Most people don't encounter many snakes in their lifetime, and most don't want to. Everyone, however, should know how to act if they do come face to face with one. In particular, rattlesnake avoidance San Diego County way is a skill to acquire.
Anyone who hikes in the high desert country should know how to handle hazards they may encounter. This includes wild animals. Most wildlife will run away and hide if given sufficient warning, but sometimes even the wariest creatures are taken by surprise. If you accidentally sneak up on a snake, it's nice to be able to tell if it's poisonous or not.
Identification is easy, especially in older snakes with well-developed rattles at the end of their tails. When disturbed, they make a distinctive buzzing sound. Rattlers have triangular heads and thick bodies of a mottled brown and tan color. Young snakes, which may not have grown rattles yet, are as poisonous as adults.
Snakes that are surprised - by a hiker stepping over a log, for instance, or climbing over rocks - may strike without warning. Hot summer weather makes snakes more active, especially around sunset, and warm days in winter may bring them out to bask in the sun. Being aware of conditions that snakes prefer can tell hikers when to take extra care, but it always pays to be alert.
Rocky hills are good places to find rattlers, but so are areas of long grass, weeds, and brush. Any nook or cranny or overgrown area can make a hiding place for a snake. If you do see one in the open, it will be either sunning itself or traveling from one place to another.
Taking a stout walking stick along on hilly trails is a good way to avoid putting a hand out to catch your balance. You can also use the stick to thrash the bushes or weeds you're about to enter; all snakes in the area will slither away if they have sufficient warning. High-top boots made of thick leather are the safest sort of footwear. Sandals should never be worn, and tennis shoes leave the ankles open to attack.
Most people are bitten on the hand, foot, or ankle, so wearing protective gear and proceeding with caution make sense. Keeping to the trails is safer than striking off across country. Campsites should be inspected carefully and established during daylight, if possible. Tent flaps should be kept tightly closed and bedrolls shaken out before you climb in.
About 300 people a year are bitten by rattlers in California. Almost all victims recover with treatment; bees and dogs are more dangerous than reptiles. However, a rattler bite is painful and potentially lethal, so it's best avoided. Hikers should go in pairs, carry a cell phone, and make sure people back home know their route and their expected return time.
Anyone who hikes in the high desert country should know how to handle hazards they may encounter. This includes wild animals. Most wildlife will run away and hide if given sufficient warning, but sometimes even the wariest creatures are taken by surprise. If you accidentally sneak up on a snake, it's nice to be able to tell if it's poisonous or not.
Identification is easy, especially in older snakes with well-developed rattles at the end of their tails. When disturbed, they make a distinctive buzzing sound. Rattlers have triangular heads and thick bodies of a mottled brown and tan color. Young snakes, which may not have grown rattles yet, are as poisonous as adults.
Snakes that are surprised - by a hiker stepping over a log, for instance, or climbing over rocks - may strike without warning. Hot summer weather makes snakes more active, especially around sunset, and warm days in winter may bring them out to bask in the sun. Being aware of conditions that snakes prefer can tell hikers when to take extra care, but it always pays to be alert.
Rocky hills are good places to find rattlers, but so are areas of long grass, weeds, and brush. Any nook or cranny or overgrown area can make a hiding place for a snake. If you do see one in the open, it will be either sunning itself or traveling from one place to another.
Taking a stout walking stick along on hilly trails is a good way to avoid putting a hand out to catch your balance. You can also use the stick to thrash the bushes or weeds you're about to enter; all snakes in the area will slither away if they have sufficient warning. High-top boots made of thick leather are the safest sort of footwear. Sandals should never be worn, and tennis shoes leave the ankles open to attack.
Most people are bitten on the hand, foot, or ankle, so wearing protective gear and proceeding with caution make sense. Keeping to the trails is safer than striking off across country. Campsites should be inspected carefully and established during daylight, if possible. Tent flaps should be kept tightly closed and bedrolls shaken out before you climb in.
About 300 people a year are bitten by rattlers in California. Almost all victims recover with treatment; bees and dogs are more dangerous than reptiles. However, a rattler bite is painful and potentially lethal, so it's best avoided. Hikers should go in pairs, carry a cell phone, and make sure people back home know their route and their expected return time.
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