An adult rattlesnake rests with its young in a den under remote monitoring in Colorado (AP file photo)
Many people believe that baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than adult snakes because they cannot control the amount of venom they inject when they bite. Now a new study has challenged this long-held belief.Researchers from Loma Linda University in the US say there is no evidence that young rattlesnakes always inject all their venom. Instead, the study found that young rattlesnakes can control the amount of venom they release, just like adult snakes, Science Daily reported.The researchers also found that adult rattlesnakes are generally more dangerous because they carry much larger amounts of venom and typically inject more of it when they bite.
Their findings were published in the journal Toxicology.According to the study, the misconception led to “negative consequences, including misguided risk-taking by those encountering snakes, unjustified fear among snakebite victims, and inappropriate care provided by medical professionals who are misinformed or subject to patient/family pressure.”The myth has persisted for decades despite scientific evidence showing otherwise, said William Hayes, a professor of biology at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and the study’s lead researcher.
“This is an easily debunked myth that has generated terror, panic and real-life consequences,” Hayes said. “Much evidence shows that rattlers, like adults, can control the expulsion of venom. Adults possess and produce much more venom when bitten, and adults cause more severe symptoms in snakebite victims,” he said.The researchers stressed that this does not mean that bites from small rattlesnakes are harmless.
Any rattlesnake bite is considered a medical emergency and needs immediate medical attention, Hayes said. He added that antivenoms remain the only effective treatment.
.
How did the myth spread?
The study also looked at how the misconception spreads. The researchers found that the myth had already begun to appear in news reports by 1967. They said California media played a major role in spreading it during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
Between 2000 and 2014, this claim continued to appear in media reports across North America.Although the myth still appears in some sources today, researchers have found that reports have become more accurate since 2015. They believe better public education has helped limit the spread of misinformation.The study also found that many of the inaccurate reports included incorrect data attributed to health care professionals and emergency responders such as firefighters, police officers, and rescue personnel.
How does it affect the environment?
The researchers also said that misunderstanding has not only affected how people react to snake bites but also how they handle rattlesnakes in the wild.According to the study, “misconceptions about rattlesnakes create unnecessary fear and often lead to people harming or killing them.”The researchers added that rattlesnakes play an important role in the ecosystems in which they live. They also noted that rattlesnake populations have declined significantly in many parts of the United States in recent years.
.
Many still believe
Despite scientific evidence, this belief remains common. According to Hayes, 53% of students surveyed in Southern California believe baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than adults. This belief was most common among emergency responders and healthcare professionals, with 73% of those surveyed accepting the claim.“We hope to get the word out so we can correct this myth,” Hayes said. “There is no need for hikers to have an unjustified fear of baby rattlesnakes or to believe they need to harm or kill the snakes. We also do not want doctors or veterinarians to give in to pressure from patients and families who insist on over-medication after a baby rattlesnake bite.”