| Blacktail rattlesnake Crotalus molossus | |
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A venomous snake that is long accustomed to captivity is probably more likely to bite as a feeding response than defensively. Defensive bites in crotalids are often "dry", or without venom. Feeding bites are envenomating bites. Beware of "tame" rattlesnakes that "don't bite" - they may not be inclined to bite defensively, but they can mistake a keeper's hand for lunch with predictably nasty consequences. |
Feeding Bite vs Defensive Strike: Bites From Captive Venomous Snakes This male golden phase blacktail rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) is seven years old and was born in captivity. He is regularly handled for educational programs and photography, and he is removed from his cage weekly and placed in a holding bin during cleaning. Like many long term captive snakes, this rattlesnake associates his keeper with feeding time and knows to expect food when his cage is opened or approached. Despite the fact that he is a long term captive, he is a very dangerous snake and it would be a mistake to regard him as "tame" or a "pet". As you can see, this snake cheerfully strikes at anything that is handed to him as food (in this case, a frozen/thawed mouse). He eagerly injects copious quantities of venom to help him digest his prey. An accidental bite from this animal would probably not be a defensive bite which would stand a good chance of being "dry" (without venom), but a fully envenomating feeding bite. For a discussion on rattlesnake envenomation and the percentage of dry bites as defensive strikes, visit the eMedicine site and read this article by Dr. Sean Bush. |
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