Snake Bite Statistics
from Texas Department of State Health Services
- About 7,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the United States annually.
- Only 0.2% (1 out of 500) venomous snakebites result in death.
- On average, 1 to 2 people in Texas die each year from venomous snakebites.
- Roughly half of all venomous snakebites are “dry.” That is, the snake does not inject venom into the victim.
Annual human deaths from selected outdoor activities in Texas, 1978-2001
Year | Auto | Drowning | Nondrown Boating | Firearms related | Lightning | Venomous Arthropod | Snakebite |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1978 |
4,140 | 510 | 93 | 196 | 11 | 5 | 1 |
1979 | 3,981 | 495 | 86 | 164 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
1980 | 4,295 | 494 | 86 | 199 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
1981 | 4,580 | 452 | 70 | 222 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
1982 | 4,199 | 472 | 78 | 250 | 13 | 2 | 2 |
1983 | 3,899 | 500 | 93 | 200 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
1984 | 4,030 | 375 | 61 | 203 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
1985 | 3,824 | 443 | 70 | 218 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
1986 | 3,712 | 436 | 60 | 172 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
1987 | 3,315 | 396 | 63 | 141 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
1988 | 3,460 | 359 | 62 | 154 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
1989 | 3,476 | 337 | 62 | 172 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
1990 | 3,309 | 327 | 53 | 171 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
1991 | 3,180 | 340 | 50 | 179 | 6 | 8 | 0 |
1992 | 3,147 | 352 | 62 | 174 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
1993 | 3,184 | 344 | 57 | 156 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
1994 | 3,307 | 281 | 60 | 116 | 9 | 6 | 0 |
1995 | 3,302 | 310 | 54 | 84 | 6 | 8 | 2 |
1996 | 3,925 | 281 | 51 | 77 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
1997 | 3743 | 288 | 81 | 78 | 6 | 9 | 0 |
1998 | 3748 | 327 | 57 | 74 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
1999 | 3055 | 246 | 44 | 66 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
2000 | 3807 | 241 | 59 | 58 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
2001 | 3922 | 207 | 52 | 59 | 4 | 6 | 1 |