A university study shows a common story about young rattlesnakes is wrong.

一項大學研究顯示，關於幼年響尾蛇的一個普遍說法是錯誤的。

Many people think young rattlesnakes cannot control their venom. They think the young snakes use all their venom in one bite. This is not true. Young snakes can control how much venom they use.

許多人認為幼年響尾蛇無法控制牠們的毒液。他們認為幼蛇在一次叮咬中會用完所有毒液。這是不正確的。幼蛇可以控制牠們使用的毒液量。

Adult snakes are more dangerous. They have more venom in their bodies. They give more venom during a bite. This makes the person more sick.

成年蛇更危險。牠們體內有更多的毒液。牠們在叮咬時會注入更多毒液。這會使患者病情更嚴重。

Many newspapers told the wrong story for many years. Now, many doctors and students still believe the wrong story. This is a problem. Some doctors give too much medicine because they are afraid. Also, people kill young snakes for no reason.

許多報紙多年來都報導了錯誤的故事。現在，許多醫生和學生仍然相信這個錯誤的說法。這是一個問題。有些醫生因為恐懼而給予過多藥物。此外，人們還會毫無理由地殺死幼年蛇。

Adult snakes are more dangerous than young snakes. But all snake bites are emergencies.

成年蛇比幼蛇更危險。但所有被蛇叮咬的情況都是緊急醫療狀況。

A study from Loma Linda University has proven that the common belief about young rattlesnakes is wrong. Many people believe that juvenile rattlesnakes cannot control how much venom they release, unlike adult snakes, but this is not true.

洛瑪林達大學的一項研究證明，大眾對幼年響尾蛇的普遍認知是錯誤的。許多人認為幼年響尾蛇與成年蛇不同，無法控制釋放的毒液量，但事實並非如此。

The research, published in the journal Toxins, shows that young rattlesnakes can actually control the amount of venom they deliver. This contradicts the old theory that they accidentally release all their venom at once. In contrast, the data emphasizes that adult snakes are more dangerous because they have a larger capacity for venom and can deliver higher amounts, which leads to more severe symptoms.

這項發表在《Toxins》期刊的研究顯示，幼年響尾蛇其實可以控制牠們注入的毒液量。這反駁了先前認為牠們會不小心一次性釋放所有毒液的舊理論。相反地，數據強調成年蛇更危險，因為牠們的毒液容量較大，且能注入更多毒液，導致症狀更嚴重。

Researchers found that this misinformation started in news reports as far back as 1967 and spread through California media between the 1970s and 1990s. This trend continued across North America until 2014. The study noted that inaccurate reports often relied on wrong information from emergency workers, whereas academic experts provided more accurate data. Although reporting has improved since 2015, the myth is still common. For example, survey data shows that 53% of students and 73% of healthcare professionals in Southern California still believe the myth.

研究人員發現，這些錯誤資訊始於早在 1967 年的新聞報導，並在 1970 年代至 1990 年代間透過加州媒體傳播。這一趨勢持續影響北美直到 2014 年。研究指出，不準確的報導通常依賴急救人員提供的錯誤資訊，而學術專家則提供更準確的數據。雖然 2015 年後的報導有所改善，但此迷思依然普遍。例如，調查數據顯示，南加州有 53% 的學生與 73% 的醫療專業人員仍相信這個迷思。

This misunderstanding has several negative effects. In hospitals, it may cause doctors to provide poor care if they feel pressured by patients to give too much medication. Furthermore, the fear of young snakes has led people to kill them, which harms the environment since rattlesnakes are an important part of the ecosystem. Despite these findings, the researchers asserted that any rattlesnake bite is a medical emergency that requires immediate antivenom treatment.

這種誤解會帶來幾項負面影響。在醫院中，若醫生感受到病人的壓力而給予過多藥物，可能會導致治療不佳。此外，對幼年蛇的恐懼導致人們將牠們殺死，由於響尾蛇是生態系統中重要的一部分，這將損害環境。儘管有這些發現，研究人員強調任何響尾蛇咬傷皆為醫療緊急情況，需要立即進行抗蛇毒治療。

The evidence confirms that adult rattlesnakes are more dangerous than young ones, although all bites require urgent medical care.

證據確認成年響尾蛇比幼年蛇更危險，儘管所有咬傷都需要緊急醫療照顧。

A study conducted by Loma Linda University has invalidated the prevailing belief that juvenile rattlesnakes possess a diminished capacity to regulate venom expulsion compared to adults.

洛瑪琳達大學（Loma Linda University）的一項研究證明，先前普遍認為幼年響尾蛇控制毒液排出能力較成年蛇差的觀點是不成立的。

The research, published in the journal Toxins, establishes that juvenile rattlesnakes maintain volumetric control over venom delivery, contradicting the long-standing hypothesis that they indiscriminately discharge their entire venom supply. Conversely, the data indicates that adult specimens present a higher clinical risk due to their superior venom capacity and the subsequent delivery of larger quantities during envenomation, which results in more acute symptomatology.

這項發表於《Toxins》期刊的研究指出，幼年響尾蛇能夠控制毒液注射的劑量，反駁了長期以來認為牠們會不分青紅皂白地釋放所有毒液的假設。相反地，數據顯示成年個體由於毒液容量較大，在注射時會傳遞更多毒液，因此臨床風險較高，且導致更急性地出現症狀。

An analysis of the misinformation's provenance reveals that the fallacy emerged in journalistic reports as early as 1967, with significant proliferation facilitated by California-based media outlets between the 1970s and 1990s. This trend persisted across North American media until 2014. The researchers observed that inaccurate reporting frequently relied upon erroneous attributions to emergency responders and medical personnel, whereas academic experts provided more precise data. While reporting accuracy has improved since 2015—likely due to enhanced public education—the misconception remains pervasive. Survey data from Southern California indicates a 53% adherence to the myth among students and a 73% adherence rate among healthcare and emergency professionals.

分析這些錯誤資訊的來源發現，此謬論最早於 1967 年的新聞報導中出現，並在 1970 年代至 1990 年代間透過加州媒體大幅傳播。這一趨勢在北美媒體中持續至 2014 年。研究人員觀察到，不準確的報導經常錯誤地將其歸因於急救人員和醫療人員，而學術專家則提供了更精確的數據。雖然 2015 年以來報導的準確性有所提高（可能歸功於公眾教育的提升），但該誤解依然普遍。南加州的調查數據顯示，53% 的學生與 73% 的醫療及急救專業人員仍認同此迷思。

The institutional implications of this fallacy are multifaceted. In clinical settings, the misconception may precipitate suboptimal care if practitioners succumb to patient or familial pressure for excessive medication. Furthermore, the perceived threat of juvenile snakes has contributed to the anthropogenic depletion of rattlesnake populations, which are critical components of their respective ecosystems. Despite these findings, the researchers maintain that any rattlesnake envenomation constitutes a medical emergency requiring immediate administration of antivenom.

此謬論在制度上的影響是多方面的。在臨床環境中，若從業人員屈服於患者或家屬要求過量用藥的壓力，可能會導致治療不理想。此外，對幼年蛇威脅的感知導致了人為地減少響尾蛇數量，而牠們是其各自生態系統中的關鍵組成部分。儘管有這些發現，研究人員仍強調，任何響尾蛇咬傷均屬於醫療緊急情況，需立即施打抗蛇毒血清。

Current evidence confirms that adult rattlesnakes are more dangerous than juveniles, though all bites require urgent medical intervention.

目前的證據確認成年響尾蛇比幼年蛇更危險，但所有咬傷都需要緊急醫療干預。