How to Lower Your Snakebite Risk Outdoors (and What to Do If Someone Is Bitten)

Staying safe in snake country is mostly about what you do before and during a trip: where you go, what you wear and what you never do. This guide gathers prevention advice from extension and medical sources, adds what bite data suggests, and covers the first-aid steps and common mistakes.

What bite data suggests

In a 2016 US dataset of emergency department visits for venomous snakebites, 44% involved the wrist, hand or fingers, 30% the ankle or foot, and 16% the knee or lower leg. Half of the visits happened in summer, and most (82%) were in the South (Jaramillo et al., 2019). Mayo Clinic notes that most snakebites happen on the arms, wrists or hands.

The practical point: gear for your legs addresses only part of the risk. Hands matter, and so does what you do around cover.

Before you go

• Know your local snakes. Your state wildlife agency can tell you which venomous species live where you go and when they are active.
• Dress for it. Colorado State University Extension advises long, loose pants and calf-high leather boots, or preferably snake guards, in rattlesnake country.
• Have a plan. Tell someone your route and when you will be back. Know where you have phone signal.
• Carry a charged phone. The same CSU guidance says the most useful snakebite first aid kit consists of car keys and a phone to call the hospital.

Our Trip Checklist Builder turns these into a printable list.

On the trail

• Watch where you step and sit. Look before you put a foot, a hand or yourself down.
• Do not jump over logs. Step on top first, then look.
• Never reach where you cannot see. That includes rock crevices, log piles and thick brush. CSU advises never turning over rocks or putting hands in crevices without checking.
• Alert them to your approach. CSU suggests sweeping grassy areas with a long stick before entering.
• Do not rely on a rattle. Rattlesnakes do not always rattle before striking.
• Back away calmly if you meet a snake: stay still, then move away slowly and carefully.

Never handle a snake

Do not pick up, move or provoke a snake, even one that looks dead. CSU notes that a dead rattlesnake, even a decapitated one, can still bite because its heat-sensing pits stay active until rigor mortis is complete.

Where footwear and gaiters fit in

Added leg protection is a personal choice that can reduce risk to the area it covers. No product can guarantee protection. See do snake boots really work? and how to choose snake boots.

If someone is bitten: first aid

These steps follow Mayo Clinic first-aid guidance. If possible, while waiting for medical help:

1. Call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Do not wait for symptoms to appear. Many emergency rooms have antivenom.
2. Move away from the snake.
3. Stay still and calm.
4. Remove jewelry, watches and tight clothing before swelling starts.
5. Clean the bite with soap and water and cover it loosely with a clean, dry bandage.
6. Keep the limb still and, if possible, at about heart level.
7. If swelling develops, consider marking its edge and noting the time to help clinicians.

What not to do

In the US, the Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222) is also available for advice, but call emergency services first for a suspected venomous bite.

Frequently asked questions