Rattlesnake Season: Do's and Don'ts

Spring has sprung we have had a number of 80+ degrees days strung together and that is all that it takes to get the rattlers out of their winter dens. Keep in mind that this is the most dangerous time of year for encountering rattlesnakes. They have been denned up all winter and are now out actively seeking a meal and a mate, though not necessarily in that order. Here are few Do's and Don'ts:

Do's and Don'ts

Don't move planks, rocks or logs by hand - use a stick or crowbar until you can see under it.

Don't gather firewood in the dark. Do it in the daylight, or at night under well-lighted conditions.

Don't reach into holes in the ground, rocks or trees, woodpiles, even abandoned buckets and tires.

When walking, stay in cleared areas (paths) as much as possible, and keep a visual and auditory look out for rattlers.

Take most care when the temperatures are moderate, not only when they are very hot or cold.

Use a flashlight when moving about the yard at night.

Step on a log, not over it, so you can first look down to make sure there is nothing concealed on the other side.

If possible, avoid walking to close to rocky ledges.Never put your hands and feet where you can't see them.

When crawling under a fence, beat the grass or brush first to assure there is no snake lying there.Look around before you sit on a rock or log.

Learn to recognize the venomous snakes. Avoid killing all snakes (even rattlers have an important environmental niche they fill), but at all costs, avoid killing non-venomous ones.

When you hear a rattle, freeze until you identify where the sound is coming from; you don't want to accidentally step on it when trying to flee. Once you have spotted it, give it time to move away. If it doesn't, move slowly straight away from it; don't walk to one side or the other as that could be perceived as threatening. Look behind you before you start to walk backwards - you don't want to trip over a rock, or another snake.

Don't handle a dead or injured snake. Dead snakes may not really be dead. Muscle contractions can still cause envenomated wounds, even when handling the decapitated head of a rattler.

Source
Reptile Care Series, by Melissa Kaplan, anapsid.org

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