Snake Safety: What To Do If You See A Rattlesnake

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — When you are hiking through the wildland, snakes are another thing to consider along with taking along enough water, sunscreen and a charged cell phone. And, if you have the inclination, snap pictures of the critters you come across and contribute to the field database of the North American Field Herping Association.

According to that organization, Southern California is home to three dangerous types of rattlesnakes:

• Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
• Red Diamond Rattlesnake
• Southern Pacific Rattlesnake

While lizards, skinks and other creepy crawlies might cross your path, it's the rattler that will bring you to pause.

Here's how you can protect yourself if you come face to face with a rattlesnake. Following a few simple tips when outdoors can lessen your chances of a snake bite:

• If you see a snake, stop and keep a safe distance. Give the snake room to move away on its own.
• Do not try to handle a snake. A snake will bite if provoked, so do not handle them.
• When walking or hiking, stay on trails, sidewalks and cleared pathways.
• Wear boots or closed shoes and long pants when working outdoors or walking in wooded areas.
• Wear leather gloves when handling brush and debris.
• Use a flashlight if walking at night in areas where snakes might be present.
• Keep dogs on leashes and pet cats indoors to reduce their chances of encountering a snake.
• If you find a sick or injured snake, contact the Sheriff's Department non-emergency line to be connected with Animal Control.
• If you are bitten by a snake that you believe could be venomous, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

But what kind of snake do you see? Is it a rattlesnake or is it something else?

According to the website, the key to identifying a snake is the shape of the head. "Rattlesnakes have big hollow fangs and large glands where they store venom, which make the head appear diamond-shaped or heart-shaped."

These venomous reptiles are also stealthy.

Rattlesnakes have heat-sensing pits in the front of their heads—located between the nostrils and the eyes—that allow them to see a heat-generated image of a person's body before the person notices it's there.

If a snake is blocking the roadway, just turn and go the other way.

"The snake knows you're there and knows you're not food. It’s afraid of you and thinks you are a predator wanting to eat it," the website said.

The heat sensor also gives the snake the ability to see its prey's footsteps and follow it in the dark.

So what do you do after you've identified the rattlesnake and it’s sitting right in front of you?

"The most important thing is to stay cool after you've identified it. If you hear it, don't move until you can see it," he said.

If the rattlesnake does bite you, don't panic, and don't try and suck the venom out.

"The most important thing is not to do anything that gets the heart rate up—and get medical attention."

Rumors about baby rattlesnakes being more venomous than grown-ups were dispelled.

"Everybody always says that babies are more dangerous. That's simply not true," he said. "When it comes to rattlesnakes, volume is the most important factor."

Roughly 35 percent of bites are dry bites, and less than 1 percent of the reported 8,000 rattlesnake bites reported each year are fatal.

"Snakes don't carry any diseases and are the number one controller of rodents," he said.

Seventeen out of 20 snakes native to Orange County are harmless.

The Pacific Coast rattlesnake is considered the most dangerous because of its high likelihood of biting.

If you are interested in aiding the North American Field Herping Association by mapping reptiles in your area, download the app or visit: naherp.com.

Read Also: Rattlesnakes Abound In San Diego County

Information contributed by Andrew Farri, Patch Poster

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