What's Your Chance Of Being Bitten By A Venomous Snake​ In New Jersey?

Dec 26, 2023

NEW JERSEY — After a Bridgewater resident was bitten by a Copperhead snake and hospitalized, many locals have grown concerned. But what is your chance of being bitten by a venomous snake in New Jersey?

Pretty slim, according to data provided by the New Jersey Fish & Wildlife.

From 1999 to 2023, there have been 16 reported venomous snake bite occurrences to humans in New Jersey that NJ Fish & Wildlife staff are aware of, NJ DEP Senior Press Officer Caryn Shinske said.

However, those are just the reported cases as hospitals are not required to report such incidents nor are New Jersey doctors necessarily experienced in identifying venomous snakes or venomous snake bites.

Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

Since 1999, NJ Fish and Wildlife is aware of only 4 incidents in which someone in New Jersey was bitten by a timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus).

"This averages to less than 0.17 incidents annually," said Shinske.

Three of those four bites involved people who were trying to handle a timber rattlesnake (a violation of state law) and were bitten by the animal they were harassing, said Shinske.

There was only one "unprovoked" bite reported when a hiker who stepped on a juvenile timber rattlesnake.

"Accordingly, based on this data, unprovoked bites by timber rattlesnakes occur at a rate averaging less than 0.04 bites annually," said Shinske.

Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)

The eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is the only other venomous snake that occurs in New Jersey.

Since 1999, there have been 12 reported incidents in which someone in New Jersey was bitten by an eastern copperhead, according to NJ Fish & Wildlife.

This averages to around 0.5 incidents annually.

"Four of the 12 incidents involving eastern copperheads involved persons who intentionally handled the animals they were bitten by, including two incidents occurring outside the snake’s normal range (Paterson and Flemington), implying these were stressed and defensive snakes that had been illegally relocated and/or escaped or were illegally released from captivity," said Shinske.

The eight remaining "unprovoked" bites by eastern copperheads, including two that involved hikers after dusk, occur at a rate of 0.3 bites annually, said Shinske.

Bridgewater Snake Bite

A Bridgewater resident who lives off Brown Road in the Martinsville section of the township was bitten twice in the feet by an Easter Copperhead snake on July 21. She ended up being hospitalized for four days.

The resident, who did not wish to be named, spoke to Patch. Read her account of what happened - Copperhead Snake Bite Hospitalizes Bridgewater Resident.

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