They may look cute and something you want to touch, thanks to pictures posted by animal enthusiasts over the internet, but don’t be misled. Rattlesnakes are still wild animals, and if there is one thing rattlesnakes are known for the most, it’s their venom-filled bite.
What are rattlesnakes?
Rattlesnakes are a type of snake. Their name comes from the rattle located at the end of their tails. When it vibrates, it makes a distinct rattling noise to deter predators and warn others like humans who are simply passing by.
Rattlesnakes have a broad range of habits, ranging from forests, to marshes, to even deserts. They prefer to hide inside rocky areas because it hides them from predators while also giving them access to prey like lizards.
What do I do if I see a rattlesnake on the trail?
The first thing you should do is to not panic. Seriously. Rattlesnakes aren’t a world-ending concern, and if you take precautions, you will be able to continue on your merry way as though nothing happened.
In fact, rattlesnakes are more likely to be scared of you than you of them. After all, to them, you are a big lumbering tower of an animal. If they see a bigger animal like a human, they are more likely to want to flee the area than to stay and fight. If they do so, let them. They will only switch to fight mode if they feel cornered, or if they are surprised and forced to do a knee-jerk reaction. The former is unlikely, as there are a lot of escape routes for a snake, and the latter is unlikely unless you like jumping on rocks on the path.
Second is to have patience. Rattlesnakes don’t usually stay for so long out in the path and are likely to leave after some time has passed. These snakes can be found loafing in hiking trails and paths especially after a chilly night to warm themselves up by exposing themselves to the sun. This is because rattlesnakes don’t have the ability to regulate their temperature, so they must rely on their environment to help them, and after a cold night, warm, exposed trails help balance their temperature out.
Meanwhile, if the temperature reaches hotter levels, rattlesnakes will seek out the shade to cool their bodies down, which means places like logs, rocks, and shrubs, become places of interest to them.
If the trail you are taking has a detour, it may be worth taking to avoid the rattlesnake on the path.
How do I keep myself safe from being bitten?
It’s simple, really.
Just stay away from them.
Even with how curious you are, it is best to always keep your distance from a rattlesnake, and even more so if you are not completely sure if the snake in question is even a rattlesnake.
Rattlesnakes are not aggressive. They are not going to chase you just because they saw you in the distance. As mentioned earlier, humans seem like threatening animals to them. As such, they are likely to slinker away if you come into sight, and if you keep your distance, you will be safe.
How far away from a rattlesnake should I be?
Be vigilant. The range of a rattlesnake is farther than it seems. In fact, they can lunge at around two-thirds of their body length, so make sure that you are always keeping your distance.
Around 10-15 steps away from the rattlesnake is a good distance so that you can react no matter which direction the rattlesnake starts going.
What do I do if I get bitten?
Should disaster strike and you still end up getting bitten by a rattlesnake, don’t try to treat it on your own. Time wasted attempting treatment is time you could have spent seeking professional medical aid. Call the rest of the hike off immediately and get medical attention as soon as possible.
Rattlesnake poison is rarely fatal to humans, but can still be dangerous, as the venom from the majority of rattlesnake bites can damage tissue and destroy skin tissue and blood cells. This can cause your body to hemorrhage internally.
Bottom Line
While rattlesnakes may appear occasionally during one of your hikes, that is no reason for you to instantly give up and head home. Rattlesnakes are far from menacing, and instead simply want to be left alone, and really, leaving them alone is by far the best and safest way to ensure that your hike continues on smoothly and without issues.
If you want to hike while reducing the chances of rattlesnake encounters as much as possible, a solid recommendation is to hike in more popular spots with a known rattlesnake population. As mentioned earlier, rattlesnakes don’t like it when humans are around and are scared off by them. The more humans present, the less likely that rattlesnakes will appear on the trail.
But still, in the end, it all comes down to your vigilance. Human company or not, rattlesnakes can be hidden in surprisingly many different places around the path that you may be unaware of. Rocks are just one place, but snakes taking shelter under tall grass and heavy under brushes are not unheard off.
To keep yourself safe, consider wearing long pants and sturdy shoes, to lessen the impact of rattlesnake bites should they try to strike.