What are the odds of being bitten by a snake?
Mia Moss
Published Jan 05, 2026
The odds of being bitten by a venomous snake in the U.S. are estimated at 1 in 37,500. (The odds of being killed in a car accident are far more frightening at 1 in 112.)
How likely are you to get bitten by a snake?
Even using the highest estimate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of 8,000 annual snakebites per year, the odds of you being bitten are 40,965 to one.Are snake bites rare?
Snakebites aren't very common in the U.S., even for people who spend a lot of time outdoors. And most snakes in North America aren't venomous, meaning you don't get poison from them if they do bite. You're much more likely to get struck by lightning than die from one.What are the chances of being bitten by a venomous snake?
Each year, around 7,000–8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the U.S. This may sound like a large number, but given that the U.S. population is quickly approaching 324 million people, this represents a tiny proportion of the population (less than 0.0025%).What are the odds of being bitten by a copperhead?
An estimated 2,920 people are bitten by copperheads (Ancistrodon contortrix) annually in the United States. The incidence of bites by these venomous snakes is 16.4 per million population per year. However, the case-fatality rate is exceedingly low, about 0.01%.How To Survive A Snake Bite
What U.S. state has the most snake bites?
Doctors said North Carolina leads the country for snake bites.Which state has most snakes in USA?
California: 33It is home to more than 33 snake species, and many are endemic to the state. It has six venomous snakes.