Safety
Rattlesnake snake bites are lethal. However, rattlesnake bites are incredibly rare and can be prevented with just a few safety tips. Identifying and understanding rattlesnake behavior are important aspects of rattlesnake safety. There are three distinct traits rattlesnakes have that they do not share with other snakes in San Diego and two traits that, though not unique to the rattlesnake, are good indicators.
Identification
Head Shape
Head Shape
Head Shape
Rattlesnakes are the only snakes in San Diego that have a large, broad, triangular shape head. All other snakes don’t have a “neck” and their body is streamlined directly to their head. Rattlesnake heads are very distinct from the rest of their body.
Heat Pit
Head Shape
Head Shape
Rattlesnakes are a member of the pit viper family and have heat pits under their eyes. They are the only snake in San Diego that have heat pits. Heat pits are small circular recesses, or “holes” beneath their eyes that use infrared to detect heat.
Rattle
Head Shape
Keeled Pit
Rattlesnakes have rattles on their tails. Their name snake come from rattling that causes chills down everyone’s spine when they hear it. No other snake makes that terrifying sound. However, not every rattlesnake will have a rattle. Young snakes will only have one rattle (called a button). With just the button, there are no other links in the rattle to make that sound. Additionally, older snakes may have lost their rattle from a predator or broke off after getting caught in something. Lastly, a rattlesnake may not rattle its tale as a warning sign.
Keeled Pit
Vertical Pupils
Keeled Pit
Keeled pit: Rattlesnake scales are not shiny like most other snakes in San Diego. Their dull appearance allows them to blend in better with their environment. There are several other native snakes that share this trait and should not be used alone as an identifier.
Vertical Pupils
Vertical Pupils
Vertical Pupils
Vertical Eyes: Rattlesnakes have vertical pupils, similar to a cat. Like the keeled pit, other snakes share this trait in common (such as the Lyre snake).
Behavior
Rattlesnakes are not aggressive creatures and are not looking to attack people. They are like any other animal; they just want to eat, sleep, and move along. If anything, they are just as, or more afraid of you then you are of them. When a rattlesnake sees a human, it automatically recognizes you are not prey based on a human’s size. Since humans aren’t prey, it considers humans as a predator, putting it in defense mode. Just like any other prey (rabbits, squirrels, deer), it’s first instinct is to freeze, hoping the predator (people) won’t notice it. If the snake sees the opportunity, it will try to escape by slithering away. If these two defense mechanisms don’t work, it will sound it’s rattle to scare the predator away.
If this does not work, the snake will either coil up and/or strike. When a rattlesnake strikes, it may or may not deliver venom. If a snake does not deliver venom, it is referred to as a “dry bite.” A rattlesnake may deliver a dry bite made in self-defense to conserve venom. Since the snake recognizes humans are not prey and can’t be eaten, the snake may elect to withhold its venom for something it will actually eat. If the snake wastes venom on a non-prey bite, that snake now has to regenerate the venom in its glands for its next meal, which costs the snake time and energy.
Hiking Safety
If you find yourself out and about enjoying the outdoors there are some basic safety tips that can prevent rattlesnake bites. Being aware of your surroundings will prevent almost all chances of a bite.
1. Wear long pants. Yes, it gets hot in San Diego, but long pants can prevent envenomation. If a rattlesnake strikes at your legs, long pants will increase your odds of avoiding a bite. Snakes do not understand the concept of pants and do not know the difference between your pant legs and actual legs. The snake may strike at the pants, bite the pants, but the fangs may not actually penetrate your legs since the snake latches onto the fabric of your pants.
2. Stick to well travel trails. Rattlesnakes catch their prey by ambushing them. Rattlesnakes will hide in tall grass, behind logs, rocks, in crevices, and under dense shrubs to conceal themselves. Areas cleared of any vegetation or hiding spot are not conductive to finding food, so they will generally only cross trials to find a better ambush spot. By sticking to well-traveled trails, you will decrease your chances of rattlesnake encounter.
