Anyone who ventures into the great outdoors knows that venomous snakes are a rare, but present threat to those who are not careful.

While snakebites are rare, and snakebites by venomous snakes are even rarer, the possibility exists in all but a few locales in North America.

Where you live increases your odds of an encounter.

You are far more likely to run into a venomous snake in the American South or American West than any other place.

But even in places like the Northeast, where Timber Rattlesnakes are occasionally found or the Northern Midwest, where the Massasauga has colonies in several states, running into a venomous snake is still a possibility.

That means if you are venturing out, you must be prepared on the odd chance you do encounter one and even rarer chance it leads to a snake bite.

On the next page, we run down the venomous snakes you most likely will encounter in North America.

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