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Does every snake bite? Well, the simple answer is yes. The question really is, is what happens
if you get bit by a snake? Now this little garter snake here, these guys are a little
bit nervous and you need to make sure that you handle them properly, because they can
bite you. Understand that all snakes have bacteria in their mouth that can be potentially
dangerous. They carry salmonella. Salmonella is dangerous. So what happens if you get bit?
Well, most of the time these guys and even your larger, we have a ball python over here.
We've got a boa constrictor in this guy. We've got a king snake over in this one. Well, if
you get bit by any of those guys, they don't have fangs. Everybody is worried about, "Hey,
are they poisonous?" They really are not. Although, interesting enough the garter snake
actually does have rudimentary glands, that are right where the vipers have their venom
glands.
But if this guy bites you sometimes people will have a little bit more of an allergic
reaction, because they do have these glands and when you get bit you'll get the secretion.
It is not a toxin. Most of the time it's a little bit irritating and that's it, but that's
one of the interesting things with this little garter snake if he bites you.
Now what do you do? The first thing you should do is calmly wash with warm soap and water
and you call your doctor. Let them know that you got bit by a snake and then he will take
it from there. It isn't something that you want to take lightly, again because all snakes
can carry salmonella, and several other different bacteria. So as friendly as these guys are
if they accidentally nip you, you want to give your doctor a call.