3. Watch where you step. Rattlesnakes will only strike people in self-defense, so by placing your foot near one, it could trigger a strike. If you look before you step, and see a snake, you can avoid it, thus avoiding a bite.
4. Step onto, not over, logs and rocks. Rattlesnakes like to put themselves next to a rock or log to conceal themselves for any unsuspecting food wandering by. If you step over a log or rock, you could unknowingly put your foot withing striking distance of a startled snake.
5. Look before sticking your hands or feet into logs and rock crevices. Most snake bites happen to hands and feet, sometimes by reaching into a concealed area. If you are going to reach into an unknown area to grab a rock, stick, or set up your camera for a cool photo, visually inspect the entire opening first.
6. Visually inspect all surfaces, interior and exterior of any rock or log you plan to sit on or move. If you are going to move an object, do not push it away with your hands, this could reveal a hiding spot where a rattlesnake has positioned itself. Either roll the object back towards you, using it a shield for any possible snakes, or push it away with a stick that is at least three feet long.
7. Don’t not grab sticks from water sources. Snakes can swim and water distorts the image of submerged items. The stick you see might actually be a swimming snake.
8. Lastly, if you happen across a rattlesnake while out and about, avoid it. Give it some distance and walk around it or wait for it to slither away. NEVER HANDLE A RATTLESNAKE!
Rattlesnake on Your Property
If you find a rattlesnake in your home and property, most of the above safety tips still apply and can help prevent a bite. Never try to remove rattlesnake by yourself or with your hands. Let Rattle Rescue handle the dangerous stuff for you. Following the below tips will help you.
1. Maintain your distance. Snakes can only strike up to ½ their body length. Most rattlesnakes never grow beyond four feet. Even if it were six feet, it could only strike three feet. If you’re outside this distance, you can’t be bit. If the snake moves towards you, just keep moving back.
2. Keep your eyes on it. The best way for us to successfully remove it is for you to keep it under constant observation. Snakes are fast and hide very well. If you don't keep tabs on it while we are on our way, it will likely find a good hiding spot and we won't be able to find it and remove it. Also take note and let us know if it's on the move or stationery.
3. Put barriers between you and the snake. By putting barriers between the two of you, you are creating a reactionary gap and giving yourself more time to move away. Let's say you're three feet away from a snake, but there is a retaining wall or trash can between you. The snake strikes in your direction, but it hits the barrier, you now have given yourself a few extra seconds to move further away.
4. While we do not in any way advocate injuring or killing snakes and actively discourage it, we recognize there may some cases where you have no other options but kill the snake. If killing the snake is your only recourse, do it safely. Remember, time and distance are your friend, so use it to your advantage. Some examples are, hitting it in the head with a long piece of wood such as a 2x4 and severing its head with a shovel. Never attempt to kill a rattlesnake in such a way that it puts your hands or legs within striking distance (grabbing it, cutting it with a knife, stomping on it with your shoe, etc.).
5. A DEAD SNAKE CAN STILL ENVENOMATE YOU – A dead or dying rattlesnake can still bite. Let it be for 15 to 20 minutes. it will continue to live for a while even if you sever the head or smash it with an object. It will be in immense pain and lash out at anything nearby. Even after a snake is completely lifeless, accidently fang pricks can occur. Never handle a snake head with your hands. Use heavy duty gloves and grab it with tongs, pliers, or anything to prevent an accidental fang prick. Move the snake head and either burry it at least six inches in the earth or burn it. The rest of the snake’s body can dispose of in any manner. The venom glands are in the snake’s head, between the eyes and “neck”. Toss it into vegetation where it will be eaten by other animals or put it in the trash can.
BITE EMERGENCY
If you are bitten by a rattlesnake, follow the below emergency procedures. There is only one medical remedy for rattlesnake envenomation: anti-venom. There are no holistic/homeopathic remedies, no field treatments work, and anything you may have heard from word of mouth, or online DO NOT WORK. Getting to an emergency medical facility (hospital) is your only option to prevent serious injury and death.
