The Antivenom Interviews Blog
South Africa’s Antivenom Shortage: A Crisis Years in the Making
South Africa is once again facing a serious shortage of antivenom. But describing the current situation simply as a temporary stock-out misses much of the story.
International Snakebite Awareness Day 2026
How Snakebites Happen and How to Avoid Them
Snakes do not bite people because they are angry, evil, aggressive, or looking for a fight. They bite because a large animal has gotten too close and they feel threatened. From the snake’s point of view, you are not “a person.” You are a huge, dangerous animal that might step on it, grab it, corner it, or kill it.
Beyond Red and Yellow — Coral Snake Identification for Nerds
The familiar “red touches yellow” rhyme is far less reliable than most people realize, especially once you account for unusual coloration, harmless mimics, and the diversity of coral snakes across the Americas. This guide goes beyond color patterns to look at some of the anatomical features herpetologists use to distinguish true coral snakes from their mimics—and why no single identification trick should ever replace caution.