Snakebites By Robert A Barish, MD, MBA, University of Illinois at Chicago; Thomas Arnold, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport Reviewed / Revised Jan 2022 | Modified Sep 2022 View Patient Education Pathophysiology Symptoms and Signs Diagnosis Treatment Key Points Topic Resources Snakebite Wound Coral Snake Identifying pit vipers Timber Rattlesnake Southern Copperhead Eastern Cottonmouth Significant Venomous Snakes... Severity of Pit Viper Envenomatio... Of about 3000 snake species throughout the world, only about 15% worldwide and 20% in the US are dangerous to humans because of venom or toxic salivary secretions (see table).