Politics & Government
Golden: Rattlesnake Hibernation Migration Closes Cottonwood Canyon Trail
JeffCo Open Space rangers are trying to keep the public away from the 'hibernaculum,' where snakes cluster for the winter.
GOLDEN, CO -- JeffCo Open Space officials announced that hiking trails at Cottonwood Canyon near North Table Mountain are closed indefinitely until a slithering slew of sleepy of rattlesnakes bunkers down for winter hibernation. The county announced that the public needs to stay away from the "hibernaculum," where groups of snakes cluster for the winter to prepare for hibernation. Hikers using the trail can face a $150 fine.
In early October, a rattlesnake bite on the ankle killed Colorado Ironman Triathlete Daniel Hohs, 31, who was hiking with a friend near Mt. Galbraith Park trail in Golden.
JeffCo Open Space is tracking about 20 rattlesnakes captured this summer with radio transmitters to follow their locations year round. A map posted in August showed rattlers all around the JeffCo Open Space area.
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Rattlesnakes typically hibernate from the end of October through the middle of March.
Rattlesnake Image via Pixabay
Find out what's happening in Goldenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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