A Venomous Halloween

Besides ghouls, ghosts, and goblins, many of us are afraid of snakes, especially those that are venomous—rattlesnakes, cobras, and coral snakes. The thought of encountering a viper is a common nightmare, fueling the connotation of “the only good snake is a dead snake,” but is there whimsy and wonder hidden behind a pair of needlelike fangs? 

A fear of snakes is drilled into many of us, including myself, at a very young age. “They’re sizing you up to eat you!” “Stay away from it, it’ll wrap itself around your neck!” “It's evil!” A quick scroll through social media will show you hundreds of snakes harmed for the fact they are feared and enveloped by negative and dangerous stigmatization. These posts are usually captioned “Is this snake venomous?” seeking advice and identification after committing the act. As I always say, “ignorance is synonymous with fear,” so let's clear the name of snakes this Halloween season! 

“There Are Hundreds of Venomous Snakes, Right?” 

According to National Geographic, there are upwards of 3,000 species of snakes with 600 of those species being venomous, with only 200 of those species being able to significantly harm a person. The United States has 21 species of venomous snakes including the copperhead, cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake, and—the largest rattlesnake in the world—the eastern diamondback rattlesnake. But if venomous snakes are so few, where did this overwhelming fear arise from? 

In media and public conversation, snakes are consistently villainized as bloodthirsty and mindless animals that only function to inflict harm. On the contrary, snakes are just as afraid of you as you are of them. Many instances of snake “attacks” are frightened animals searching for shelter, biting in retaliation after being stepped on, or an obnoxious person ignoring their boundaries. I mean, what is a better warning than a rattle or hiss?

“Why Shouldn’t I be Afraid of them?” 

Now that we established that venomous snakes—or any snakes for that matter—are not blood-lusting beasts like werewolves or undead gluttons like zombies, let's address the fun and whimsical facts about our cold-blooded friends.  

Did you know that rattlesnakes are some of the best parents and nannies around? According to the Advocates for Snake Preservation, rattlesnake species, such as the Arizona black rattlesnake, the black-tailed rattlesnake, and numerous other species, have been documented protecting their offspring and even protecting the offspring of other rattlesnakes in the area. 

Did you know that many species of Cobra, such as the Mozambique spitting cobra, will sometimes play dead when being harassed by people and predators instead using their toxic bite as a first resort? This process is known as thanatosis and is usually accompanied by a theatric display of tongue flicking and rag dolling to convince a predator that they are deceased.  

Did you know that venoms are costly for venomous snakes to produce? Unbeknownst to many people, venom is not an infinite resource within the bodily systems of these animals. Venoms are composed of protein, peptides, and amines, which consume a lot of energy and are only used by these animals in desperate need. According to Dr. Anand Titus and Geeta N. Pereira, about 50% of snakes are dry bites due to its metabolic requirements. But unlike hungry vampires, these animals would rather not bite at all! 

“If they’re not so scary, can I pet and hold them?” 

NO. While snakes do not possess the malice and trickery of the Halloween horrors that we’re all afraid of, like all wildlife, they should be appreciated and respected from a distance, especially those that are venomous. Interacting with these animals jeopardizes the safety of not only the already stigmatized reptilian wildlife but also you.  

During this seasonal shift to lower temperatures, snakes of all species are looking for dark and safe places to brumate for the winter. If you encounter a venomous snake in a location that jeopardizes your or its safety, contact the New Jersey Venomous Snake Response Team at 908-713-1734 (northern region) or 856-629-5783 (southern region)! And if you encounter ghosts and poltergeists trying to make their way into your candy bucket, call the ghostbusters at 516-718-8727! Though their line may be busy with all the sightings. 

Jordan M. Henderson is a senior animal health major with a minor in environmental science and chemistry who has an undying passion for wildlife conservation and environmental consciousness. Outside of working away in a chemistry lab and hosting community service events, Henderson cares for 15 snakes, eight tarantulas, four lizards, a parrot, dog, and hundreds of insects. This passion drove him to gain certification in handling and advocating for venomous snakes.