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Though only a small percentage of snakes are venomous, there is no visual litmus test to determine whether a snake is dangerous or not. Your best bet is to research the venomous snakes in your area, in order to easily identify them from a distance. In the United States, venomous snakes bite around 8,000 people a year, and 12 to 15 of these bites are fatal. Most venomous bites occur in the South and Midwest during the summer months. There are approximately 20 species of venomous snakes in the U.S. -- mostly rattlesnakes, cottonmouths
(water moccasins), and copperheads. These snakes are referred to as pit vipers because of the heat-sensitive grooves between their eyes and nostrils. About 99 percent of the venomous bites in this country are from pit vipers. Every state but Maine, Alaska, and Hawaii is home to at least one species of venomous snake. But any snakebite should be considered a medical emergency. So study your snakes, campers!
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