Alabama is a snake refuge because it is a hot, humid state with lots of natural cover. There are about 50 different kinds of serpents in the state.
Of those, only six are extremely poisonous. “Critically” refers to the fact that, in contrast to non-venomous or barely venomous snakes (such the hognose and garter snakes), which are not a serious threat to humans, a bite from one of these snakes need prompt medical intervention. See the most ferocious and stylish snakes in Alabama.
Northern Cottonmouth
In cottonmouth country, you must be careful where you swim and where you step. The cottonmouth, the relative of the copperhead, spends a large portion of its life in the water, despite the copperhead’s ability to swim.
The Florida cottonmouth (Agkistrodon conanti) and the northern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) are the two species of this stocky pit viper. The latter is found in Alabama.
However, Alabama is in an area where the two species are hybridizing because it borders Florida. As a result, hybrids coexist with the northern cottonmouth but are not yet recognized as distinct species.
Cottonmouth bites are rarely fatal, although being more toxic than those of the copperhead. Indeed, it would be difficult to locate a recorded cottonmouth-related death in the state.
In 2017, a guy from Cullman County was bitten by a cottonmouth three times, but he survived after receiving antivenin.
Copperhead
Stepping on a copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is simply too simple. Due to its defense mechanism of concealment, this little earth-toned pit viper attacks a lot of people by accident.
Fortunately, out of all the snakes on this list, the copperhead possesses the least potent venom. Additionally, its bite can occasionally be “dry,” meaning no venom is administered.
Humans have a 99.99 percent survival record against copperhead fangs, but mice and invertebrates have very little chance.
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In Alabama, where the copperhead is found throughout the state, that 0.01 percent is represented. A 52-year-old man in northern Alabama was bitten in 2019 while out for a walk with his dog.
After two minutes, he lost consciousness and passed away at a hospital in Huntsville a few days later. As it happens, he experienced anaphylactic shock due of an allergy to the venom. In 2004, an allergic Alabamian was bitten and died.
Pygmy Rattlesnake
The pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius), the first of three species of Alabama rattlesnakes, is further subdivided into three subspecies that are all found in Alabama.
The northeast is home to the Carolina pygmy rattler (Sistrurus miliarius miliarius), the south is home to the dusky pygmy rattler (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri), and the center’s extreme western region is home to the western pygmy rattler (Sistrurus miliarius streckeri).
As their names suggest, they are all little and release very little venom. However, the tiny rattlesnake still has a strong bite because it is still a rattlesnake.
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Amputations and other severe symptoms are frequent, although no fatalities have been reported.
One example is the 2011 bite of a scout master from Bay Minette, Alabama. A 10-inch snake brought her to the intensive care unit. Her left arm and fingers were still double their regular size days after she was freed.
Eastern Coral Snake
With the exception of the eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius), all of Alabama’s very poisonous snakes are pit vipers. It belongs to the Elapidae family, which also includes mambas, cobras, and kraits.
Elapids have small, fixed fangs that inject neurotoxic (nerve-targeting) venom, in contrast to pit vipers, which have long, foldable fangs that inject hemotoxic (tissue-targeting) venom.
Since 1967, when coral snake antivenin was first introduced in the United States, there has been only one fatality from eastern coral snake envenomations, despite the fact that they are incredibly powerful.
The only recorded death was in Florida in 2006, however in 2018, a man from Gilbertown, Alabama, was paralyzed after mistaking a coral snake’s “red touches yellow” coloring for a “red touches black” kingsnake.
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Timber Rattlesnake
The timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) can inject multiple times as much venom and grow up to three times as long as the pygmy rattlesnake. It is one of the deadliest snakes in the eastern United States, including Alabama, because to its size, venom production, and extensive range.
Despite this, the timber rattler is usually docile and likes to hide in thickets and forests. This rattlesnake requires a great deal of provocation to bite, such caressing it barehanded during a religious rite.
Tests of faith during Pentecostal Church services accounted for a significant percentage of Alabama’s fatal wood bites.
Preacher John Wayne “Punkin” Brown Jr. handled a rattler during a service in Macedonia in 1998, which is the most famous of these incidents. He died soon after being bitten on the middle finger, which was supposedly the 23rd time in his career.
Three years earlier, his wife had perished while handling snakes. Five youngsters were left behind.
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