As summertime calls people and snakes alike to the outdoors, encounters with snakes become more inevitable. California has a variety of snakes, most of which are benign. The exception is California’s only native venomous snake: the rattlesnake.
California rattlesnake species include northern Pacific rattlesnakes (in Northern California), western diamondbacks, sidewinders, speckled rattlesnakes, red diamond rattlesnakes, Southern Pacifics, Great Basin rattlesnakes and the Mojave rattlesnakes (all found in Southern California). Though rattlesnakes are dangerous if provoked, they also provide humans with a tremendous service. They eat rodents, other reptiles and insects, and are in turn eaten by other predators. In California, where rattlesnakes are found from sea level to the inland prairies and desert areas to mountains at elevations of more than 10,000 feet, enjoying the outdoors means learning how to avoid contact with rattlesnakes.
Generally not aggressive, rattlesnakes strike when threatened or deliberately provoked, but given room they will retreat. Most snake bites occur when a rattlesnake is handled or accidentally touched by someone walking or climbing. The majority of snakebites occur on the hands, feet and ankles.
Rattlesnakes can cause serious injury to humans on rare occasions. The California Poison Control Center notes that rattlesnakes account for more than 800 bites each year and one to two deaths. Most bites occur between the months of April and October when snakes and humans are most active outdoors. About 25 percent of the bites are “dry,” meaning no venom is injected, but the bites still require medical treatment.
The potential of running into a rattlesnake should not deter anyone from venturing outdoors, but there are several precautions that can be taken to lessen the chance of being bitten when out in snake country, which is just about anywhere in California.
The dos and don’ts in snake country:
Rattlesnakes are not confined to rural areas. They have been found near urban areas, in rivers or lakeside parks, and at golf courses. Startled rattlesnakes may not rattle before striking defensively. There are several safety measures that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of startling a rattlesnake.
– Never go barefoot or wear sandals when walking through wild areas. Wear hiking boots.
– When hiking, stick to popular trails and wear over-the-ankle boots and loose-fitting long pants. Avoid tall grass, weeds and heavy underbrush where snakes may hide during the day.
– Do not step or put your hands where you cannot see, and avoid wandering around in the dark. Step on logs and rocks, never over them, and be especially careful when climbing rocks or gathering firewood. Check out stumps or logs before sitting down, and shake out sleeping bags before use.
– Never grab sticks or branches while swimming in lakes and rivers. Rattlesnakes can swim.
– Be careful when stepping over the doorstep as well. Snakes like to crawl along the edge of buildings where they are protected on one side.
– Never hike alone. Always have someone with you who can assist in an emergency.
– Do not handle a freshly killed snake, it can still inject venom.
– Teach children early to respect snakes and to leave them alone. Children are naturally curious and will pick up snakes.
Is it a rattlesnake?
Many a useful and nonthreatening snake has suffered a quick death from a frantic human who has mistakenly identified a gopher snake, garter, racer or other breed as a rattlesnake. This usually happens when a snake assumes an instinctive defensive position used to bluff adversaries. A gopher snake has the added unfortunate trait of imitating a rattlesnake by flattening its head and body, vibrating its tail, hissing and striking if approached too closely.
A rattlesnake is a heavy-bodied, blunt-tailed snake with one or more rattles on the tail. It has a triangular-shaped head, much broader at the back than at the front, and a distinct “neck” region. The rattlesnake also has openings between the nostrils and eyes, which is a heat-sensing pit. The eyes are hooded with elliptical pupils. Additional identifying characteristics include a series of dark and light bands near the tail, just before the rattles, which are different from the markings on the rest of the body. Also note that rattles may not always be present, as they are often lost through breakage and not always developed on the young.
Keeping snakes out of the yard
The best protection against rattlesnakes in the yard is a “rattlesnake-proof” fence. It can be expensive and require maintenance, however. The fence should either be solid or made of mesh no larger than one-quarter-inch thick. It should be at least 3 feet high with the bottom buried a few inches in the ground. Slanting your snake fence outward at about a 30-degree angle will help. Vegetation should be kept away from the fence since the snake could crawl to the top of an adjacent tree or shrub. Discourage snakes by removing piles of boards or rocks around the home. Use caution when removing those piles, there may already be a snake there. Encouraging and protecting natural competitors like gopher snakes, kingsnakes and racers will reduce the rattlesnake population in the immediate area. And, kingsnakes actually kill and eat rattlesnakes.
What to do in the event of a snake bite
Though uncommon, rattlesnake bites do occur. Carry a portable phone, hike with a companion who can assist in an emergency and make sure that family or friends know where you are going and when you will be checking in.
The first thing to do if bitten is to stay calm. Generally, the most serious effect of a rattlesnake bite to an adult is local tissue damage, which needs to be treated. Children, because they are smaller, are in more danger if they are bitten.
Get to a doctor as soon as possible, but stay calm. Frenetic, high-speed driving causes greater risk of an accident and increased heart rate. If the doctor is more than 30 minutes away, keep the bite below the heart and then try to get to the doctor as quickly as possible.
The California Poison Control Center advises:
– Stay calm
– Wash the bite area gently with soap and water
– Remove watches, rings and other items that may constrict swelling
– Immobilize the affected area
– Transport safely to the nearest medical facility
For more first aid information, visit California Poison Control at calpoison.org.