Are Corn Snakes Poisonous Protecting Yoursself Against Snake Bitess

Corn snakes are non-venomous but they do bite when feeling threatened.Corn snakes are one of the most widespread species of snakes in the US and it is a species of non-venomous snakes. Corn snake bite, therefore, is not lethal but it is certainly painful.The corn snake belongs to the species of rat snakes and is found abundantly in the Central and South-Eastern US. It is named so because it is commonly seen wandering near cornfields or stores and also due to the intricate pattern present in the scales on its body resembling that of corn or maize. Its external appearance resembles that of the poisonous copperhead snake, due to which it is often mistaken and killed. A young corn snake feeds on rodents like mice and rats, some reptiles like lizards, and smaller snakes. An adult corn snake’s diet consists of mice, birds, and bird eggs. The estimated lifespan of a corn snake is between six to eight years.After reading all about non-venomous corn snakes, do check how big do corn snakes get and how do snakes move.Are corn snakes aggressive?Typically, corn snakes are calm and docile animals and do not show aggressive behavior. In the wild, they can live up to six to eight years but when kept in captivity, their lifespan increases to 23 years or beyond, due to more food availability and less external threat. They make good pets and are easier to feed and take care of than most snakes due to their docile nature. However, they need to be handled gently in order to avoid any serious injuries to their bodies.In spite of their general docile temperament, corn snakes can sometimes become quite aggressive and strike the owner. This typically happens under the following circumstances - first, when the snake feels threatened. One should always remember to take extra care in approaching and handling a corn snake. These animals of prey might strike you if they sense any kind of danger from you. They can also turn aggressive while they shed their skin. The shedding process can be quite frustrating for the snake and don’t be surprised to see it becoming ill-tempered during this time. They shed their skins about four to six times each year, so be prepared! Lastly, they can sometimes appear to get violent while they feed, but this is not intentional as they might take your hand or fingers for food. Unlike most animals whose male and female types show varying degrees of aggression and threat, both male and female corn snakes are harmless in nature. However, it’s recommended not to keep two male snakes together, as they can try to establish authority over the other.Can a corn snake kill a human or animal?We, humans, are quite scared of snakes. The very sight of a snake’s body sends shivers down our spine. This is because we tend to assume that all snakes are poisonous. It is true that some species are completely dangerous and we must avoid them at any cost, like the king cobra and rattlesnakes. Their venom, if injected, can lead to severe complications and even death of the organism. The venom affects the human body by damaging tissues, blood vessels, and nerves. The simultaneous malfunction of the circulatory and nervous systems leads to a person’s death.Are corn snakes poisonous? We have learned that they are not aggressive, but what about their venom? Well, the interesting fact here is that corn snakes do not have fangs! Thus, they cannot inject venom into humans or animals, upon biting. They kill their prey or food by means of constriction of the muscles in their belly. This helps them to crush and asphyxiate their prey before they swallow it. They do not have the muscular capacity to squeeze and suffocate humans or large-sized animals like dogs or cats. Rather, they are beneficial to humans as they eradicate rodents and other pests which could harm food reserves and crops. Hence, this species of snakes is a favorite among those who breed reptiles and snakes because of their placidity and harmless attitude. Since corn snakes do not have the ability to swallow or kill a human being or animal alive, they can easily be kept at home as pets and one can feel completely safe around them.What do you need to know about corn snake teeth?Snake bites can be painful and dangerous. If bitten by a poisonous snake, one can develop serious conditions and might even die. A corn snake, however, is an extremely harmless animal and will not attack unless it feels threatened by you. This is the reason they are so popular among the snakes that are kept as pets. Corn snakes have teeth instead of fangs and do not transfer any form of venom into the body of the organism they bite.A corn snake has really small teeth that are not generally visible from a distance. The teeth are uneven and sharp and placed at a backward angle inside the mouth. Their teeth provide them with a good grip, which helps them in keeping their prey in place within their mouth after having captured it. This increases the length of time for which they can chew the food before swallowing it. A prey caught inside the mouth of a corn snake will move and struggle to set itself free but the teeth are designed in such a way that any form of pulling will only worsen it for them and dig the teeth deeper into the prey’s skin. Similarly, if you find your hands or fingers caught within the mouth of a corn snake, never try to pull away, as doing so would only make the wound deeper. Just like other non-poisonous snakes, corn snakes possess a total of 20-30 teeth. The upper jaw has twice as many teeth as the lower jaw. Usually, there are four rows of teeth on the upper jaw and two