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Snakebite First Aid

Most snakes avoid people, but bites can happen when a snake is startled in brush, hay, woodpiles or feed rooms. A bite needs professional care, and the first step is to call 911 and get to medical help.

Where do snake encounters happen on farms?

Snakes may be found in tall grass, brush piles, stone walls, hay and straw, feed storage, barns, sheds, woodpiles and along water. Work such as clearing, stacking, mowing, moving equipment and reaching into dark spaces can bring people close to them.

Which snakes live in your area, and which are venomous, varies widely by region. Your state wildlife agency, extension office and local health department can tell you. This article does not provide treatment steps.

Children are curious and low to the ground, so teach them where not to play, such as brush piles, rock walls and tall grass, and to leave animals alone.

What should you do after a bite?

Call 911 or get to emergency medical care right away, and stay calm and as still as you can. Give the dispatcher your exact location and tell them you were bitten by a snake and, if you know, what kind. Follow the dispatcher's instructions.

Do not wait for symptoms. Medical professionals need to evaluate every suspected venomous snakebite, and they can contact poison control and specialists. Do not try to catch or kill the snake, since that risks more bites. A description or a photo taken from a safe distance can help, if it is safe to do so.

Keep a list of local clinics and hospitals with their distance from your fields. In a rural area, knowing the route ahead of time saves precious minutes, and the dispatcher can confirm which facility is best.

• Call 911 and give the location.
• Stay calm and keep still.
• Do not chase or handle the snake.
• Follow the dispatcher.

Why not rely on folk remedies?

Many old ideas about snakebite are unreliable or harmful. Actions based on myths can delay care or worsen injury. Official medical and public health sources provide current guidance, and training from recognized providers such as the Red Cross is the safe way to learn what to do.

Ask your doctor and local health department what current recommendations are, since they may be updated over time.

If you work in snake country regularly, talk with your doctor about your own health conditions, since they may matter if you are ever bitten.

How can you prepare?

Know your address and phone coverage, and plan for how you would call for help from remote areas. Tell someone where you are working. Take a first aid course, and learn which snakes live in your area from your extension office or wildlife agency.

Locate the nearest hospital that treats snakebite, and ask your local emergency services which one they would use. Keep a phone charged and with you in the field.

Do not treat a nonvenomous or unknown snake as harmless. If bitten, still get medical advice, since wounds can become infected and identification is hard in the moment.

• Know local species.
• Share your location when working in brush.
• Keep a charged phone.
• Take recognized first aid training.

How can you reduce the risk?

Wear sturdy footwear and long pants when working in brush or tall grass, and watch where you step and where you place your hands. Use a tool to move boards, rocks and debris instead of using bare hands. Keep grass and brush trimmed near buildings, and store feed in sealed containers to reduce rodents that attract snakes.

Do not reach into dark spaces without looking first, and use a light. Give any snake room to move away. Teach children to stay still, back away and tell an adult. Your extension office can advise on managing habitat around buildings.

Dogs and livestock can also be bitten. Ask your veterinarian what to do for animals in your area.

What happens afterward?

Follow all medical advice for follow-up care. A bite can be frightening and recovery can take time. If you or someone you know feels very anxious or low afterward, in the US people can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Share what you learned with family and crew so they know what to do.

Share this plan with seasonal workers, who may come from areas with different snakes or none at all.

Where can you learn more?

The CDC publishes snake safety information, the Red Cross offers first aid training and your state wildlife agency and extension office explain local species. NIOSH covers outdoor work hazards.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.