The short answer is that the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is
the deadliest snake in the USA, with the most venom. A bite will
very likely result in the death of any human. That said, if you
ask what snake kills the most humans in the US, the answer is
the Timber Rattlesnake, because it's encountered more
frequently, and thus it kills more people. As far as potency of
venom goes, that's the Coral snake - but that's a rare and
docile snake. So it depends on your definition of deadliest.
It's my opinion that the Eastern Diamondback is the deadliest,
because it's the largest, strongest, and has the most venom.
Chance of survival is lowest with an Eastern Diamondback bite.
There are many species of snakes in the United States that can
be extremely dangerous should you be bitten by one. Whether you
are talking about the rattlesnake or the copperhead, many are
extremely dangerous if they should bite you.
What makes them so dangerous is not just the kinds of toxins
that they can emit, but also the effect that toxin can have on
its victim. There are four different kinds of toxins that a
snake can inject into its victim, including neurotoxins,
cardiotoxins, hemotoxins, and cytotoxins. Each of these can be
quite dangerous in how they affect their victim.
While all are dangerous it is usually the neurotoxins and
cardiotoxins that are considered to be the most dangerous to the
victim. However, ironically enough, it is a snake that injects a
cytotoxin that has established itself as the most deadly in all
of North America. That is the Cottonmouth.
A cytotoxin is one that damages cells in the area where the
toxin is present. Usually it directly effects the location where
the snake has bitten its victim, and can have a very negative
effect on the cells where the snake has bitten the organism.
In many cases only the area where the snake bit its victim is
damaged. However, this is part of what separates the cottonmouth
from other snakes that emit this toxin.
The cottonmouth, also known as a water moccasin or water
pitviper, is the only kind of viper that can live in the water.
This isn’t just in North America, but is the only one worldwide.
It is found in the southeastern part of the United States, but
many have seen this snake reach to parts of the Gulf of Mexico.
That is not good news for tourists who are visiting these areas,
because these snakes are extremely dangerous.
As mentioned, these animals inject a strong cytotoxin. In fact,
it is the most destructive and powerful cytotoxin of any snake
on earth. This is what makes them so dangerous.
When a cottonmouth injects its venom into the victim the venom
begins to eat away at the area where the bite occurred. This is
a very grisly attack, as the venom literally eats away at the
skin, often starting from the inside of the organism and working
its way in all directions.
For those who have been bitten by this snake there are many
instances where anti-venom is not sufficient enough to save the
victim. The only solution is to remove the affected area by
amputation, meaning that whole sections of skin and tissue have
to be removed for the organism to be able to survive.
What makes this kind of snake even more dangerous is that the
venom can quickly spread through diffusion or through the blood
stream. As it moves through these other areas it causes
incredible damage. To help understand this, it is like burning a
bridge as you are crossing it. nothing can get to you from
behind because the bridge is destroyed. Blood vessels are
destroyed that have carried the toxin, but the toxin still is
able to spread. It is truly brutal.
Avoiding a cottonmouth can be a real chore. These reptiles live
in the water and hide in the brush or in the water itself
waiting for potential victims to arrive. Once they do, they lash
out and inject their venom into the victim, waiting for it to
become incapacitated before they start to eat it. Cottonmouth
snakes will eat virtually anything that they can fit into their
mouth, but will kill any animal that they see as a threat.
For more information about What is the Deadliest Snake in the
United States, go to my Snake
Removal - How to Get Rid of Snakes home page.
Dear Mr. Wildlife man, I saw your website after looking for info
on the Eastern Diamondback. Thanks for some great info. As I was
getting ready to leave your website I glanced through and
noticed a suprising heading "How to kill a snake". I almost did
not look, but more out of curiosity as to your intent than
anything else, I did go ahead and look. I was happy to see you
do not advocate killing them. When I saw your comment about
people sending you photos of dead snakes and how it upsets you,
I thought I would send you the attached photo of a very healthy
looking snake happiliy living in my back yard in Jupiter Florida
(West side of Jupiter in an area known a Jupiter Farms). I first
noticed him yesterday when I was cutting the grass. I checked
and today he had moved a few feet but is still looking happy
under some saw pallmetto and a large bouganvillia. I get a lot
of the black racers, the occasional corn snake, a bunch of other
smaller brightly colored snakes I cannot identify including some
ribbon snakes, very rarely a king snake and just a little more
often a Florida Scarlet. I cannot be sure but I think I once had
a small pygmy rattlesnake sitting on the outside faucet!!! About
8 years ago I had my first encounter with an Eastern Diamondback
in the yard. He was approx 6ft long with a body as thick as my
forearm and the rattle was very clear to see. Since then, I
never saw another diamondback until the one in the photo that I
took today (enclosed). (If you disagree with my identification,
please do let me know.) This one is not agressive in any way and
I have not seen or heard his tail. He is not large but I have
not seen him move or be stretched out but my best guess is that
he is between 2ft and 3ft long. I am guessing his body is much
thicker than my thumb but not nearly as thick as my wrist.
Anyway, more than anything I just wanted you to receive a photo
of a live snake and to know that he will be left on his own to
enjoy my yard as are all the other snakes I am fortunate enough
to see. Best wishes and thanks for a great, easy to use and
informative web site. Peter the nature lover.