Most of us try to ignore the fact that we share the planet with snakes. However, the fact is that there are many species of these reptiles all over the place. Knowing how to practice rattlesnake avoidance San Diego County style is important if you live there or plan to visit Poway, CA.
Hiking and camping in wilderness areas is fun, but it's important to know the hazards of the trail. This includes knowing what kind of wildlife you might encounter in the places you plan to go. Most wildlife will stay away and out of sight if possible, but you can't count on that. It's helpful to know how to tell a poisonous snake from a harmless one, for instance.
Rattlesnakes have the typical triangular head and thick body that distinguishes a poisonous serpent. They are a mottled tan and brown color (most are, anyway; there is a green rattler in the Mojave desert) and have a rattle at the end of their tails. However, young snakes, which are as poisonous as the adults, may not have grown rattles yet, and older snakes can lose them to accident or injury.
This is why rattlers will not always buzz a warning if you get too close. If a snake is shedding its skin, it may strike rather than moving away. When stepping over logs or climbing among rocks, extreme caution is needed. Snakes like to hide from predators, so they are seldom out in plain sight. They are more prevalent in hot weather, but even in winter they may come out if the sun is bright.
Since snakes are hard to see in the desert country, keeping away from their preferred places is a good idea. Snakes like cover and may hide in long grass, weeds, and brush. They also like the nooks and crannies of rocky hillsides, where they can hide from predators. If you do see a rattler, it will probably be traveling from one place to another or sunning itself on warm rocks or earth.
If it's necessary to go into weeds or brush, it's a good idea to carry a stout stick. A stick can help you balance without using your hands. You can also strike weeds and brush to alert snakes, which will move away if given proper warning. Wearing high-top leather boots and long pants is best. Sandals and sneakers leave feet and ankles exposed.
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.
Fewer than one person a year dies from a rattlesnake bite in California, but on average about 300 people are bitten. Snakebites are rarer than attacks by dogs or bees, but they are still cause for concern. Learning how to avoid a snakebite is better than hoping to survive one. Hikers should travel in groups, stay alert, carry cell phones, and make sure people back home know the area they will be hiking in.
Hiking and camping in wilderness areas is fun, but it's important to know the hazards of the trail. This includes knowing what kind of wildlife you might encounter in the places you plan to go. Most wildlife will stay away and out of sight if possible, but you can't count on that. It's helpful to know how to tell a poisonous snake from a harmless one, for instance.
Rattlesnakes have the typical triangular head and thick body that distinguishes a poisonous serpent. They are a mottled tan and brown color (most are, anyway; there is a green rattler in the Mojave desert) and have a rattle at the end of their tails. However, young snakes, which are as poisonous as the adults, may not have grown rattles yet, and older snakes can lose them to accident or injury.
This is why rattlers will not always buzz a warning if you get too close. If a snake is shedding its skin, it may strike rather than moving away. When stepping over logs or climbing among rocks, extreme caution is needed. Snakes like to hide from predators, so they are seldom out in plain sight. They are more prevalent in hot weather, but even in winter they may come out if the sun is bright.
Since snakes are hard to see in the desert country, keeping away from their preferred places is a good idea. Snakes like cover and may hide in long grass, weeds, and brush. They also like the nooks and crannies of rocky hillsides, where they can hide from predators. If you do see a rattler, it will probably be traveling from one place to another or sunning itself on warm rocks or earth.
If it's necessary to go into weeds or brush, it's a good idea to carry a stout stick. A stick can help you balance without using your hands. You can also strike weeds and brush to alert snakes, which will move away if given proper warning. Wearing high-top leather boots and long pants is best. Sandals and sneakers leave feet and ankles exposed.
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.
Fewer than one person a year dies from a rattlesnake bite in California, but on average about 300 people are bitten. Snakebites are rarer than attacks by dogs or bees, but they are still cause for concern. Learning how to avoid a snakebite is better than hoping to survive one. Hikers should travel in groups, stay alert, carry cell phones, and make sure people back home know the area they will be hiking in.
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