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Rattlesnake Class in Arizona, Dry Bites, and Venom Metering

M

Martin Nowak

Martin's Snakes
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Seems a good approach to better acquainting the public to the "value of snakes including venomous snakes". Helps prevent undue killing of snakes.
A note is the teacher indicates "up to 25% of bites are dry bites". Dry bites have been discussed in this FC Forum and in the media with some frequency. The numbers tend to vary from 3% to over 50% of bites by venomous snakes are dry. Seems a lot of confusion in this topic. There is some evidence of rattlesnakes and moccasins "metering" the amount of venom injected - willful "decision" by the snake. While there have been differing opinions in my past posts on dry bites, I remain unconvinced that very many bites by venomous snakes are indeed "dry". In the below cited literature review, the authors seem skeptical as well because of the nerve innervation of the fang sheath to the venom gland and gland musculature. Which seems logical in my mind. In any event, the rattlesnake class looks like a good and productive public service and the metering / dry bite literature review provides very good logical analysis of the question.

Rattlesnake Class:
https://www.npr.org/2024/05/17/1251...aign=news&utm_id=65403617&orgid=315&utm_att1=

Metering Venom:
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/52/12/1121/223018
 
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