Florida VenomousSnake SafetyTraining Seminar

What is a Reptile?

• Ectothermic (Cold Blooded) Thermoregulation

• Hibernation

• Scales

• No Eyelids & No External Ear Openings

• Snakes are vertebrates

Sensing their Surroundings

• Excellent eyesight

• Sense vibrations

• Smell with their tongue

Why the forked tongue?

• Heat sensing pits

Poisonous or VenomousWhat’s the difference?

• All venoms are poisons but not all poisons are venoms.

• Venom requires a delivery mechanism.

• Can a poisonous reptile bite and harm you?

Ignorance & Fear(Misconceptions)

• Snakes’ evil reputation in western culture and world religious traditions.

• Snakes will chase and purposefully try to bite people.

• Legends & Tall Tales.

Venomous vs.Non-VenomousIdentification

Snake IdentificationNon-Venomous

• Small Head (similar size to body)

Note: Applies to North America only.

Eastern coral snake is an exception.

• Long Slender Body

• Round Pupils

• No Rattle

Snake IdentificationVenomous

• Large “Ace of Spades” shaped head •Neck smaller than the head.•Short, fat, body which tapers to a thin tail•Tip of the tail of juveniles is lighter colored (yellowish to cream colored)•Vertical slit (cat’s-eye) shaped pupil (except coral snake)•Rattle present on rattlesnakes

VenomousHead Profile

Non-VenomousHead Profile

SnakeIdentification

Basics

• Body Coloration: Many color variations exist even within the same species.

• Patterns: While colors vary, most species will exhibit a general color pattern that does not dramatically differ from one individual to another.

Snake IdentificationNever say never or always - except there is always an exception to every rule.

Snake Identification• Bright and Contrasting Body coloration.

– The Eastern Coral Snake displays a brightly contrasting color pattern consisting of red, yellow, and black bands down the entire length of the body.

– Know Your Area: In the Florida Keys, some Eastern Coral Snakes do not have the typical red, yellow, and black bands!

Uniform Coloration

Speckles

Stripes

Spots

Cross Bands

Blotches

Rings

Diamonds

WarningBehaviors

Warning Behaviors

• Defensive body postures

• Striking

• Loud hissing (Florida Pine Snake)

• Vibrating tail (rattle simulation in dry leaves)

• True rattle

“Herping” Snake Location and

Interpretation

• The right place, right time, right weather.

• Protect yourself:

First Aid Snakebite Kit.

Leather Gloves. Chaps or high boots in thick vegetation.

• Preparing your fellow herpers.

• Where’s your snake hook?

• Binoculars for looking from a safe distance.

• Field Guide & Measuring Tape

• Props are GREAT!– Snake shed skin

– Snake skull

– Rattlesnake rattle

– Shed rattlesnake fangs

– Preserved snake hide

Endangered Species• Never pick up or harass in any way an

endangered snake.

• Educate your tour groups.

• Many species are insular.

• Talk about habitat.

Florida’s ManyNon-Venomous Snakes

Non-venomous Snakes• Over 40 species of native snakes and only 6

venomous species.

• Snakes are everywhere, but run-ins are rare.

• Many non-venomous snakes can fool people into thinking that they are venomous.

Red ratsnake

Florida watersnake

Scarlet kingsnake

Black racer

Gartersnake

Yellow ratsnake

Glasssnake

Brooks kingsnake

Ring-necksnake

Venomous SafetyAfter the Break

Time toGrab a Snack

VenomousSafety

• The following information has been gathered from books, medical journals, pamphlets, and websites. You will this presentation find a bibliography, links, and more at www.naplezoo.com/snakes. The resources offered serve only as a sample of available information and commonly suggested methods.

• Those responsible for this presentation take no liability for their effectiveness or application.

• These are offered for you to create a safety protocol that is tailored specifically to your needs.

Stay out of theSTUPID ZONE!

Stay out of theSTUPID ZONE!

• Know Florida’s 6 native venomous species.

