Deadly Encounters


Although encounters with Diamondbacks are rare, it is important to be careful where you put your feet when walking through underbrush in the Florida woods, and to listen for the sound of rattles. If a person approaches a Diamondback that is in the open, it will usually coil and begin rattling when the intruder is about 15 to 20 feet away. If it is well concealed, it might not rattle at all, or it might wait unil the person is dangerously close. A Diamondback can also lose some or all of its rattles, so even though it is vibrating its tail, its warning might not be heard.

In August, 1989, a 22-year-old snake handler at Silver Springs was accidentally bitten on the back of his hand by a six-foot Diamondback. He died within two hours. The suddenness of his deat was unusual, resulting from a large amount of venom injected into a major artery by a very large specimen. Antivenin is available in most Florida hospitals. If you should be accidentally bitten, force your self to remain calm and call 911 or otherwise seek medical help immediately.

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