1. Ream calm. Yes, being biting by a snake is terrifying and your heart will race, but the more agitated you are, the faster your blood will pump and move the venom through your body faster.
2. Call 9-1-1 immediately. Do not drive yourself to a hospital. You risk the venom causing impairment and a vehicle collision. If that happens, it will delay your receipt of the anti-venom. Nobody will know where you are, or that you have been bitten by a rattlesnake.
3. Wash the bite area to prevent secondary infection.
4. Immobilize the area where the bite occurred and keep the bite would below the heart. This will help to slow the spread of the venom.
5. If possible, take a photo of the snake with your cell phone. This can help doctors identify the most effective antivenom to use.
6. Mark the bite with a sharpie or marker and timestamp it. This will help hospital staff determine the rate of envenomation and antivenom dosing.
7. Either go to hospital via ambulance or have somebody drive you. Do not drive yourself. You could pass out while you’re driving. This will cause an accident and delay your antivenom treatment. It will take time for first responders to realize you’re suffering from a rattlesnake wound.
8. DO NOT cut the wound “to release the venom” – this does not work and will only cause an infection. DO NOT suck on the wound – this will not extract any substantial amount of venom and could get venom in the mouth. DO NOT apply a torniquet or apply heat or cold – this will only concentrate the venom where it is and cause excessive tissue damage to effected area.
9. Venom extraction kits may provide a slight benefit but are not a replacement for emergency hospital care.
Home Prevention
There are a few small steps you can take to “snake proof” your home. You can never really make your property 100% snake proof or 100% snake free, there are things you can do to discourage their presence.
Snake Fence
Remove Food Sources
Snake Fence
Build a snake fence. Snake fences are a short, wire-mesh fence that are placed around the edge of your property (or along a regular fence). They are placed at an angle away from the protected area. Their angle and size make them relatively impassable for snakes. However, the snake fence has to be 100% continuous around the area to be protected and cannot have any gaps or holes. Otherwise, the snake will find these openings and get past this defense.
De-Clutter
Remove Food Sources
Snake Fence
De-clutter your property. Snakes are ambush predators. Therefore, they need a good, concealed spot to hang out and strike at unsuspecting prey as it walks buy. Rattlesnakes are often found in piles of firewood or trash, under ladders, behind patio furniture, tarps, or shovels leaning against a wall or shed. By keeping your property clutter free, you create a barren wasteland that is unappealing to rattlesnakes, and they will seek other places to ambush their prey.
Remove Food Sources
Remove Food Sources
Remove Food Sources
Rattlesnakes like eat small creatures like mice and rats. If there are mice and rats living on or near your property, it will likely attract rattlesnakes. By removing their food source, you decrease the likelihood of a snake encounter. If you suspect you have rodents, you should work to remove them. You should also research how to make your property undesirable to rodents (like decluttering) to discourage the rattlesnake’s food source (and by extension, the rattlesnake) from coming onto your property.
Repellant
Keep Doors Closed
Remove Food Sources
There are some rattlesnake repellant products available on the market. The jury is still out about their effectiveness though.
Dog Training
Keep Doors Closed
Keep Doors Closed
If you have dogs, gets them rattlesnake trained. There are plenty of dog trainers who offer rattlesnake avoidance training. This will help keep you dog from getting bitten, as some dogs like to play or hunt rattlesnake and suffer envenomation in the process.
Keep Doors Closed
Keep Doors Closed
Keep Doors Closed
Doors are kind of like game trails; people are using them a lot. Rattlesnakes notice this behavior and associate it with a food source because many species (prey) utilize common game trails. That's why snakes are often found in doorways. Additionally, on really hot days, rattlesnakes will seek colder areas to beat the heat. Your air-conditioned house is very attractive. Imagine yourself walking into the frozen food section of a store on a hot day.
Regular Inspections
Regular Inspections
Regular Inspections
Regularly check your property for areas that make good hiding spots for rattlesnakes. Snakes like to hide under BBQs, behind trashcans, near bird feeders, and near pet food/water dishes. These all attract rodents, which in turn attract the snakes.