Death and disability as a result of venomous snake bite is a significant public health concern in both the United States and throughout the world. In the US, an estimated 9000 people are treated for pit viper snakebite annually,1-3 and a death rate of 1 in 756 envenomations occurs.4 Worldwide, an estimated 421,000 bites and 20,000 deaths occur annually from venomous snake bites, the majority of which occur in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.5