Rattlesnakes on Rise from Heat
Several weeks ago a friend sent me a picture of a rattlesnake coiled in the shade behind the trash cans at her home in Westlake Village, just north of Los Angeles. She didn’t realize till she saw one face to face how loud rattlers can be and she was especially concerned for her small children. She called the Fire Department and they came fairly quickly to remove it, telling her it was approx. five feet long–pretty big. According to Los Angeles Zoo officials Californians and visitors should know that rattlesnakes are appearing earlier than usual due to the hot weather. California Poison Control has recorded 84 rattlesnake bites in California this year, higher than usual. Of the 800 bites each year in California there’s usually one or two deaths. Most bites occur between the months of April and October.
California rattlesnake species (northern Pacific rattlesnake (in northern California), and the Western Diamondback, Sidewinder, Speckled rattlesnake, Red Diamond rattlesnake, Southern Pacific, Great Basin rattlesnake and the Mojave rattlesnake,) are not aggressive and will retreat when given room. Though rattlesnake bites are not normally deadly, treatment should be sought immediately as the venom typically causes tissue damage, swelling and if left untreated, can require body part amputation.
RATTLESNAKE TIPS (from dfg.ca.gov)
1. Never go barefoot or wear sandals when walking through wild areas.
2. Wear hiking boots.
3. Stick to well-used trails and wear over-the-ankle boots and loose-fitting long pants.
4. Avoid tall grass, weeds and heavy underbrush where snakes may hide during the day.
5. Do not step or put your hands where you can’t see
6. Avoid wandering around in the dark.
7. Step ON logs and rocks, never over them, and be especially careful when climbing rocks or gathering firewood.
8. Check out stumps or logs before sitting down, and shake out sleeping bags before use.
9. Always have someone with you who can assist in an emergency.
10. Do not handle a freshly killed snake, it can still inject venom.
11. Carry a portable phone and make sure that family or friends know where you are going and when you will be checking in.
IF BITTEN BY A RATTLESNAKE:
1. Get to a doctor as soon as possible, but stay calm.
2. Remove watches, rings, etc, which may constrict swelling.
3. If the doctor is more than 30 minutes away, keep the bite below the heart, and then try to get to the doctor as quickly as possible.
