Have you heard of the African Gaboon Viper? This highly venomous, non-native snake was the subject of a 2 a.m. call from a hospital some years ago. Luck was not on the side of the person it bit, as this very rare snake isn’t typically found in the U.S. When we got the call, our poison specialist sprung into action and started hunting down antivenom at Chicago-area zoos. We finally tracked the antidote down at a Wisconsin zoo that happened to have a Gaboon Viper. After the reptile house curator realized our call was NOT a joke or prank call, the Wisconsin State Police retrieved and then handed off the antivenom to the Illinois State Police at the border, who brought it to the hospital. The patient ended up fine, despite a bad reaction to the antivenom.

The moral of the story is be careful around snakes, especially in warm weather as reptiles are more active and we humans spend more time outdoors. If you or anyone else is ever bitten by a snake or other critter, the Illinois Poison Center is here to help.

Did You Know?

There are 40 different snake species in Illinois. The good news is that only four are considered poisonous: copperhead, cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake and eastern massasauga.

Researchers have found that half of people feel anxious about snakes. Whether your relationship with snakes is love or hate, here are some interesting facts:

• Snakes have four rows of teeth in the top of the mouth and two rows on the bottom.
• The largest Illinois snake is the gopher snake, with the Illinois record length at 7 feet, 2 inches (218.5 cm).
• A snake can swallow prey that is three times larger than the size of its own head. (Wow!)

How to Keep Your Home Snake-Free

Contrary to popular belief, there are no effective snake repellents. Old-fashioned remedies such as pouring ammonia or spreading mothballs around your lawn have not been proven effective. All this does is make your home hazardous to children and smell really bad. Currently, the only ways to prevent snake bites is to remove their habitat and food source.

Here are some safe ways to keep your living area free of snakes:

• Mow your lawn regularly. Tall grass is a good habitat for snakes to take up shelter.
• Keep woodpiles off the ground. Woodpiles tend to be good nesting sites for rodents, which are a snake’s favorite snack.
• Keep the area around your house free of trash piles and rubbish. Where there’s an open food source there will be mice, which in turn will attract snakes.

What to Do When a Snake Slithers By

If you ever encounter a snake, back away slowly. Snakes are generally non-aggressive towards humans and only attack when cornered, stepped on or handled. If you are hiking or camping, make sure to wear sturdy leather boots, so that if you come across a snake that tries to bite your ankle, the leather will make it more difficult for its fangs to reach your skin. Also avoid stepping over or reaching into or under logs or large rocks. You might find a very unpleasant surprise inside.

What to Do If a Snake Bites

If you are bitten by a snake, follow these important steps:

• Stay calm and still.
• If it’s safe to do so, take a picture of the snake.
• Call 911 immediately if it is a venomous snake. If you’re sure it’s a garter snake, call IPC’s helpline, 1-800-222-1222.
• Try to remember features of the snake such as body shape and color. DO NOT re-approach the snake.
• Apply a clean, dry dressing to the bite mark. (DO NOT apply ice, heat or a tourniquet around the bite mark as this may worsen the injury.)
• Remove any jewelry such as rings, bracelets or watches.

Illinois’ four venomous snakes have unique features that separate them from non-venomous snakes. If you ever get close enough to see one of these four snakes (which we DO NOT recommend), here are some distinguishing features:

• An elliptical cat-like pupil
• A heat-sensing pit on each side of the head between the eye and nostril
• A single row of scales on the underside of the tail (non-venomous snakes possess a divided row of scales)

IPC’s 1-800-222-1222 helpline is staffed by toxicology experts who can answer questions and provide treatment recommendations regarding all potentially toxic substances, including all types of bites and stings. Click here for information on general poison prevention and free resources.

P.S. If you are interested in snakes, click here to order a poster on Illinois snakes and/or consider visiting “Snake Road” in Southern Illinois. Snake Road is closed to vehicle traffic twice a year to allow the snakes to migrate safely across the road. If you visit, be safe!