• Exotic species may be encountered.Through a process of elimination snakes can be identified to be exotic and/or venomous. Once identified, the doctor will know if further expert resources and medications are needed to treat the bite. Contact local herpetologists for help.

Create A Safety Protocol

• The most important necessity for insuring the highest standard of safety in case of venomous reptile bite is to have a safety protocol in place so people are informed about what to do, and to get to the hospital as quick as possible.

• The first-aid done before reaching the hospital may save a life.

Safety Protocol Basics– Identify special needs depending if it is for an

individual, family, or business.

– Identify specific roles & responsibilities for all persons that might be involved with emergency procedures.

– Venomous reptile bites are rare, therefore, many physicians may not be experienced in handling cases of snake bite. The more YOU know the better!

What do YOU know?• Be informed regarding up-to-date basic

emergency medical treatment procedures. Be informed of who the physicians are in your county or state that are the most informed as to how to properly treat venomous reptile-bite (have contact information). What you, as the patient, family member, or co-worker may know could possibly save a life.

What to DoIf a Bite Occurs

• All occurrences of snakebite should be taken seriously until the incident is deemed to be otherwise.

• If the snake cannot be identified then it should be assumed that it may be venomous.

• NOTHING should interfere with getting the victim to the hospital as fast as possible.

• First aid for snake bite should be administered at the scene of the incident.

• REMOVE ALL JEWELRY!

The following information is provided as a public service by Steve Grenard. Grenard’s

Medical Herpetology was the first comprehensive survey of the importance of

amphibians and reptiles to medicine and is also a compendium of information on treating envenomation by snakes and lizards.

Any questions may be directed to grenard@con2.com.

• Allow bite to bleed freely 30 seconds.

• Use Sawyer Extractor for 15 seconds to 1 minute over both fang tracks.

• Clean and disinfect bite area thoroughly if possible.

• Apply hard direct pressure over bite using a 4x4 gauze pad folded in half x 2.

• Soak gauze pad in BetadineTM solution if

available and if victim is not allergic to iodine.

• Strap gauze pad tightly in place with adhesive tape.

Sutherland Wrap(Compression Bandage)

• Over-wrap dressing above and below bite area with ACE

(elastic) bandage.• Wrap bandage as tight as one would for a sprain.

Not too tight. • Check for pulses above and below elastic wrap; if

absent it is too tight.

• Immobilize bitten extremity, use splinting if available.

• If possible, keep bitten extremity below heart level or in a gravity dependent position.

• Go to nearest hospital or medical facility immediately.

• Try to identify the snake involved in the bite incident.

Snake BiteKits

• One roll of 3" and two rolls of 6" ACE elastic bandages with clips for “compression.”

• Sterile 4 x 4 surgical gauze pads; a small bottle of betadine solution if not allergic to iodine.

• One roll each of 1/2" and 1" surgical adhesive tape.

• Two “Sawyer Extractors,” if you choose.

• Rubber gloves & antiseptic wipes.

• Eye wash bottle.

• Copy of your Snake-bite Safety Protocol.

• Snake bite symptoms checklist.

• Splinting materials (arm or leg).

SawyerExtractor

www.sawyerproducts.com

• Two “Sawyer Extractors,” if you choose.

• Rubber gloves & antiseptic wipes.

• Eye wash bottle.

• Copy of your Snake-bite Safety Protocol.

• Snake bite symptoms checklist.

• Splinting materials (arm or leg).

Be PreparedWhether you are out in the field, keep snakes as a hobby, or work with them in your job, these essential kit items, the ability to apply them rapidly without panic or confusion, can buy you precious time and help save your life if the unthinkable occurs. Practice regularly.

RattlesnakeBites

Six Venomous

Snakes

Florida’s 6 Venomous Snakes• Viperids (Pit Vipers)

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake Florida Cottonmouth Water Moccasin Canebrake Rattlesnake Southern Copperhead

• Elapids (Cobras, mambas, coral snakes ) ) Eastern Coral Snake

Snake Dentition

• Non-venomous: No specialized teeth (fangs)

–Aglyphic dentition

• Venomous:– Solenoglyphic (Front hinged & movable)

– Proteroglyphic (Front Fixed & non-movable)

– Opisthoglyphic (Rear fanged)

• Coral snake exception

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

• Can strike up to 2/3 the length of its body.

