Latest news with #venomoussnakes
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Can a coral snake kill you? What to know about Arizona's most venomous snake
Welcome to Snake Week 2025 at Every day from June 23 through June 29, Ultimate Arizona reporter Tiffany Acosta will bring you a new story about Arizona's favorite slithering reptiles. Follow along to learn about venomous Mojave rattlesnakes, whether it's legal to kill snakes in Arizona, the pros and cons of snakes as pets and the absolutely wildest facts about snakes. With their bold red, yellow and black stripes, Arizona coral snakes look like they are dressed for a venomous Mardi Gras, but don't let their small size fool you. These secretive serpents pack a powerful neurotoxic bite, although they are rarely seen and even less likely to strike. Coral snakes are shy, not aggressive, and prefer slithering under rocks, logs or desert debris, living life undercover. Here is everything to know about coral snakes in Arizona. Arizona coral snakes are venomous, meaning they can inject toxins through a bite. They are not poisonous to the touch. An Arizona coral snake's venom is a powerful neurotoxin that can paralyze muscles and, in theory, stop a person's breathing. But it's a small, reclusive snake with tiny fangs and a timid personality. It rarely bites humans and only if seriously provoked. So while it's the most venomous drop for drop, it's not considered the most dangerous. There has never been a documented death from an Arizona coral snake bite, said Thomas Jones, amphibians and reptiles program manager at the Arizona Game & Fish Department. 'Sonoran coral snakes (the species found in Arizona) are shy and innocuous. They do not want to bite, they want to hide. And yes, the venom is neurotoxic, but they are small, and can only inject a relatively small amount of venom,' Jones said. 'They will bite if handled. Don't do it. It's not worth the risk. There are other coral snakes elsewhere, like the Eastern coral snake in the southeastern U.S. and coral snakes in the tropics that can, and have, killed humans.' Jones said the term 'deadly' isn't helpful when describing snakes; it's better to focus on how dangerous they are. 'What makes a snake dangerous? Generally, it's behavior, aggressiveness, size, how much venom can it inject at one time and venom components,' Jones said. Coral snakes' venom is neurotoxic, Jones said; it attacks the nervous system. The venom of most rattlesnakes is hemotoxic, which destroys tissue and blood. Some snakes, like the Mojave rattlesnake, have both venom types, making them particularly dangerous. 'Coral snake venom is different than most rattlesnake venoms. There are certainly ways to assess in the laboratory how deadly a venom is, and by that criterion alone, coral snake venom is worse,' Jones said. Bites by venomous snakes may require antivenom. In the extremely unlikely event you are bitten by an Arizona coral snake, seek medical help. The Sonoran Mountain kingsnake is often mistaken for the Arizona coral snake because it has similar red, black and yellow or white banding patterns. These sayings help you tell them apart: Coral snake: Red touches yellow, a venomous fellow. Kingsnake: Red touches black, you are safe from attack. These rhymes aren't foolproof everywhere in the world, but they work well in the United States. Sonoran Mountain kingsnakes mimic coral snakes as a defense mechanism, a strategy called Batesian mimicry, tricking predators into thinking they are dangerous when they are harmless. Jones said the Sonoran shovel-nosed snake, resplendent shovel-nosed snake and ground snakes are sometimes mistaken for coral snakes. Coral snakes lay their eggs in hidden, protected spots, often in early summer, and then leave them to hatch on their own. 'Snakes do not nest. Egg layers, like coral snakes, deposit their eggs in holes in the ground or in leaf litter, mulch, inside dead logs or wherever they find the appropriate microhabitat that will incubate the eggs. They lay eggs and leave,' Jones said. Arizona coral snakes are primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, meaning they are most active at night or during the early evening and dawn hours, especially in warmer months or after monsoon rain. Avoid their habitat at these times. Coral snake activity depends on the time of year, Jones said: "They can be active during the day in spring or fall, or primarily at night or early morning/late evening in summer, warmer months.' Looking for the ? Sign up for our newsletter. Coral snakes are rarely encountered around homes. 'It is not a snake that generally shows up in yards,' Jones said. 'It's not an issue, so I wouldn't even suggest ways to do this.' No. Coral snakes are shy, reclusive and would much rather slither away than pick a fight. 'They are beautiful and fascinating snakes, and it's always a treat to encounter one in the wild. If you see one, stop and enjoy it,' Jones said. Just don't try to handle it. Got a story you want to share? Reach out at Follow @tiffsario on Instagram. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: This is the most venomous ― and colorful ― snake in Arizona
