Florida vs. Texas: Which State Has More Venomous Snakes?

Written by Kyle Glatz
Published: June 10, 2023
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Florida and Texas are two southern states with the Gulf of Mexico between them. Both states share many dangerous animals, including alligators and various venomous snakes. In a matchup between Florida vs. Texas: which state has more venomous snakes? Discover how the two states compare, learn which venomous snakes deliver the most bites in each region, and find out how many people are bitten by venomous snakes every year.

Specifically, this list will focus on how many species of venomous snakes are found in each state rather than an estimate of the population of the snakes in each area.

Florida vs. Texas: Which State Has More Venomous Snakes?

The Texas coral snake is notable for its bands of black, yellow, and red.

The Texas coral snake is notable for its bands of black, yellow, and red.

©Joe Farah/Shutterstock.com

Texas has more venomous snakes than Florida. The state of Texas has 15 species of venomous snakes and a total of about 96 species of snakes living within its border. Meanwhile, Florida only has 6 species of venomous snakes and 44 total species of snakes living within its borders. Texas’ massive size relative to Florida can account for the discrepancy in the number of venomous snake species.

Consider the following chart of all the venomous snakes that live in each state:

Florida’s Venomous SnakesTexas’ Venomous Snakes
Eastern Diamondback RattlesnakeBanded Rock Rattlesnake
Eastern CopperheadBlack-Tailed Rattlesnake
Eastern Coral SnakeBroad-Banded Copperhead
Florida CottonmouthDesert Massasauga
Pygmy RattlesnakeEastern Copperhead
Timber RattlesnakeEastern Coral Snake
Mojave Rattlesnake
Mottled Rock Rattlesnake
Northern Cottonmouth
Prairie Rattlesnake
Texas Coral Snake
Timber Rattlesnake
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Western Massasauga
Western Pygmy Rattlesnake

Texas has far more venomous snakes than Florida. So, that settles the Florida vs. Texas debate on that front. Now, let us take a look at how each state fares with snake safety.

How Many Venomous Snakebites Occur in the United States?

Cat Snake Bite with Human Hand

Venomous snakebites occur when people accidentally or intentionally encounter snakes.

©Mufti Adi Utomo/Shutterstock.com

People that live in areas where venomous snakes are common often learn how to avoid negative encounters with them. That includes learning how to recognize venomous snakes, avoiding them when possible, and determining whether the snake must be removed from the area.

Still, people cannot avoid all venomous snake encounters. That’s especially true in the case of well-camouflaged snakes that they suddenly meet. Also, some people try to pick up and handle snakes without regard for their safety. As a result, snake bites happen in both Florida and Texas as well as many other states.

Venomous snakes bite about 7,000 people each year throughout the United States. About half of those bites are dry, meaning the snake does not inject any venom into its victim. They just want to warn the person to back off and save their venom for their food sources.

Florida averages about 300 venomous snakebites per year. However, fatalities in Florida are very rare, averaging less than one fatality per year. Texas had about 372 venomous snake bites in the half of 2020, but the total number for that year is unknown. Nevertheless, Texas averages more snakebites than Florida. An average of 1 to 2 people die from venomous snake bites in Texas each year.

Also, venomous snakes bite around 1,300 kids in the United States each year, and about a quarter of those bites occur in Florida and Texas.

A variety of factors including dry bites and the availability of medical treatments in the region prevent most people from dying as a result of snake bites. Although fatalities are low, about 10% to 44% of people bitten by rattlesnakes will suffer some form of permanent disability.

What Venomous Snakes Are Responsible for Most Snake Bites in Each State?

Western diamondback rattlesnake

Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) delivers more bites than any other species in Texas.

©iStock.com/Banu R

We’ve looked at Florida vs. Texas for which state has more venomous bites. Which snakes cause the most venomous bites in the state, though?

In Texas, two of the snakes that deliver the most frequent venomous bites are the western diamondback rattlesnake along with the eastern copperhead. Western diamondback rattlesnakes are widespread and numerous in the state, so they’re often encountered. Rattlesnake bites occur when people encounter the reptiles while they’re basking or trying to hide. Some people also mishandle them by picking them up or bothering them.

Eastern copperheads are another venomous snake that represents a significant number of bites in Texas. These snakes are hard to see and rely on their camouflage to blend in rather than a rattling defensive posture. Someone could step on one of these snakes and barely notice them until they strike. These snakes are not aggressive toward humans. They will not chase someone down to deliver a bite.

The pygmy rattlesnake delivers the most venomous bites of any snake in Florida. However, this snake has never caused a fatality in Florida. They usually only bite people when they are stepped upon or otherwise bothered by people.  

What You Should Do If Bitten by a Venomous Snake

Snake bite

First aid for a snake bite is a multi-step process designed to reduce the impact of the venom.

©Microgen/Shutterstock.com

A venomous snake bite requires immediate medical attention. Fast treatments can help reduce negative outcomes in humans. So, if a venomous snake bites you, follow these steps:

  1. Call emergency medical services by dialing 911 or the local emergency number.
  2. Stay calm. Do not attempt to apply a tourniquet, suck out the venom, trap the snake, or dull the pain on your own.
  3. Attempt to take a picture of the snake from a safe distance if possible or identify the snake.
  4. Perform basic first aid while waiting for emergency medical services such as:
    • Sit down or lie down while keeping the bite area comfortable.
    • Wash the bite area using soap and water.
    • Use a marker to mark the edge of the area where you have swelling or tenderness and note the time.
    • Try to cover the bite with a clean bandage.
    • Take off any jewelry from the affected area.

Following these steps can ensure that you get quick, effective service and suffer as few side effects of the bite as possible. Venomous snake bites are a serious medical emergency that can result in death. An individual should never try to use folk remedies to treat these serious bites.

Between Florida vs. Texas, the latter has far more venomous snake species. People that live in both states need to be aware of the snakes that are common in their area. Learning how to safely coexist with these reptiles is necessary and could save one’s life.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/johnaudrey

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About the Author

Kyle Glatz is a writer at A-Z-Animals where his primary focus is on geography and mammals. Kyle has been writing for researching and writing about animals and numerous other topics for 10 years, and he holds a Bachelor's Degree in English and Education from Rowan University. A resident of New Jersey, Kyle enjoys reading, writing, and playing video games.

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