title: An Analysis of Media-Reported Venomous Snakebites in the United States, 2011-2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Venomous snakebite is a widespread natural hazard in the United States. A common perception exists that the majority of these snakebites are "illegitimate," resulting from deliberate interaction with snakes (such as attempting to move or kill the animal), but there is little quantitative information available regarding the conditions under which bites occur.
  
  
  METHODS
  To better understand the circumstances under which victims are bitten, we compiled a dataset of media-reported snakebites in the United States between 2011 and 2013. A total of 332 reported snakebites were recorded. Of these, 307 were from snakes encountered under natural circumstances and 25 were under captive-care conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most reported victims were adult males. Although some bites occurred during intentional handling of snakes and such activity may relate to bite severity, the majority of victims reported being unaware of the snake before they were bitten. Accidentally stepping on or placing the hands near an unseen snake were the activities most frequently associated with bites under natural conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although bias in snakebite reporting patterns by the media is likely, across the United States "legitimate" bites from unseen snakes appear to be the norm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Science, Hillyer College, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT.
authors.forename: Dennis K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Wasko
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Science, Hillyer College, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT. Electronic address: wasko@hartford.edu.
authors.forename: Stephan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Bullard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D003146:Communications Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057805:Pets; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012911:Snakes; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cottonmouth; envenomation; mass media; rattlesnake; snakebite; snakes