Snakes…why did it have to be snakes? Even the intrepid explorer Indiana Jones doesn’t like those slithery things. Lots of people don’t. It’s an evolutionary trait. Cavemen who avoided snakes just lived longer than the ones who went around poking them with sticks.
People who hate all reptiles, in general, have herpetophobia (may extend to armadillos, even though they’re technically mammals) but fear of snakes, in particular, is ophidiophobia. Snakes are a predatory species that will fight back if they feel threatened. It is just a good idea to use caution around them. Even the non-venomous ones may carry bacteria.
There is an urban legend about three cowboys all dying from the same rattlesnake fang in a pair of boots. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends wearing boots, leather gloves, and long pants when working outdoors. What are the best boots to wear to guard against snake bites?
Are Rubber Boots Snake Proof?
Rubber is waterproof, but not very snake proof. Snakes can bit through rubber and what’s more, rubber boots tend to be close-fitting. It’s better than nothing, of course, but it isn’t the best protection. There are other, better types of boots to use. The kind specifically made to guard against snake bite is the best.
Snake Boots Vs. Rubber Boots
Unlike ordinary rubber boots, snake boots are made with exceptional puncture-proof materials in order to guard against bites from snakes such as the rattlesnake. A good pair of snake boots will cost about $200. That’s still cheaper than an ER visit.
Are Snake Proof Boots Necessary?
If you are in an area where venomous snakes are crawling around you need snake-proof boots. In the desert, snakes sometimes burrow into deep sand. Desert snakes like the heat, but when it gets too hot even for them, they hide in shady places.
Because of this, you need to look twice before sitting in the shade in the desert or while collecting building materials. Never put your hands (or any other body part for that matter) where you can’t see them. You can protect your feet by wearing the correct sort of snake proof boots.
This will give you the much-needed protection that you require against the venomous fangs of a rattler or a coral snake. (If you travel to more exotic deserts, there’s the asp, cobra, pit viper, and other snakes to worry about.)
In fact, just about any environment short of tundra is a place where you might come across snakes. Snakes in the mountains will find hidey-hole to curl up in. Snakes in the forest can hide easily under fallen leaves and under logs and inside hollows.
Some snakes can swim in shallow water and crawl in marshy ground. The long grasses of the prairie are where snakes hide to wait for prey. And when people encroach on the snake’s habitat, a snake will do what a snake will do.
Do Snake Proof Boots Really Work?
They do what they’re meant for. Unlike nails, thorns, and other sharp things that just lay there, snakes climb and slither and sometimes rear up. Snakes usually strike between the ankle and the knee so tall boots are the best. The best materials to guard against snake bites are leather, synthetic weaves, Kevlar, denim, and Cordura nylon.
What Makes A Boot Snake Proof?
Snake boots are made with particular puncture-proof materials. All models feature a snake guard lining constructed out of impenetrable material. Said lining is layered between the boot’s outer material and the inside lining. It is quite flexible so that hunters do not feel like they are wearing a plaster cast.
How High Should Snake Boots Be?
The smallest length you can safely select is mid-calf. Take care to never go as low as the ankle height. As said before, the majority of snake strikes take place between the ankle and knee. Because of this, knee-high snake boots are really the best choice. Plenty of popular shaft sizes range between sixteen to eighteen inches in height for maximum protection.
What Materials Can Snakes Not Bite Through?
They can’t bite through leather or any very thick material. Kevlar can stop bullets so they can definitely stop a snake bite. Heavy denim or canvas may deter a snake.
Can Snakes Bite Through Leather Boots?
Cowboy boots were meant to guard against scratching briar and keeping the cowboy in the saddle more than guarding against snake bite. There are some types of snakes that can bite through leather cowboy boots.
However, it should be kept in mind that the majority of snakes just do not have enough biting power to bite through thick leather boots. A snake projects venom through extremely sharp fangs. These fangs are needle-sharp and can go through thin leather cowboy boots if the snake has a strong enough bite.
Can Snakes Bite Through Jeans?
If they are loose-fitting and made of very thick canvas or denim that may deter at least some smaller snakes. Close-fitting jeans of thin material may not work at all.
Can Snakes Bite Through Waders?
Waders by themselves could deliver a measure of protection. However, it is altogether possible that a snake bite and the venom that comes with it may penetrate. Likewise, the gaiters themselves might not completely protect from snake bites. Waders along with gaiters are the way to deliver better protection.
Are Snake Boots Worth It?
You don’t need specialized snake boots so much as you need your boots to be tall and thick. In any case, it’s better to have something and not need it rather than need something and not have it.
Snake Safety Tips
- In the United States, there are four types of venomous snakes. That includes rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths (aka water moccasins), and coral snakes. Our friends in Australia have to deal with a hundred species of venomous snakes, three of them the most venomous in the world.
- Snakes like to hide in long grass, fallen leaves, deep sand, and woodpiles. Sunny days may draw them to bask in the open, particularly on large stones or pavement.
- Do not put hands or feet where you can’t see them and look before you sit.
- Tap the ground in front of you with a walking stick. This will usually get the snakes to slither out of your way.
- If it’s dark out, use a flashlight.
- Never bother a venomous snake, even if it’s dead. Even a decapitated head can have enough venom to be deadly.
- Remember, you are in the snake’s territory. Give them the right of way.
- If a snake is in your house, call animal control to take care of it.
Conclusion
It is some comfort to know that snakes aren’t out to get you. They’d rather mind their own business and save their venom for a nice fat prairie dog than bite something too big for them to swallow that tastes like sunscreen. But as the snake from the Aesop fable can attest, they’re not exactly friendly either. Always remember to wear protective gear in areas where snakes may be present.
