Letters to The Editor — April 28, 2026

Bite of the serpent

Snake bites are often treated symptomatically when antivenom serum is not readily available, and such treatment is often unsuccessful. Even when antivenom is available, its effectiveness against the specific venom involved in the bite is questionable. Reporting snake bites along with the species involved would be helpful in preparing species-specific antivenom serum to be used in a strategic manner. There are tribes traditionally involved in snake rescue in different States, and many times they are not readily available for the job. They can also be encouraged to train prospective snake rescuers.