How dangerous are baby rattlesnakes?

Before I was bitten, I had a heated debate with my mechanic about the dangers of baby rattlesnakes versus adult rattlesnakes. Hello, adult snakes are bigger—that would mean bigger venom sacks—with a lot more venom. read more

Contrary to popular belief, the bite of a baby rattlesnake is almost always far less serious than the bite of an adult rattlesnake. The notion that baby rattlesnakes cannot control the quantity of venom injected (referred to in the field of Herpetology as “venom metering”) is a myth that has been disproven multiple times through well-designed studies. read more

A baby rattlesnake carries a more potent venom than an adult, but its bite is probably less dangerous. Nevertheless, you don't want to be the person who finds out that, in certain circumstances, a baby rattlesnake bite could be fatal, so it's best to know how to identify one so you can react appropriately. read more

But baby rattlesnakes are born in July and August, making these two months especially dangerous for hikers, gardeners, children and others at high risk of exposure to rattlesnake bites. So far this year, 74 rattlesnake bites to humans have been reported to the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center. read more