Watch Your Step: What New Yorkers Should Know About Venomous Snakebites

Venomous snakebites may seem like a distant threat, more associated with desert trails than the wooded slopes and rocky hillsides of the Hudson Valley. Though bites are uncommon, they do happen. World Atlas ranks the Hudson Valley as one of the five most rattlesnake-dense areas on the Atlantic Coast.

Each year, up to 8,000 people in the United States are bitten by venomous snakes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About five die. Far more survive with lasting injuries, including tissue damage, loss of mobility, or the partial loss of a finger or limb.

In New York, poison centers received 564 reports of snakebites from 2011 to 2022, according to a recent study in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. Of those, 112 involved venomous snakes, while 207 involved snakes that could not be identified. Most cases were minor, and only a small share required antivenom. Still, the risks are serious enough to make prevention — and knowing what to do after a bite — a matter of public health.

New York is home to three native venomous snakes: the northern copperhead, the timber rattlesnake, and the eastern massasauga rattlesnake. In the Hudson Valley and nearby Catskills, residents are most likely to encounter copperheads or timber rattlesnakes. The eastern massasauga, an endangered species, is known in New York from only two isolated wetland populations.

All three are pit vipers, named for the heat-sensing pits between their eyes and nostrils that help them detect warm-blooded prey. Copperheads, which are usually 1 1/2 to 3 feet long, are often reddish or tan, with hourglass-shaped bands across the body. Timber rattlesnakes, the largest venomous snakes in New York, are typically 3 to 4 feet long or larger and vary widely in color, from yellowish brown to nearly black. Their most recognizable feature is the rattle at the end of the tail, though rattlesnakes do not always rattle before striking.

Neither species is aggressive by nature. Bites usually occur when a snake is stepped on, handled, cornered or surprised. The practical lesson is simple: Do not put your hands or feet anywhere you cannot see.

If you are bitten by a snake, call 911. Do not drive yourself to the hospital unless there is no other option; dizziness, fainting or a sudden worsening of symptoms can make driving dangerous. If it can be done safely, take a photograph of the snake from a distance to help clinicians identify the species. Do not try to kill, capture or handle it.

Stay calm and still to slow the spread of venom, keeping the bitten limb resting below heart level. While waiting for help, sit or lie down. Remove rings, watches, bracelets and tight clothing before swelling begins. Wash the bite gently with soap and water as soon as you are able, cover it with a clean, dry dressing and, if possible, mark the edge of swelling or tenderness on the skin and note the time.

Just as important is knowing what not to do. Don’t use a tourniquet and don’t apply ice. Both restrict blood flow, which accelerates local tissue damage and increases amputation risk. Remove any rings, watches, or tight bracelets. Never cut the bite site or attempt to suck out venom. These actions can trigger severe bleeding and cause accidental poisoning. Avoid aspirin and non-steroidal pain relievers like ibuprofen, which can aggravate bleeding.

Hospital treatment depends on the species, symptoms and blood tests, including tests that measure clotting function. Antivenom remains the standard treatment when signs of progressive envenomation develop. Researchers are also studying an oral drug, varespladib, as a possible early treatment used alongside standard care, but it is not a substitute for emergency medical treatment or antivenom.

The best way to avoid a bite is to give snakes space. If you see one, stay at least six feet away and let it move on. Snakes are active from spring through fall, and most especially in warm weather. Hikers, gardeners and outdoor workers should wear long pants, closed-toe boots, and gloves when moving brush, rocks, logs or other debris. Stay on marked trails when hiking, avoid tall grass when possible and use a walking stick or trekking pole to probe areas where visibility is poor.

Native snakes are protected in New York, and killing or collecting them is illegal. Timber rattlesnakes are listed as threatened in the state, and eastern massasaugas are listed as endangered. The Department of Environmental Conservation tracks timber rattlesnake sightings to monitor populations and protect den sites. Sightings can be reported to the DEC’s Bureau of Wildlife at 518-402-8883 or wildlife@dec.ny.gov.

Dr. Mary Jenkins, a contributor to the Herald and member of its board of directors, retired after nearly 40 years as a family practice physician in New York state.