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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
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Observe the triangular snake head to identify viper. In the US, the most common venomous snake is the pit viper. This snake has a large, triangular head, the widest part at the back and much wider than the neck. [1] X Research Source They also have a recess in the face between the eyes and nose to sense heat and help locate prey. [2] X Source of Research To identify vipers, look for features such as a triangular head, a recess in the face, and vertical pupils like a cat’s eye.
- 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
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Identify rattlesnakes by their horn rings or horns. The rattlesnake belongs to the pit viper family and is the most common venomous snake in the Americas. In addition to the characteristic triangular head and thick body, the most distinctive feature of the rattlesnake is the ring of horns at the tip of the tail. Some animals have only one knot (a segment of horn) at the tip of the tail, or the tail is truncated if the horns have been lost. [4] 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.
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Identify coral snakes by its color. The coral snake is a brightly colored poisonous snake that lives in the Americas and parts of Asia and the Pacific. Coral snakes do not belong to the pit viper family – they are small in size, with slightly rounded heads and round pupils. Although coral snakes’ colors and patterns vary, you can usually identify them by observing their colorful bands of red, yellow, and black. [5] X Research Sources
- 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
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Observe the blue-black mouth of the black mamba snake. If you live in or travel to sub-Saharan Africa, you are likely to encounter the deadly venomous black mamba. This snake is long (up to 4.3 m), olive or gray in color. You can identify a black mamba by the distinctive dark blue color inside its mouth that the snake will show you when it’s scared or feels threatened. [7] X National Geographic Trusted Source Go to 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.
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Pay attention to the snake’s gills to identify the cobra. This notorious venomous snake lives in many parts of Asia, Africa and the Pacific. The most typical feature of cobras is the gills around the snake’s head and neck, which they often open when they sense danger, accompanied by a threatening hiss. Some can even spray venom at the attacker. [8] X Research Sources
- 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.
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Learn about venomous snakes in your area. There are many species of venomous snakes that live all over the world, and you can’t just rely on one particular pattern to identify venomous snakes. The best way to identify venomous snakes is to look at their appearance, behavior, and geographic region. [9] X Research Resources You can search online or check out your local reptile guidebook to learn about venomous snakes in your area, if any.
- 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.
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Learn to distinguish between similar-looking snakes. Some healthy snakes can be quite difficult to distinguish from similar-looking venomous snakes. If there are several confusing snake species in your area, you need to research each species to know some of their distinctive features.
- 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
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Take pictures of the snakes you see for comparison if possible. If you happen to see a snake and you don’t know what kind of snake it is, try to take a picture of it with your phone or camera. You can then show it to an expert, or use it as a guide to match the snake based on its characteristics. [14] X National Pesticide Information Center Trusted Source Go to 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
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Go to the emergency room right away if you are bitten by a snake . If bitten by any snake — even if you’re pretty sure it’s non-venomous — go to the emergency room right away or call 911. Even a non-venomous snake bite can be dangerous if left untreated. [15] X Research Source
- 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.
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Watch for severe symptoms to identify venomous snake bites. After being bitten by a snake, pay attention to any symptoms that appear. Inform emergency personnel or doctors about symptoms so they can figure out which venom is being treated and how to treat it. Symptoms of a venomous snake bite include: [16] X Research Source
- 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.
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Watch for the mildly painful, itchy, and swollen bite of a non-venomous snake. If you are bitten by a non-venomous snake, the symptoms are usually relatively mild. However, you still have to hurry to the doctor to check. If left untreated, a bite from any snake can lead to serious infection, and some people may be allergic to snake saliva. Symptoms of a non-venomous snake bite include: [18] X Research Source
- 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
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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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