Venomous Texas Snakes


diamond-backed rattlesnake

The State of Texas is home to 15 potentially dangerous snake species or subspecies. Despite this, each year, there have been more deaths in Texas attributed to lightning strikes than to venomous snakebites. This is due, in part, to increasing awareness of snakes around us, developing and improved first aid and medical practices, and excellent educational and outreach efforts by herpetologists and snake enthusiasts across the state. More information on each of these species can be found in many excellent books.

This web page hopes to provide simple and timely safety and first aid information about the venomous snakes found in the state. It is important to remember that not every snake is venomous, and that, while the very mention of the word often sends chills up the spine of many people, snakes do have an important role in our Texas ecosystem. Their contribution in controlling rodents can hardly be understated. Equally important is an understanding that envenomation is a defensive mechanism for the snake. Snakes don't hunt humans. Bites are usually a result of the snake being surprised or cornered, or from someone handling snakes.

Safety Around the Home

As our population continues to grow, and people continue to move into 'pristine' and 'untouched' areas, encounters with venomous snakes are going to occur. Many of these encounters occur around the home, with the result that incidents of bites close to home are statistically high.

Snakes in general, occur around a home for the specific purposes of seeking food and shelter. Keeping these things in mind provides us with guidelines to help prevent snakebite around the home.

Keep wood piles, brush piles, trash dumps and livestock pens as far as possible from the residence. When working in these areas, exercise caution. Never put an arm or leg into something if you can not see the bottom.

Keep storage areas and livestock sheds/barns as neat as possible. Treat tools and materials stored on the floor as possible snake shelters. Treat overturned boats, tarps and similar objects as potential shelter for transient snakes moving through the area.

Remember snakes are adept at finding their way through small openings. Keep this in mind when entering crawl spaces, basements, garages and similar areas.

Safety in the Field

Since venomous snakes are common in the rural areas of Texas, it is important for ranchers, hunters, rural residents, outdoor enthusiasts and other that frequent these areas to exercise caution.

Be careful where you put your hands and feet - don't reach or step until you can see the bottom.

Never step over a log without first seeing what is on the other side. If you must move a log - use a long stick or garden tool first, to ensure snakes are neither under, on or around these favored habitats.

Use a flashlight when moving about, even in your home yard, at night.

Animal burrows make excellent habitat for snakes - don't reach in without first checking.

Wear protective clothing if working in areas where you suspect snakes nearby. Heavy footwear, snake proof trousers and/or leggings will help reduce your risk.

Freeze still when snakes are known to be nearby until you know where they are. Allow the snake to retreat. If you must move, back slowly and carefully away from the snake.

First Aid

For snake bites, it is best to read up on Venomous Snakes - Symptoms and First Aid at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention web site (National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health)

more snakebite info

For More Information

Excellent, current information on Texas snakes and particularly the venomous snakes, can be found in a number of good books. Some suggested reading includes:

  • Price, Andrew H. Poisonous Snakes of Texas. Austin: Texas Parks and Wildlife Press, 1998 (out of print, 2005)
  • Tennant, Alan. A Field Guide to Texas Snakes. (Texas Monthly Field Guides) Houston: Gulf Publishing Co.,1998
  • Werler, Jon E. and James R. Dixon. Texas Snakes: Identification, Distribution, and Natural History.Austin: Univ. Texas Press, 2000
     
  • Dixon, James R. and Jon E. Werler. Texas Snakes: A Field Guide. Austin, Univ. of Texas Press, November 2005