The Learning Zone

[Stefan-A]

oh i know why i thought that i read "the snakes of texas" too many times ....in texas the ony venomous snakes are pit vipers(rattle snakes and copper heads and cotton mouths) and elapidae(coral snakes) all the coulibrids are non venomous

Actually, it seems that most colubrids are in fact venomous, garters included, but it's easier to say that they are non-venomous than to say that they're "not venomous to a degree where a bite would be medically relevant", or "venomous but harmless", which is easily misunderstood.

But there have been clear signs of envenomation even in garter bites.

[MasSalvaje]

Actually, it seems that most colubrids are in fact venomous, garters included, but it's easier to say that they are non-venomous than to say that they're "not venomous to a degree where a bite would be medically relevant", or "venomous but harmless", which is easily misunderstood.

But there have been clear signs of envenomation even in garter bites.

I seem to be one of those that react more to Garter bites than most people. My fingers or hands will swell a bit and itch like mad for awhile; they also seem to have some sort of anticoagulant that increases bleeding.

I had a pretty bad reaction to a bite from a Yellow Bellied Racer, Coluber constrictor mormon in which I had to go to the doctors for an allergy shot. The Doctor compared it to an allergic reaction to a bee sting. It was not quite anaphylactic but they loaded me with antihistamines.

-Thomas