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In North America, all Snakes (not to be confused with something that looks like a snake) are edible. The problems are those with higher toxins that need to be cooked well and long to kill off all pathogens. Example on a localized or regional level snakes along Tims Branch off the Savanna River had dangerous levels of poisons in their muscle and blood sampling that were harmful to humans, even when cooked. Snakes that consume a large fish/amphibious diet in the Hell's Canyon areas along Oregon and Idaho would be consuming and storing mercury at a level that even under Idaho's lax state toxic level regulations, there were still over 30% of snakes captured identified as deadly to humans even if cooked.
Snake meat is high in nutritional values because of its ability to store essential nutrients that most other animals expel in their waste. But, it is this storage capacity that can also make them deadly because they also store toxic substances. Snake meat is like a mini-mart. Loaded with all sorts of edible items but also a healthy dose of toxic product. If they are properly labeled and kept separate, no problem, If the rat poison was allowed to drip into the coffee decanters, big problem!
The story about burying the head is more for venomous snakes because of their envenomation reflex ability. As with the nutritional value due to storage in the snake, they also can store electrical charges in the cell that means a dead snakes still has the ability to strike from a stimulus. Basically, their head region is also a battery that can store enough energy to cause a strike when a stimulus is applied to the head, such as touching or more likely, placing anything near or in the mouth.
A good prepper would study these regional issues paying particular attention to scientific, toxicology, environmental and everything that will enable them to know exactly what hidden dangers is lurking right next door. There is a tendency to worry about everything and everyone elsewhere while ignoring the dangers waving at you from the across the street. If you know certain animals present a health threat, just don't consume them. Not bothering to find out if there is any known problems, is when the problems start. As your signature says: Knowledge IS Power!
Rattler is ok, sort of reminded me of turtle. Haven't tried anything else, never needed to. To be honest, in my AO, trapping small game and even turkey or deer is easier and burns less energy than hunting snakes. Of course, a couple bad days on the trotlines, and a snake dropping into the boat could be in mortal danger...
I work with a bunch of snakes, I wouldn't eat a one of them and try to avoid them. Every one of them are poison. They are always telling things to the boss about me.
But after this job, I'll never work with snakes again.
As far as I have read snake venom is only effective when injected into the blood system, other wise venomous snakes probably wouldn't survive their meal, and they will probably die if they manage to bite themselves.
Oh, but they are! They are small enough one can simply swallow them whole, avoiding the caloric expenditures of processing, cooking and chewing!
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