Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix sp.) are a fantastic first choice. As far toxicity goes copperheads have a moderately toxic venom. There has never been any deaths that have been reported in this state (MO)and I have only heard of one or two that are rumored to have occured nation wide in almost a century. However, copperhead bites are EXTREMELY painful and can cause a good deal of tissue destruction. Hospitalization is very possible from a copperhead bite. Also, with any envenomation there is always the chance for a serious life threatening reaction such as anaphalaxis. LD50 refers to the amount of venom it takes to kill exactly 50% of the test population in a 24 hr period. LD50 is usually expressed in mg of venom per kilogram of the test subject (usually mice). One of several problems with LD50 tests is that they are used on a nonhuman test subject and so results are going to be different than they would with a human physiology.

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