If a rattlesnake bites itself when you kill it, does it make the snake's flesh poisonous to eat?

Answer 1

Common rattlesnake venom is hemo-toxic (which means is only dangerous if it is introduced directly into the bloodstream). Some rattlesnakes are neuro-toxic fortunately they are rarer.

Also, common rattlesnake venom is only mildly venomous but extremely dangerous because of the snake's ability to inject a large volume of venom with each bite (they don't really 'bite,' they jab). Also, there is some speculation that a rattlesnake may not only be able to control the amount of venom that it injects, but also the quality of the venom.

The venom of the rattlesnake is the first step in its digestive process. The complex proteins in the venom begin to break down blood, tissue n bone when injected making digestion easier for the rattlesnake. And you didn't ask, but no, a rattlesnake is NOT immuned to its own venom.

Would I eat a rattlesnake that has bitten itself? No I would not. Have I eaten rattlesnake? Yes, healthy rattlesnake that I have recently killed. Now if I were in dire straits and that rattlesnake that had just bitten itself was my only source of food, I would amputate the afflicted portion and cook n eat the rest. Although the venom is not toxic when ingested, it probably tastes quite nasty and I like to enjoy my meals. LOL!

Best.

H

Answer 2

#1 rattle snake venom is a protein
#2 the human body is very good at breaking down protein in the digestive system
#3 if you have an open sore in your mouth or an ulcer the venom will find a way into your blood stream then you make be in trouble
#4 I would error on the side of caution and not eat the snake

Answer 3

Everything i have ever read about snake venom states it is only toxic if you get it in your bloodstream. The acids in your stomach neutralize the venom before it reaches the bloodstream. Also, the heat of cooking the meat will kill the toxicity.
You should be safe.

Answer 4

IIRC, I read in the Guiness Book of REcords, many years ago, that the snake with the longest known fangs, a Gabon Viper, bit itself to death.

As for the rest of your question, I don't eat snake so there is no way it could injure me.

doc

Answer 5

obviously, ilikemow doesn't have a clue what he is talking about , so ignore him. As a naturalist in the desert for years now, any poison entered into flesh leaves traces and destroys flesh, even its own venom which is extremely powerful. cooking make make it down fully, yes.

Answer 6

Honestly I wouldn't try. Given you know how to skin and properly eat a rattler, and the off chance most venom needs to be injected into your blood supply and would be destroyed in your stomach (unless you have ulcers), I wouldn't take the chance.

Answer 7

My concern would be how if affected the taste of the meat. Yuk!

Answer 8

yes there has been a case where a man killed a rattle snake and it bit its self the man had ate snake before and told his buddy its ok to eat the buddy told him hell no well the man ate it and died later. i remember thinking what a dumb a..

Answer 9

NO.*