Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

A snake suddenly appearing in front of you in the wild is scary, especially if you don't know what species it belongs to. The bite of a poisonous snake can be fatal. The best way to find out if a snake is poisonous is to learn about the snakes that live in the area. You can also look for traits related to common poisonous snakes. If you are bitten by any snake species, seek immediate medical attention.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Identify common poisonous snakes

1. 

   Observe the triangular snake head to identify the viper. In the US, the most common poisonous snake is the pit viper. This snake has a large, triangular head, widest part at the back and much wider than the neck. They also have a recessed hole in their face between their eyes and nose to sense heat and help locate prey. To identify the viper, look for features such as a triangular snake head, recesses on its face, and a vertical pupil like a cat's eye.
   • Pit viper snakes are found in Europe, Asia, Africa and throughout the Americas.
   • Pit viper species found in North America include many species of rattlesnakes and moccasin water snakes, also known as water cobra (cottonmouth).

   Warning: Not all snakes with triangular heads are poisonous snakes, and there are many poisonous snakes with small heads and round pupils. Don't rely entirely on these features to identify poisonous snakes!

   
   

2. 

   Identify the rattlesnake by their horn rings or horn buttons. The rattlesnake belongs to the pit viper family and is the most common poisonous snake in the Americas. In addition to the triangular head and thick body, the most characteristic feature of the rattlesnakes is the horn ring at the tip of the tail. Some dogs have only one button (a horn segment) at the tip of the tail or a truncated tail if the ring is lost.
   • You should also know about the colors and patterns of the rattlesnakes. For example, the diamond-backed rattlesnake, as the name suggests, has a recognizable diamond shape along its spine.

3. 

   
   
   Identify a coral snake by its color. Coral snake is a venomous snake with a colorful color, living in the Americas and parts of Asia and the Pacific. Coral snakes are not part of the pit viper family - they are small in size, have a slightly rounded head and round pupils. Although the coral snakes' colors and patterns vary, you can often tell by observing their vivid red, yellow, and black bands.
   • The southeastern part of the United States has a saying, "Red next to yellow, killing her. Red next to black, do not harm you ”. The rhyme of this verse may remind you of the difference between a poisonous coral snake and a harmless king snake - the king snake doesn't have adjacent red and yellow bands.
   • However, some other non-poisonous snakes also have adjacent red and yellow bands, so this adage is not always true.

4. 

   
   
   Observe the black green mouth of the black mamba. If you live in or go to sub-Saharan Africa, you may encounter the deadly venomous black mamba snake. This snake species is long (up to 4.3 m), olive or gray in color. You can identify the black mamba through the characteristic dark blue color inside the mouth that the snake will show you when it is frightened or threatened.
   • The mamba snake is related to the cobra, and they behave similarly when threatened. If chased, the black mamba can raise its head and spread its gills around its neck.
   • Similar to the coral snakes and cobra, the black mamba is in the cobra family, not the green snake. They have small heads and round pupils.

5. 

   Pay attention to the gills to identify the cobra. This notorious snake venom lives in many regions of Asia, Africa and the Pacific. The most typical characteristic of cobras is the gills around the snake's head and neck, which usually pop out when feeling danger, accompanied by a threatening obesity. Some can even spit venom on an attacker.
   • You can also spot some types of cobra by their distinctive patterns. For example, the Indian cobra has a pair of linked "false eyes" that look like eyeglasses on the back of the gills.

6. 

   Learn about poisonous snakes in your area. There are many poisonous snakes that live all over the earth, and you can't just rely on one particular type to identify poisonous snakes. The best way to identify poisonous snakes is by looking at their appearance, behavior and geography. You can search online or check your local reptile guidebook to find out about poisonous snakes that live in your area, if any.
   • For example, if you live in Oregon, USA, the only venomous snake you might encounter is the western rattlesnake.
   • As with poisonous snakes, there is no characteristic that indicates a snake without venom. To identify non-poisonous snakes, check the reptile guidebook for the types of snakes in your area and study their unique characteristics.

7. 

