This is a list of human deaths caused by snakebites in the United States by decade in reverse chronological order. These fatalities have been documented through news media, reports, cause-of-death statistics, scientific papers, or other sources.
Snake species The United States has about 30 species of venomous snakes, which include 23 species of rattlesnakes, three species of coral snakes, and four species of American moccasins. At least one species of venomous snake is found in every state except Hawaii, Maine, and Alaska.
Roughly 7,000–8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year in the United States, and about five of those people die. Though most fatal bites are attributed to rattlesnakes, the copperhead accounts for more snakebites than any other venomous North American species. Rattlesnake bites are roughly four times as likely to result in serious injury or death as a copperhead bite.
21st century 2020s DateVictimSpeciesLocation — Circumstances Unknown, 78, female Unknown California, Redwood Valley - Unknown woman bit three times while walking on a rural property on April 8, treated at a hospital, but died two days later. Gabriela Bautista, 46, female Rattlesnake California, Ventura County – Bautista was bitten at Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks. She was airlifted to a hospital, but died five days later. Julian Hernandez, 25, male Rattlesnake California, Orange County — Hernandez was bitten while mountain biking at Quail Hill Trailhead in Irvine. He became comatose, and died on March 4, 2026. adult male Timber rattlesnake Tennessee, Grundy County — A man hiking in Savage Gulf State Park picked up a snake and was bitten on a hand. Rescuers performed CPR and transported the victim to a hospital where he died.Roy, Adam (2025). "Hiker Dies From Snakebite in Tennessee State Park". Backpacker Magazine, August 12, 2025. William H. "Marty" Martin, 80, male Timber rattlesnake West Virginia, Harpers Ferry — Martin, a snake researcher, was bitten by a captive snake at his home.Barakat, Matthew (2022). "Respected snake researcher dies from rattlesnake bite". AP News, August 12, 2022. Simon Currat, 6, male Rattlesnake Colorado, Colorado Springs — Currat was bitten while riding his bike with his family in Bluestem Prairie Open Space. He collapsed immediately and paramedics were summoned. Despite medical treatment, he died five days later at Children's Hospital Colorado.Oberholtz, Chris (2022). " 'The world lost a beautiful, faith-filled soul': Colorado boy remembered after deadly rattlesnake bite". Fox Weather, August 3, 2022. Eugene Roberto DeLeon, 60, male Rattlesnake Texas, Freer — DeLeon, a "veteran snake handler" with Snake Busters Snake Handlers was bitten by a rattlesnake on April 30, 2022, while performing at an annual show in Freer, according to his family. DeLeon was flown to a hospital in Corpus Christi where he later died. David Riston, 49, male Unknown Maryland, Pomfret — Riston was found dead in his home in which he kept 124 snakes including black mambas, cobras, and rattlesnakes. The Maryland Department of Health confirmed that he died of snake envenomation.Pitofsky, Marina (2022). "Maryland man with 124 snakes in his home died of a snake bite, officials say". USA Today, April 14, 2022. Alyssa Johnson, 3, female Rattlesnake Nevada, Winnemucca — At 3 pm, Johnson was bitten in the leg at Sonoma Canyon recreation area in the Sonoma Range, south of Winnemucca. She arrived at the Winnemucca hospital within an hour. At 7 pm Johnson was stable and not given antivenin when she was transferred to a Reno hospital, arriving at 10 pm. During the drive, her condition worsened. At Reno, she suffered cardiac arrest and was given antivenin, but as this was outside the recommended six hour window, her condition worsened and she died. Discussed as case 210, p. 1480.
2010s