While the heat wave has obviously curbed many local hikers' routines, it hasn't put a dent in the routine of one SoCal resident: the rattlesnake. Although it's easy to get used to signs posted at local hiking spots, stumbling upon a rattlesnake can cause the exact type of reaction you seek to avoid. The adage "Don't bother them and they won't bother you," may be all you need - what person wants to provoke a rattler? - but what your pet does can be a different matter.

Having received a recent email warning about the "new" mojave green, I set out to investigate. There's nothing new about this snake, however, the warnings are well heeded, because the misnamed "Mojave Green" (it's actually the Mojave Rattlesnake, Crotalus scutulatus) is the deadliest of all American snakes. Why? It's got a particularly nasty double-whammy of a toxin: a neurotoxin which acts on the nervous system, coupled with a hemotoxin, which attacks the bloodstream. Snakes can be aggressive, and won't back down when confronted. Luckily, they prefer to be nocturnal, burrowing in dark and cooler spots as the day progresses. My local park ranger, Joel Cordeiro at The Franklin Canyon Nature Center, has a regular rattlesnake that lazes in the cool shade of the Nature Center in the morning, heading off before 11am (we did try to find him on my last visit, but it was after 1pm.) I consulted Burbank vet, Dr. Liz Koskenmaki for a "Rattler 101."

Is there a rattlesnake vaccine? If so, is it safe and do you recommend it?
Yes. I recommend it for high risk dogs. However, this vaccine does not have complete approval by the USDA and it's efficacy is not proven. In theory the vaccine reduces the symptoms by counteracting the venom, but the exact degree of protection is unclear. Since the vaccine has been available, many vets have reported that the amount of swelling after a snake bite is much less in vaccinated patients.

The vaccine can also give a false sense of security to owners. If a dog is bitten by a rattlesnake, even if he or she has been vaccinated, the same medical protocol is followed for rattlesnake treatment. The hope is that the vaccine will reduce some of the symptoms or buy more time prior to treatment. Adverse reactions are consistent with the reactions that occur with any other vaccinations (systemic allergic reactions, lumps at the site of vaccination.)

Do you suggest buying antidote and keeping it on hand?
No. The antidote is an intravenous injection that is given slowly over a 30 minute period, and there is a risk of anaphylactic shock. This should be administered in a hospital setting for these reasons. Also, multiple vials may be necessary to counteract the effect at a cost of $400 per vial, and with an legal expiration date one year past the date of purchase.

I'm specifically researching the mojave rattlesnake, aka "the mojave green" which has two types of toxins and is the most deadly. Have you had any experience (I hope not) with this one?
I have not personally had any experience with this snake. I understand that it produces two forms of venom, one of which is called Venom A and causes neurological problems. It appears that one brand of antivenom is more effective than others in treating this Venom A, and that is CroFab by Protherics Inc.

What about high-risk dogs?
I would recommend snake aversion therapy as an alternative to or addition to the rattlesnake vaccine. Many trainers are versed in this type of aversion therapy here in California. It does use negative reinforcement which consists of a mild shock when the dog shows interest in a snake, and it needs to be reinforced yearly.

Rattlesnake* Dance by Dawn Endico via Flickr. See her video of their dance here.

*They're Northern Male Pacifics.

PS. In hiking news, Solstice Canyon in Malibu reopened Friday, having been closed since last year's Corral Fire.