A common belief that baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than adults has been overturned by a new study from Loma Linda University. After reviewing the history and spread of the myth, researchers concluded that bites from adult rattlesnakes are generally more dangerous because adults carry and inject much larger amounts of venom.
The study also disproves the widely repeated claim that baby rattlesnakes cannot control how much venom they release and therefore inject all of it when they bite. According to the researchers, this misconception has had serious real-world consequences.
The study states that the false belief has led “to negative consequences, including misinformed risk‐taking by those encountering snakes, unwarranted fear among snakebite victims, and inappropriate care delivered by misinformed or patient/family‐pressured medical professionals.”
“This is an easily defanged myth that has generated dread, panic, and real-life consequences,” said William Hayes, professor of biology at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and the study’s lead researcher. “Ample evidence demonstrates that baby rattlers, like adults, can control their venom expulsion, the adults possess and deliver far more venom when biting, and the adults cause substantially more severe symptoms in snakebite victims.”
Hayes emphasized that a bite from any rattlesnake remains a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention. He added that antivenom is the only effective treatment.
The findings were published last week in the journal Toxins.
Why the Myth Matters
Beyond influencing how people respond to snake encounters, the researchers say the myth has also affected how rattlesnakes are treated.
“Misconceptions about rattlesnakes create unnecessary fear and frequently result in people harming or killing them,” the study stated. “Rattlesnakes occupy an important role in the ecosystems they dwell in and in recent years their populations have dropped significantly in many parts of the United States.”
How the Baby Rattlesnake Myth Spread
The researchers traced the myth back to at least 1967, when it began appearing in news reports. They found that California news outlets played a major role in spreading the false claim during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. From 2000 through 2014, the misconception continued to spread through media organizations across North America.
Although the myth still appears today, including in some well-known sources identified by the study, the researchers found that news coverage has become increasingly accurate since 2015. They suggest that better public education has helped reduce the spread of the misinformation.
Much of the inaccurate reporting, they found, originated from incorrect quotes attributed to healthcare professionals and emergency responders, including firefighters, police officers, and other rescue personnel. By contrast, quotes from subject matter experts, particularly university professors, were generally far more accurate.
A Surprisingly Common Misconception
The study found that the myth remains remarkably widespread. According to Hayes, 53% of the Southern California students surveyed believed it was true, along with 73% of emergency responders and healthcare professionals who participated in the research.
“We’re hoping to get the word out so that we can get this myth corrected,” Hayes said. “There’s no need for hikers to have unwarranted fear of baby rattlesnakes or to think they need to harm or kill the snakes. We also don’t want physicians or veterinarians to succumb to pressure from patients and families who insist on excessive medication after a bite from a baby rattlesnake.”