just the mention of the word can send chills up the spine or send one fleeing in the opposite direction. To some they are just scary, slithery, sinister serpents. However, they are also sneaky. Yes, sneaky. The serpent has been known for its sneakiness since the beginning. Remember Eve? It was because of the sneaky sales pitch of the serpent that Eve “bought”, Adam “bit” , and they were both “booted out” of the Garden of Eden. Oh yes, snakes can be extremely sneaky, and can show their craftiness in a variety of ways.
The American Copperhead is a great example of a cunning culprit. This snake has a rust and copper colored body with dark crisscrossing bands. It has a bright copper colored head, hence the name, Copperhead. This snake is easily recognizable, that is if you see it. Because of the snake’s markings, they are easily hidden. Let this snake curl up on a pile of fallen leaves and you may never even know it was there. Pretty slick huh? But that’s not all. These snakes learn how to be masters of guile at a very early age, as a matter of fact from the moment they are born. The baby Copperhead is born with a yellow tipped tail which it uses to lure unsuspecting prey. The juvenile snake hides beneath the leaves and sticks its wiggling tail up. The tail, resembling a grubworm, attracts moles, mice, and other such rodents. When the small mixed-up mammals take the bait, the clever Copperhead enjoys his dinner.
Besides being deceitful for dinner, snakes also use their misleading mannerisms to protect themselves. The colorful yet, allusive Coral Snake, for instance, will curl up and hide its head underneath its body when it feels threatened. Then it bends and presents its tail in such a way that it looks just like the snake’s head. When a predator attempts to attack, the snake bites back injecting neurotoxic venom paralyzing its victim. The predator in this case sometimes becomes the prey.
Just as the Coral Snake has an ingenious way of protecting itself, so does the Coral Snake Copy Cat, the Scarlet Kingsnake. This snake uses its looks to confound and confuse. The nonvenomous Scarlet Kingsnake very much resembles the very venomous Coral Snake. The kingsnake has the same colors of red, black, and yellow. The difference, however, is in the pattern. The old rhyme “Red meets yellow, Kill a fellow, Red meets black, Friend of Jack”, helps us to aptly identify the snake, but thoroughly mixes up would be predators and sometimes helps prevent this “legless lizard” from becoming lunch.
Yes, snakes are still as sneaky as ever. They still bewilder, beguile, and sometimes even bewitch. They are masters of disguise as well as masters of deception and they probably always will be. So if you happen up on one of these “sneaky snakes”, just acknowledge, admire, and then allow him to do his thing.
It’s a nice warm day and you decide to go to the lake. You find a nice quiet area away from the crowd and settle down to bask in the sun. However, you soon discover you are not the only one enjoying the warmth of the rays. Laying stretched out on a limb hanging over the water is a large dark snake. You scream, he slithers and the quiet of the day is spoiled for the both of you. Upon hearing the scream, people come running and you explain how a huge water moccasin invaded YOUR territory. But are you sure it was a water moccasin? Maybe not.
All too often non-venomous water snakes are mistaken for the venomous water moccasin or otherwise known as the “Cottonmouth” so named because of its milky white lined mouth. The water moccasin and the water snake have many similarities that allow for these misidentifications. For instance, both species live around creeks, lakes, ponds, rivers, streams or swamps. Wherever there is a water source you are likely to find one of these guys. Another common characteristic of the water snake and water moccasin is their size. Either may grow up to five feet in length. They both have keeled scales, broad, triangular heads and stout bodies. Both species may become aggressive if they feel threatened or if it is mating season.
With all the similarities between the two species, how would one tell them apart? Glad you asked. There are a few differences. As mentioned earlier, the water moccasin has a white lined mouth which it displays wide opened when it feels threatened. Also the pupils of the water moccasin are vertical, meaning that it has what appears to be a slit in the middle, giving it a very sinister look. The water snake on the other hand has rounded pupils . So, if you happen to come upon one of these fascinating creatures and have the audacity to try to identify it, you can either ask him to open wide or simply look him in the eyes. I just suggest you leave well enough alone!
Rattlesnakes are one of the United States’ most venomous and dangerous snakes. The rattlesnake belongs to the crotalus genus, which means rattle, referring to the rattle on the tip of its tail. There are many species of rattlesnakes and the range of rattlesnakes cover almost all of the United States. Their habitats consist of many different kinds of terrain, depending upon the species. Because of their habitat diversity, care should be taken when hiking, camping, fishing, or even walking your dog.
The rattlesnake is the master of disguise. Due to their unique colorations and patterns they aptly blend in with their surroundings. Unless specifically looking for the rattlesnake, one may walk right past it and never even know it was there. Unlike what most people think, rattlesnakes do not always rattle their tails warning of their presence. They sometimes rely on their camoflauging ability, hoping to go unnoticed.
If a rattlesnake is encountered, it is best to stay as far away as possible, giving the snake respect and allowing it a chance to retreat. Do not foolishly approach the snake because rattlesnakes can strike very quickly and can also strike about two-thirds their own body length. They do not have to be in what most would consider a striking position, or all coiled up and ready to lunge. As a matter of fact, a rattlesnake can strike in any position, even when it is all stretched out. So, being cautious is the best way to avoid getting bitten.
Many rattlesnake bites occur when a snake is mishandled, aggravated, or in an attempt to kill the snake. A rattlesnake will bite if it feels threatened or cornered with no way to escape. It is best to just leave them alone, letting them go their way. This will prevent both you and the snake undue harm.
Another way people are bitten by rattlesnakes is when someone picks up a dead rattlesnake not knowing that, though it is dead, it can sometimes still bite. As crazy as this sounds, it is true and many people have ended up with the venom of a dead snake in their body.
The best way to avoid rattlesnake bites is to just be smart and careful. If you are planning to be in what you know is a rattlesnakes’ territory, it is best to wear loose clothing, snake proof chaps, and snake proof boots. Pay attention to where you are stepping and avoid sitting on any logs or rocks where a rattlesnake may be hiding. Try to stay on main roads or well traveled trails, avoiding very thick brush and debris. Taking these simple precautions can help prevent a snakebite, however, if ever bitten by a rattlesnake, try to remain as calm as possible, try to identify what species of rattlesnake it was so that you will be able to tell medical professionals. Keep the bitten limb lower than your heart at all times so as to minimize the flow of blood and the spreading of the venom. Again, remain calm. Do not panic or do any thing that will cause your heartrate to speed up and the blood to flow faster. Seek medical attention immediately.
As mentioned before, the rattlesnake is one of the United States’ most venomous and dangerous snakes. It is an amazing creature that deserves respect. So, if you happen to see one, back up, back off and let it be. You’ll both be glad you did.
