Snakes and humans have been intertwined for all of recorded human history. Snakes have represented both good and evil, have been important symbols in religion and mythology, and have even made important contributions to modern medicine.
Part of the reason why snakes have been so influential, both symbolically and medically, to humans worldwide for thousands of years is their venom, and this importance carries through to the modern-day.
It remains just as important for us today as it did for ancient humans thousands of years ago to be able to identify a venomous vs a nonvenomous snake. Unfortunately, even with modern technology and a universe of information at our fingertips, misinformation and needless fear still surrounds these incredible animals, and people continue to indiscriminately kill snakes regardless of whether they are venomous or not.
You may have even heard the common, and distasteful, moniker, “The only good snakes is a dead snake”. In this article, I aim to reverse this disappointing attitude, and convince you that the only good snake is a LIVE snake!
What is the Difference Between Venom and Poison?
You can remember the difference between venom and poison very easily! Venom is injected, but poison is ingested. You can remember it with this phrase: If it bites you, it’s venom. If you bite it, it’s poison!
A scorpion INJECTS, so it is venomous.
A dart frog’s poison must be absorbed or INGESTED, so it is poisonous.
How Do I Tell the Difference Between a Venomous and Nonvenomous Snake?
If you come upon a snake, leave the area and consider calling a wildlife professional who can help you identify the type of snake. With that said below are some tips that may help you with determining if a snake is venomous or non-venomous.
There are two types of venomous snakes: vipers and elapids. Nonvenomous snakes (and snakes with venom that can’t hurt humans) are known as colubrids. While it takes more effort, the best way to learn which snakes in your area are venomous is to learn to specifically identify your local venomous snake species.
The vast majority of US snakes are harmless; there are very few venomous snakes in the US, so learning your local venomous species should be easy. However, there are some ways to tell whether or not a snake is venomous without knowing specific species. Please note that this article will focus on the contiguous United States ONLY – the following information is not relevant to other countries.
Pit Vipers
With one exception, in the United States, all venomous snakes are pit vipers. Pit vipers have large venom glands that give their heads a thick triangular appearance, which makes their head look very distinct from their neck. They also have a heat-sensing pit (which their name is derived from) that looks like a second nostril, and elliptical, “cat-like” eyes.
All snakes in the US with this head shape are venomous pit vipers. Examples are cottonmouths, copperheads, and rattlesnakes. Almost every venomous snake you find in the US will be a pit viper.
A juvenile copperhead – notice the triangular head due to the venom sacs, as well as the elliptical pupil.
Elapids
Elapids are the one exception to the head-shape rule. Elapids do not have the thick head or elliptical eye of the vipers. Instead, they look like nonvenomous snakes, with an oval head and round pupils.
Fortunately, there is only ONE type of elapid that you will see in the United States: the coral snake. They are very easily identified using the rhyme, “Red touches yellow; you’re a dead fellow. Red touches black; you’re okay Jack.”
If you see a snake with a red-touches-yellow pattern, it is a venomous coral snake. If you see a snake with a red-touches-black pattern, you have a harmless colubrid mimic.
Scarlet king snakes and milk snakes mimic coral snakes, but it’s easy to tell the difference using this simple rhyme! Look at the photos below and see if you can tell which one is a venomous coral snake and which one is a harmless king snake!
A venomous coral snake
A harmless scarlet king snake
Colubrids
Colubrids are nonvenomous snakes, or have venom that is not harmful to humans. All colubrids in the United States are considered harmless. Unlike pit vipers, they have an oval head, round pupils, and no heat-sensing pit. Examples of harmless colubrid snakes are corn snakes, rat snakes, racers, and king snakes.
Photo copyright Emily Stauss, 2020
A harmless corn snake, a species of colubrid. Note the oval head and round pupils.
Final Comparison/Quiz Time!
Below is a side-by-side drawn comparison of a pit viper vs a nonvenomous snake, and a comparison of a coral snake vs a colubrid mimic. Study this image, and then practice identifying the snakes in the images below. Which ones are venomous and which ones are not venomous?
Drawing copyright Emily Stauss, 2020
Answers:
A. VENOMOUS – This is a rattlesnake! Notice the triangular head and how you can see where the neck and the head meet.
B. NONVENOMOUS – This is a scarlet king snake. Remember, red touches black, you’re okay Jack!
C. VENOMOUS – This is a Copperhead. Notice the triangular head, and hos you can see where the neck and head meet. Also, Copperheads have a very distinct pattern, so they’re easy to identify!
D. VENOMOUS – Coral Snake. Remember, red touches yellow, you’re a dead fellow!
E. NONVENOMOUS – This is my corn snake, Maizie! Notice her oval head and round pupils!
F. NONVENOMOUS – This is a Western Hognose snake. They can look like rattlesnakes at first glance, but they do not have the triangular head, and you will notice that it also has round pupils.
Why Is the Only Good Snake a Live Snake? Why should We Not Kill Snakes?
Snakes of all species are incredibly important to the environment. A single snake can eat dozens of rodents per year. Rodents are a significant vector of close to 30 human diseases, as well as causing billions of dollars in crop damage every year. Because of the enormous number of rodents that snakes eat each year, they have an irreplaceable positive effect on human health, as well as on our food supply.
In addition, even venomous snakes save lives. Copperheads produce a protein called contortrostatin that inhibits tumor growth in breast cancer, so they are important to human health in another way, as well! Finally, some nonvenomous snakes, such as king snakes, are immune to pit viper venom and even eat the venomous snakes!
So if you want to keep venomous snakes away, you need to keep the nonvenomous ones alive! If you are healthy, have food on your table, and live in a rodent-free home, you can thank a snake.
What Should I Do If I See a Venomous Snake, or a Snake I Can’t Identify?
Most venomous snakes in the United States are nonaggressive. Contrary to common belief, they will not chase you and they do not want to bite you. Venom is calorically expensive to make, and snakes do not want to waste their venom on something they can’t eat.
If you see a venomous snake, or a snake you cannot identify, simply turn around and calmly walk away. The snake will not chase you. Screaming and losing your composure will make the snake feel threatened, and more likely to bite.
What you definitely should not do is kill the snake. You are more likely to get bitten attempting to kill a snake than you are if you simply walk away.
What Should I Do if I Do Get Bitten by a Snake?
If you get bitten by a snake, take these steps:
1. Call 911.
2. Move away from the snake so it cannot bite you or anyone else a second time.
3. If possible, take a picture of the snake so that when you get to a hospital, they know what kind of antivenin to provide.
4. Remove all constrictive clothing or jewelry.
5. Keep the bite at or below the level of the victim’s heart. Lay flat if necessary.
6. Keep the victim’s breathing calm and steady, and their heartrate down. This will slow the spread of the venom.
7. Clean the bite with soap and water to help prevent infection.
Here is what you should NOT do:
1. DO NOT attempt to suck the venom out of the victim, either with your mouth or with a snake venom removal tool. This will only make the situation worse.
2. DO NOT use a tourniquet. This could result in the loss of a limb.
I hope that this guide helps you to identify your local snakes this spring and summer, and I hope that it has helped you to understand and appreciate snakes more! Remember, the only good snake is a live snake!
Snakes are incredibly important to the environment and they play an irreplaceable role in human health and in keeping our food supply safe. If you enjoy being healthy and having food on the table, thank a snake!
IMPORTANT: The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
