1 .1 

 B5e4W 



United States Department of Agriculture 

 Bureau of Biological Survey 



TTildlife Research and Management Leaflet BS-70 



??'ashing:ton, D. C. 



T\Iovem"ber 1936 



poisoiTous sitai-:es cf the uitited states 



Prepared in the Section of Food Hatits, Division of Uildlife Research 



Contents 



Pa^e 



Introduction 1 



Key to the principal poisonous 



snakes of the United States. 3 

 ITames and ranges of the 



rat 1 1 e snalie s 5 



Poison apparatus of venomous 



snakes 6 



Poison fangs .... 6 



Length of stroke 6 



Venoms of poisonous snakes ... 7 

 Jfortality res"LLlting from snake 



l)ite 9 



Snakes committing suicide. ... 11 



Page 

 Treatment for "bites of ITorth 



American poisonous snakes. 11 



Don'ts for the victim. ... 11 



ITnat to do first 11 



Other first-a.id measures . . 11 



Additional treatment .... 12 

 Special directions for the 



physician 13 



Extra precautions 13 



Rattles, 13 



Young 14 



Exposure to gun 14 



Pood hahits 15 



Bihliography 15 



li'TTRODUCTIOK 



Snakes are easily confused with one another, and the question as to 

 whether a certain one is poisonous or hsrm.less a.rises again and again. Out 

 of about 205 species and varieties of snakes tha.t occur in the United States 

 and Lower California, less than 15 percent can "be considered dangerous to 

 man. Poisonous snakes are provided with a specific vsnoinous fluid and an 

 apparatiis especially adapted for the introduction of this poison into their . 

 victims. As it is usual to regard all snakes as venomous, the "burden of 

 proof is upon those "believing in their innocence. So many wonderful stories 

 concernit}g snakes have been current from time to time that the puhlic in 

 turn becomes skeptical about everything concerning snakes or firmly believes 

 in traditional accounts that usually are highly erroneous. Allowance being 

 made for misinterpretation of certain natural habits of reptiles, the grain 

 of truth may be perceived in these traditions in spite of the exaggeration 

 that ordinarily accompanies a good snalce story. Nevertheless, poisonous 

 snalces are an actual as well as a mental hazard in these days of hiking, 

 camping, and auto picnicking. 



