Reflex

[Shaun J]

I am on vacation and I was watching the news and I saw them talking about "how awful" snakes can be and how much of a danger they are to people. It made me really mad but something they stated at the end got me thinking. They said that if you come across a dead snake, do not touch it because it can still bite you before 24 hrs after death because of reflexes. Jw if this is true or not.

[xdeus]

I've heard of people being bitten by rattlesnakes after they cut off the head, but certainly not after 24 hours. Seems a bit hard to believe...

[Sausage]

I think if you managed to impale yourself on its fangs by poking around in its mouth or something smart like that, you might get some venom, but that would have to be one helluva feat. I've heard of stuff like that happening, I live in North Carolina, remember?

[Kagez28]

it's not so much a reflex, just the fact that venom takes a while to deteriorate. so a snake that has only been dead a little while, still has venom that is full potent. so yea poking around in it's mouth might not be so wise.