CHARLOTTESVILLE (WINA) – UVa Health has put out a free, downloadable book — in conjunction with the Blue Ridge Poison Control Center, UVa School of Medicine, and Virginia Master Naturalists — helping you identify 35 poisonous animals in Virginia.  Area master naturalist Alfred Goossens — the project director — says this book is called The Cleopatra Project… as the Egyptian queen died from a snakebite.

Goossens says there are numerous poisonous animals, but this book is comprised of those that have put people in touch with poison control or medical centers. This is where the poison control center and UVa medical’s toxicology comes into play. Some of these animals deserve medical attention after one bite or sting, while others may not unless there are multiple bites and allergic reactions.

Each document entry includes a description of the animal, its habitat and likely geographic range in Virginia, the source of poison or venom, potential physical symptoms and possible animal “look-alikes.”  This book joins a companion book, “The Socrates Project – Poisonous Plants of Virginia,” which describes the 25 poisonous plants that grow in the wild in Virginia.

You can download Cleopatra on this link.

You can download Socrates on this link.