Venomous Snakes

[Tshokwane]

Spiders and Snakes:
Did you know that in the first issue of Venomous Snakes of the World (1962s) it was an accepted fact that there were only two species of rattlesnakes in the USA but by the time of the 2012-2013 rewrite by Scott Shupe, more than 13 species had been recognized? Unfortunately, public approach or opinion hasn't changed much in that time, and people still believe old folk tales of rattlesnakes chasing them, fangs still killing people after spending 20 years stuck in a boot, or that they are aggressive. 

Perhaps, tellingly, of the average 7,000-8,000 persons bitten by venomous snakes in the USA each year, 72% (I would bold that if I could) are intoxicated/drunk young men. Because only about 80% of bites result in envenomation, and only about 0.08% of bites result in death (an average of 5 per year out of 7,000-8,000 per year) and most bites can be avoided by simply stepping away from the snake giving the warning, it's time they get a better reputation. After all, they do go through extensive lengths to warn you when they're upset and most snakes won't do that.

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