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Summer Snake Series: Dusty pygmy rattlesnake is on Florida's venomous list
There are more than 40 species of snakes that are native to Florida, but only six of them are venomous. This week The News-Press and Naples Daily News is taking a closer look at each of these snakes for a special series. Snakes are most active in the spring and early summer months, when the weather warms up and they emerge from brumation, which is similar to hibernation. As it starts to heat up for the summer in Florida, you might see more of your slithery neighbors gliding through your grass or across your driveway. But not every snake is a threat. Here's a closer look at today's featured venomous snake: Dusky pygmy rattlesnakes, also known as pygmy rattlesnakes, have a dark or light gray body, with row of black or charcoal blotches along the length of its body and a reddish-brown stripe running down the middle of the back. Their bites are very painful, but not life-threatening. They can be found throughout the entire state, but aren't known to occur in the Florida Keys, according to the Florida Museum. According to the University of Florida IFAS website, these snakes live in natural wooded areas but can sometimes be found in neightborhoods. To see photos and more in-depth descriptions on these and Florida's native, harmless snakes, visit the Florida Museum's guide for identifying the state's snakes. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Is Florida's Dusty pygmy rattlesnake venomous?
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Qld pair teach how to safely handle venomous snakes, tackling 'persistent myths'
Would you consider taking on venomous snake handling training if it meant you'd be safer around snakes? Queensland snake experts Chris Hay and Christina Zdenek want more Australians to educate themselves with a few key facts about snakes and snake behaviour. The pair offer venomous snake handling training and snake ecology courses. "Back in the day when I was learning, you had to basically learn through experience, whether that went good or bad, so it's great to be able to offer this sort of thing to people," Mr Hay added. Dr Zdenek is a scientist whose spent years studying snakes, as well as working hands-on with the reptiles doing travelling snake shows, scientific field work and antivenom testing. The couple are passionate about promoting a broader understanding and appreciation of snakes, and busting what they call "persistent myths" about the reptiles. "That they're aggressive, that they want to chase us and strike at us and bite us and you know, the opposite couldn't be more true," Dr Zdenek said. Mr Hay said the pair wanted to counter the misinformation. "We just want the truth to get out there about snakes, " he said. The self-confessed "snake-obsessed" pair now share their home with a collection of 40 reptiles, about 25 of which are venomous snakes. "We've got coastal taipans, inland taipan, eastern brown snakes, Collett's black snake, red-bellied black snake, death adders, tiger snakes, pale-headed snakes, woma pythons and strap-snouted brown snakes," Dr Zdenek said. The couple's snakes feature in their venomous snake handling training, allowing participants a chance to experience real-life encounters with some of the world's most venomous reptiles. "We get people from professional backgrounds," Mr Hay said. Step-by-step, the class is shown the correct handling techniques and why it's important to do it a certain way. Participant Joel Young, a groundskeeper at a private school in Yatala, recently encountered both an eastern brown and a green tree snake on campus. "Just yesterday, there was an eastern brown," he said. Understandably, participants start out handling less dangerous snakes and work their way up to the venomous ones. Wildlife spotter Charley Rayner said the course gave her confidence to handle stressful situations on job sites. As well as mitigating the risks that come with working closely with snakes, the course also offers people valuable insight into what to expect if things go wrong. Mr Hay has had five hospitalisations from venomous snake bites over the course of his 40-year career and Dr Zdenek has been bitten once. "We don't brag about the fact that we've been bitten," Dr Zdenek said. Sharing those experiences, both the good and the bad, is an important part of the education offered to those who do the course. They're also walked through some fundamentals of first aid in the event of a snake bite. "We've got the Royal Flying Doctor Service," Dr Zdenek said. "So as long as you do that first aid — the stretchy elastic bandage, pressure immobilisation technique and stand still, don't go crazy, keep that heart rate down — then you'll be in good hands." Dr Zdenek cautions not everyone is cut out to wrangle potentially deadly animals. But she argues in a country that's home to many of the world's most venomous snakes, having some basic snake safety information is a must. "If you encounter a snake, you just stop moving and you're not going to scare that snake into a strike." Watch ABC TV's Landline at 12:30pm AEST on Sunday or on ABC iview.
