Contact: Nick Wilson

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, California — A Cal Poly biological sciences graduate student is helping to lead a global study of snake perceptions to reduce the number of bites and deaths resulting from encounters with the reptiles.

The “Under the Snakefluence” study involves surveying of people in more than 20 countries to better understand public perceptions and fears of the creatures and to assess how best to educate people about serpents to promote safe coexistence.

Owen Bachhuber, a student researcher in Cal Poly’s Physiological Ecology of Reptiles Laboratory (PERL), is co-managing the project with Australian Ecologist Dr. Christina Zdenek; and University of Queensland (Australia) Honours student Poppy Wyndam; Arizona State University geography and sustainability Professor Kelli Larson; The Australian National University sociology Associate Professor Gavin Smith; and Cal Poly biological sciences Professor Emily Taylor.

Around 5.4 million people are bitten by snakes each year, resulting in up to 138,000 deaths and 400,000 cases of permanent disability, according to the World Health Organization.

Research shows that attempts to kill snakes can result in more snakebites than would naturally occur. However, many bites occur accidentally when people in rural and agricultural areas work where snakes are abundant. Regardless of the circumstance of the bite, delaying medical treatment can prove fatal or cause permanent disability.

Zdenek co-operates the Australian Reptile Academy, where she trains people on the safe and ethical handling of Australia's highly venomous snakes. She also is a regular guest speaker at community events and a media expert on snakes.

More than 30 co-authors are helping to collect “Under the Snakefluence” survey data in seven different languages, including verbal and written questionnaire options. Besides the U.S. and Australia, participating countries include Canada, Mexico, Australia, South Africa, Uganda, Malawi, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Peru and the Philippines.

Questions focus on knowledge about snakes, their role in the environment and respondents’ emotions toward them. Study leaders also assess knowledge regarding what action to take when one encounters a snake or suffers a snakebite.

“We’re asking questions about the factors that influence people’s perceptions of snakes, including where someone grew up and their culture influences,” said Bachhuber, a Roseville, Minnesota, resident who has been fascinated with snakes and other reptiles since he was 6 years old. “And then we’re asking can we do to improve those perceptions in educational settings.”

The research team designed their snake perception survey to include cultural beliefs and public perceptions across the globe. Events include medical trainings of doctors and nurses who treat snakebites, as well as handling courses for those who want to safely relocate the reptiles, and other community events on snake safety.

“My role is to meet with these different co-authors and project leaders from around the world to make sure people are feeling represented and heard as part of this study,” Bachhuber said. “We are surveying everyone from rural villagers who don’t read or write to academics and professionals. It’s a broad scope.”

The wide-reaching project already has reached 20 countries at 134 snake education events. The team has gathered over 1,700 responses from survey participants. They are looking to finish data collection in July 2025 and publish their findings in 2026 in an international academic journal and The Conversation, an online source of thought-provoking articles written by researchers and academics.

Another goal of the team is to use its findings to challenge negative perceptions of snakes and in turn reduce the number of snakebites. Many may be unaware of benefits of snakes, including their superb ability to control rodent populations, or that venom is used to design therapeutic drugs and make diagnostic and lab tools. Public outreach materials will be developed and distributed based on research assessments as well.

“Snakebites are such a big issue globally and there’s a lack of funding to treat them,” Bachhuber said. “Snake education is great prevention for that. If you know how to avoid getting bitten by a snake, or what to do if you’re bitten by a snake, you are less likely to die from a snake.

“And so, one of the key goals is to give a voice to these countries where it’s a big problem and hopefully shed light on this issue so they can receive more resources.”

Top photo: An inquisitive Western Rattlesnake in California’s Carrizo Plain in eastern San Luis Obispo County.

Photo by Max Roberts