rows on the lower.How often and when do corn snakes bite?Corn snakes are otherwise peaceful creatures unless threatened. They use their teeth only while eating their food, which would most probably be a mouse or a frog. They are kept in a tank by their owners and do not attack as long as they are not bothered. However, it is important to wash the tank regularly, during which the snake might have to be taken out. This is an example where they can sense danger and bite the owner or the person trying to pick them up.Another example is when they are offered food. They might mistake your hands for a mouse and bite it. A baby corn snake is more likely to bite than an adult, as they are more vulnerable and take longer to get used to the new environment. They like to eat smaller insects and reptiles, sometimes even eggs of birds. They bite their prey before they eat, hence the tendency to bite on a hand or finger, taking it for prey. The bite of a baby corn snake should not hurt, as their teeth are not too well-developed, but if you’re bitten by an adult snake, chances are you might lose a tiny amount of blood. Of course, you will lose more blood if you try to pull your hand away from the snake’s grip. Infection should not develop if the wound is taken proper care of. It does not usually pain much, apart from the sensation of being slightly pricked by a sharp needle or pin. The pain doesn’t last long and fades away in a few minutes.How to avoid getting bitten?The bite of a corn snake is not quite painful, not a medical emergency but since the grip of the snake’s mouth could be quite firm, any attempt of extracting the body part from the snake’s mouth could worsen the situation. Although the chances of a corn snake biting are very low, it is important to take a few precautions in order to avoid unnecessary pain and worry.If you want to avoid a wound from the corn snake, you should try and cover your skin as much as you can. Wearing hand gloves before handling or feeding the snake would be a good idea. Also try to maintain the feeding times as accurately as possible, since the snake could become more restless and violent if not given anything to eat. If the head of the snake appears smaller than the rest of the body, it indicates that the snake is being overfed. If the head is in proportion with the remaining body, rest assured that the diet given to it is perfect.  Try to keep a safe distance while it is eating. If you are still bitten, apply an antibacterial cream to disinfect and prevent the growth of bacteria on the site of the bite. The exposure of the layers of the skin to the snake’s teeth can result in bacteria growing there, which can make the situation way more complicated. Children should not be allowed to go near the snake.Treatment and what to do after getting bitten?Always remember that a corn snake does not have fangs, so no matter what happens, it won’t kill you, nor would any venom spread through your body. So remain calm and do not scream or get nervous. Any sudden movement could strengthen the pressure of their teeth on your skin and rip it off. This is the very first step of dealing with a corn snake bite. It is wiser to wait for the snake to detach itself first.As corn snakes constrict their muscles and suffocate their prey before killing it, they might fasten themselves upon you while biting. In such a situation, do not try to move the snake yourself, as doing so would harm both the snake and you. If it doesn’t budge, either pour ice-cold water on the area or some highly concentrated alcohol. This should be enough to make the snake release you. In order to treat the bite, first, wash and sanitize it properly and apply some antibiotics. Then cover it up with a band-aid to protect the area from any further chances of infection. A few people can be allergic to the saliva of a snake so if you experience any uneasiness, visit a doctor.  Also, if for some reason the bleeding from your wound doesn’t stop, run to the hospital. The same goes for any swelling you might observe in the area, or pain at a slightly different region than that of the bite. However, these scenarios are extremely rare and typically the pain from a corn snake’s bite shouldn’t last long.Post-hatching, the length of a corn snake is less than a foot. But as it grows, its length varies between 2.5-5 ft (0.7-1.5 m). It takes them around two years to attain their ultimate length. Male corn snakes are generally a tad larger than females, which helps in identifying them easily. Baby corn snakes have smooth scales with a more or less checkerboard design on them. There are red-colored patches with black outlines over their backs. Their body color is usually white, brown, or orange with a tint of yellow, and their bellies contain black and white markings.A few interesting facts about the corn snake are: It is most active during the period from March to November. There are higher chances you’ll come across them in summer than in winter. Corn snakes are nocturnal animals and are mainly active during the night. Their predators include hawks, bobcats, skunks, and sometimes even bigger snakes and reptiles. Their body color and pattern depend on the age of the snake and the environment it is found in. These snakes enjoy their own company and do not hunt or travel in groups, when in the wild. Even as pets, they do not go along well with their tank mates and have to be kept separate.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for are corn snakes poisonous, then why not take a look at what eats snakes, or corn snake facts?

Corn snakes are non-venomous but they do bite when feeling threatened.