garter bites

[Dianemike1997]

Snakie bit me a few timess,and it drew small drops of blood. (Snakie is about 8 inches in size.) It itched a little after he bit me. From what I have read online,the itching is cause by a reaction to the Garter's saliva. Not all people have the itchy reaction though.

[Lee]

Actually I've had an interesting read lately... I've been told that hognose/neordia/garters all have some basic venom, however they lack a delivery system, instead it just trickles down into the wound which isn't very effective and it isn't bad for humans... I'm not 100% sure this is true, but there where articles and studies on it aswell I can try and find.

[Stefan-A]

Actually I've had an interesting read lately... I've been told that hognose/neordia/garters all have some basic venom, however they lack a delivery system, instead it just trickles down into the wound which isn't very effective and it isn't bad for humans... I'm not 100% sure this is true, but there where articles and studies on it aswell I can try and find.

Downloaded a number of PDFs on the subject of venom in "non-venomous" colubrids last winter.

[Pinky]

Actually I've had an interesting read lately... I've been told that hognose/neordia/garters all have some basic venom, however they lack a delivery system, instead it just trickles down into the wound which isn't very effective and it isn't bad for humans... I'm not 100% sure this is true, but there where articles and studies on it aswell I can try and find.

That's kinda freaky!!!Let's hope they never find their delivery system.LOL

[Pinky]

I did a little research and found this article...

Grenard cites a case from 1985 in which a 13-year-old received a “prolonged” bite from an eastern garter snake. The child had swelling, bruising of the skin, and coolness (temperature, not social status!) and was hospitalized. Lab values were normal and the child recovered without problems. Evidently this same child was subsequently bitten by garter snakes without symptoms, showing that the original symptoms were not the result of an allergic reaction but apparently the result of mild venom. (The fact that this child continued to be bitten by garter snakes also demonstrates that he must have been a dedicated garter-lover!)

[Josh]

wow that is surprising

[drache]

it's the prolonged exposure that causes the reaction
I read a report on a man who let a hognose chew on his ankle for several minutes (he thought it was cute and it didn't hurt) and had a big reaction
he ended up in the hospital for over a week and they were barely able to save his leg
there may not be much of a delivery system . . .

[Pinky]

I wish there was more info on garter snake invenomation...it's very interesting!!!

[KITKAT]

I actually hope the subject escapes serious investigation by scientists. All we need is for lawmakers to decide our snakes are rear fanged and therefore dangerous!

[Stefan-A]

I actually hope the subject escapes serious investigation by scientists. All we need is for lawmakers to decide our snakes are rear fanged and therefore dangerous!

I hope somebody comes up with a new category that includes only dangerously venomous snakes. Because there's no chance in hell that lawmakers would abolish an irrational law.