Snakebites can be avoided by following basic safety precautions. There are some "common sense" rules that can help reduce the chances of being bitten by a snake: 1) use your eyes—avoid putting your hands or feet in areas you cannot see; 2) keep debris, brush piles, etc. to a minimum—these areas provide cover for both snakes and their prey; 3) get a guidebook and learn to identify the snakes in your area that will help you recognize venomous snakes.
However, even with these precautions, snakebites can and do occur. This is primarily the result of careless behavior, handling of snakes, or provocation. But this can also occur when an unseen snake strikes because it feels cornered or threatened.
Most snakes will not strike very high above the ground unless it is in an elevated position on a log or boulder. The most common strikes tend to occur at the boot-top level when a person steps over or on a snake. Bites may also occur to the hands, when reaching into areas where vision is obscured.
Unsafe/risky activities commonly associated with those few bites that do occur:
• walking barefoot in rattlesnake country.
• looking for firewood at night.
• excessive consumption of alcohol in conjunction with snake handling; the linkage between alcohol consumption and the incidence of snakebites represent a proportionally high percentage of reported snakebite cases.
• illegal collection of rattlesnakes; in the United States, 50% of snakebites are associated with illegal collecting.
Resources: (online)
Rattlesnakes