   Learn to distinguish similar looking snakes. Some healthy snakes can be quite difficult to distinguish from closely resembling poisonous snakes. If there are a number of confusing snakes in your area, you need to study each to find out some of their distinctive characteristics.
   • For example, the moccasin water cobra is often mistaken for a harmless water snake. You can tell the difference by observing the shape of their head and body. The water cobra has a thick body and a triangular head, while the water snake has a slim body and a small head.
   • Rat snakes (a kind of healthy snake) are often confused with rattlesnakes, due to their similar color and aggressive behavior. However, unlike the rattlesnake, the rat-headed snake has a pointed tail and no horn ring.

8. 

   Take pictures of the snakes you see to compare if possible. If you happen to see a snake and you do not know what it is, try to take a photo of it with your phone or camera. You can then show it to an expert, or use it as a guide to compare the snake against its properties.
   • Don't put yourself in danger by trying to take a clear picture! You should only take pictures from afar if possible.
   • If there are no images to match, you can use Google Image Search to find images of similar snakes. For example, if you type in keywords like "the yellow-necked black snake in Pennsylvania," you will get a picture of the Northern ring-necked snake.
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Method 2 of 2: Recognize the symptoms of a snake bite

1. 

   Get medical help right away if you do bitten by a snake. If you are bitten by any snake - even if you are pretty sure it is a non-poisonous snake - go to the emergency room immediately or call emergency services. Even nontoxic snake bites can be dangerous if left untreated.
   • While you wait for help, wash the wound with soap and water if possible, and make sure the area with the bite is lower than your heart. Take off tight clothing, watches or jewelry that can squeeze the wound and cause swelling.

2. 

   Watch for severe symptoms to identify the venomous snake bite. After you have been bitten by a snake, watch for any symptoms that appear. Tell emergency staff or your doctor about your symptoms so they can guess what type of venom is being handled and how to treat it. Symptoms of a venomous snake bite include:
   • 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
   • Convulsions

   Warning: Although the canine marks are the hallmark of the bite of many venomous snakes, not all snakes inject the venom this way. Don't just rely on the shape of the bite to guess whether the snake biting you has venom or not.

3. 

   Watch for a mild painful, itchy, swollen snake bite. If you have been bitten by a non-poisonous snake, symptoms are usually relatively mild. However, you should still hurry to see your doctor for a checkup. If left untreated, the bite of any snake can lead to serious infections, and some people may be allergic to snake saliva. Symptoms of a nontoxic snake bite include:
   • Pain in the bite
   • Mild redness and swelling
   • The wound bleeds
   • Itching in the area where the snake was bitten
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Advice

• You may have heard that the majority of species have venom, but this is not true. In fact, only about 15% of snakes in the world are dangerous to humans. Although you should be careful and treat all snakes as poisonous snakes, do not assume that all snakes you encounter are poisonous snakes.
• Don't kill the snake that doesn't attack you. Snakes help control the population of rodents and other pests that can transmit disease to humans.
• If you are going to catch a snake, a safe option is to set a snake trap.
• When you are not sure if the snake you see is poisonous, assume it is venomous and stay away!
• Don't step into the grass if you don't know if there's a snake lurking in it.
• When dealing with a cobra that spits its venom, be sure to wash all clothes, camera lenses and other equipment after handling the snake. Wear sunglasses or goggles to keep the venom from getting in your eyes.
• If you have been bitten by a poisonous 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. The snake's identity can save your life because it helps the health professional choose the right antivenom.

Warning

• Even the bite of a non-poisonous snake can become infected. You should always seek medical attention and try to identify the animal that bit you.
• A victim can die if it is not promptly rescued after being bitten by a poisonous snake.
• Never try to catch a snake in the wild. If you know for sure it is a non-poisonous snake and are determined to pick it up, you must act gently, without seemingly threatening. The snake is a very useful tool when used correctly.
• Never try to get a bloating snake, ring the bell tail, raise its head and bend its neck in an S shape or spitting its venom, as this is a sign that they are warning you to leave it alone, otherwise. They will attack.