![]() ![]() What should I do if one bites me?Īct quickly to get help, but stay calm. Snakes can lose rattles, too, so don’t count on hearing them. The rattlesnake’s rattling sounds like a jet of water hitting a spinning fan – and while they use it as a warning when threatened, they may not take the time to rattle if they’re suddenly startled. In a state of 39 million people, approximately 300 rattlesnake bites are reported annually to the California Poison Control System. The good news is the odds of being bitten by a rattlesnake are low. Rattlesnake venom can be lethal after several hours if not treated, but bites are rarely fatal because antivenom drugs are so effective. How dangerous are they?Ī rattlesnake bite can cause painful swelling, bruising and tissue damage. When motivated, they can glide fairly quickly. Keep an eye on the snake in case it decides to escape your way. Don’t try stepping over or around it, unless you can bypass it at a safe distance – and watch where you step. If the snake won’t move off the trail, it’s safest to wait it out or turn back. It's a good idea to stay as far as possible from any rattlesnake, aim for at least 10 steps away, to ensure safety no matter which direction the snake moves. How far away do I need to be to keep from being bitten?Īs a rough rule of thumb, a rattlesnake can lunge about two thirds of its body length. If they don’t move off on their own, you can try stomping - at a safe distance - to give them the signal. They can sense the impact of feet on ground, which helps them escape before you get there. Shouting won’t scare them off either - they don’t have external ears – but they can “hear” really well by picking up vibrations in their jaw and bones. Don’t try to push them off the trail with a stick – that’s often how people do get bitten. Give them space to do so.ĭon’t wave things at them because that may agitate them. If they sense you, they will usually try to escape. They eat mice and rodents and are shy of bigger animals. Rattlesnakes aren’t aggressive to humans unless threatened or frightened. What should I do if I see a rattlesnake on the trail?įirst, back away. They hunt mice and rodents in darkness because they can sense body heat with special organs on their face. While they can be out any time, rattlesnakes are most active in the morning and from dusk into the night. ![]() When it’s really hot, rattlesnakes need to find sheltered places out of the sun to keep from overheating: shady places along or under logs, rocks, heavy shrub or woodpiles, even the foundations of buildings. A bare sunny trail or open space is a perfect sunning spot, so stay alert when walking in the cooler parts of the day. Rattlesnakes can’t regulate their temperatures, so they look for sunny spots to warm up after a cool night. But a rattlesnake has a distinctive triangular shaped head, with a tapered neck and thick body, large scales, and (unless they lose it, which they can) a rattle at the tail. How do I know if it’s a rattlesnake?Īt a glance, it may be hard to tell our 33 species of local snakes apart. While it’s rare for a human to suffer a rattlesnake bite, and extremely rare for a human to die from a bite, here are some rattlesnake facts to help you stay safe on the trail. Sonoma County's rattler is the northern Pacific rattlesnake it's most active between April and October. Remember, we share Sonoma County's parks with wildlife, and one of the local residents active this time of year, the rattlesnake, has a formidable bite. Summer is the perfect time to hit the trails to hike and explore. ![]()
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