• Record length: 8 feet.

• Favors living in dry scrub type habitats.

• Habitat is being heavily encroached upon.

• Insular Species: Overwinters with other

species in gopher tortoise burrows.

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

• Does not have to rattle before it strikes.

Rattle can be broken off.

Those snakes that don’t immediately rattle are more likely to survive.

Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake

• Because of its small stature, it is often mistaken for garter snakes, juvenile black racers and other non-venomous species.

• Florida’s two species of hognose snakes occasionally are also confused with the Pygmy Rattlesnake.

Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake

• The rattle of most pygmy rattlesnakes is underdeveloped and so small that it makes no sound.

• Common in lowland pine flatwoods and around bodies of freshwater.

• Found throughout Florida up to North Carolina and west to eastern Texas.

Southern Copperhead

• Record length: 4 ½ feet

• Often confused with juvenile cottonmouth water moccasins.

• The tip of the tail of a juvenile copperhead is sulpher yellow in color.

JuvenileCottonmouth

AdultCopperhead

Southern Copperhead

• Has the largest range of all the southeastern species of venomous. (north to Mass., West to Texas and to SE Nebraska).

• Found in Florida only along the Apalachicola river and its tributaries.

• Bite is painful but not usually deadly.

Cottonmouth Water Moccasin

• Juvenile form has a very distinct crossbanding pattern (fades as they get older). This pattern is similar to the southern copperhead, therefore, these two are often mistaken for one another.

• Gives warning by opening its mouth and displaying the cotton-white lining inside.

Cottonmouth Water Moccasin

• More frequently found in wetter areas when younger. Adults often found far inland away from any water.

• Found throughout Florida, north to Virginia, and west to Illinois, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Canebrake Rattlesnake

• Can strike up to 2/3 the length of its body.

• Chevron (zig-zag) shaped crossbands.

• Reddish brown stripe down the back with tan or pinkish body.

• Record length: 6 feet 4 inches.

Canebrake Rattlesnake

• Frequents low bottomlands and areas that tend to be fairly damp unlike the Eastern Diamondback which prefers dry areas.

• Ranges from north Florida to southern Maine and west to central Texas.

Eastern Coral Snake

• Red, yellow, and black bands totally encircling the body across the belly. Red bands border next to the yellow bands.

• Forget the poem and think of a traffic light.

Forget the Poem!

Eastern Coral Snake

• Elapid snake being more closely related to cobras, mambas, and sea snakes.

• Can strike, bite, and forcibly inject its venom.

• Ranges from throughout Florida north to southeastern North Carolina and west to Texas and into northeastern Mexico.

• Found in a variety of habitats from dry scrub forest and flatwoods to wet hammocks and edges of swamps.

• Behaviorally very shy and secretive. Usually hiding in cool damp areas like dead logs or old woodpiles.

Eastern Coral Snake

AvoidingVenomous

Snakes

Avoiding Venomous Snakes

• Perspective: Lots of snakes are out there and we never see them or have issues.

• Stay aware of your surroundings.

• Watch where you put your feet and hands.

Avoiding Venomous Snakes• Weather & its affects on reptile behavior.– Florida’s average temp. is around 72° F.– Reptiles are least active when outside

temps are below 60° F and above 90° F.– Reptiles are most active in morning and

evening when it is cooler.

• When & where do reptiles bask?

At home:–Watch where you’re going!

–Where reptiles might be encountered.

Reptile’s favorite basking areas.

–Yard work & gardening

–Wear proper clothes.

Avoiding Venomous Snakes

In the Field: Many professions daily bring people into close contact with native snakes.

– Habitat disruption & displacement of wildlife.

– Working in wooded areas or in/near dense brush.

– Never step over something that blocks your view of where you are going.

– Wear proper clothing.

Avoiding Venomous Snakes

Questions?

Thank You