Most snake species are harmless, and even venomous snakes do not view people as prey. In the United States, fatal snakebites are rare when compared with the number of people bitten, but envenomation can still cause severe injury and deserves to be treated seriously. One of the easiest ways to reduce your risk is also one of the easiest ways to protect the snake: do not try to catch, handle, or kill it. Current CDC/NIOSH guidance specifically warns people not to handle snakes, and notes that many bites occur when people try to catch or kill venomous snakes. If you see a snake that you cannot identify as harmless, Take Three Steps Back and Walk Away.
This lesson is part of Certified Herpetological Guide. Enrollment is self-paced, with no deadline to finish (about 50 hours).
