Nothing gets a person”s attention like the buzz of a rattlesnake when you”re hiking in the woods.
On Monday morning, I decided to go turkey hunting at Highland Springs. I had no sooner stepped out of my truck and started down a trail when I just happened to glance at the ground. There, stretched out in the trail, was a large rattlesnake. He never made a sound. He wasn”t coiled and didn”t rattle. In fact, he showed no aggressive movements, but I”ll bet that if I had stepped on or near him I would have received an unpleasant surprise and maybe a trip to the hospital.
Lake County is home to hundreds of rattlesnakes. If you have ever hunted or hiked in the local woods you have come close to one of these critters even if you weren”t aware of it. Springtime is when rattlers come out from their dens and breed. They also bear their young during the spring months.
According to the Department of Fish and Game (DFG), the rattlesnake is the state”s only venomous snake. Generally not aggressive, rattlesnakes strike when threatened or deliberately provoked, but given room they will retreat. Most snakebites occur when a rattlesnake is handled or accidentally touched by someone while 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 with 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 was injected, but the bites still require medical treatment.
In Lake County, rattlesnakes are often found around old barns and other buildings because these structures normally have an abundance of mice and ground squirrels, which are the primary food source for rattlers. These old buildings also offer dark, damp areas where rattlesnakes like to hide. In other words, don”t stick your hand under the floorboards or in old lumber piles.
Many other species of snakes are often mistaken for rattlesnakes. On several occasions I have mistaken a gopher snake for a rattler. A few years ago while out deer hunting I actually stepped on a large gopher snake and when it whipped around my ankle I thought it was a rattler. You could hear me yell for several miles. 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. These markings 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 are not always developed on the young.
According to the DFG, if the worst happens and you”re actually bitten by a rattler there are several things you should do. The first thing to do is stay calm, which is easier said then done. Get medical help as soon as possible. If you”re more than 30 minutes away from medical help keep the bite area below the heart. If you”re bitten on the finger or hand, immediately remove rings or watches because they may constrict swelling. Today, most people carry cell phones. If you”re alone in the woods, call for help.
I have spoken to several people who have been bitten by rattlesnakes and they all say the pain can be terrible. In fact, my brother was bitten a number of years ago while working on a ranch in Montana. He ended up in the hospital for a couple of weeks and nearly lost his leg. He still has a huge scar. All the local hospitals carry anti-venom or can get it in a hurry. In the worst scenario, hospitals will fly the patient to another hospital where he/she can be treated.
I also don”t believe in indiscriminately killing a rattlesnake if it isn”t threatening me. If I meet up with one in the woods I”ll just walk around it. However, I don”t want one around my house. Actually, rattlesnakes are an important part of the ecosystem. They control rodents and other vermin.
Besides that, they were here long before humans walked on this earth and will be here long after we are all gone.
