How to stay rattlesnake safe every summer

In California, peak rattlesnake season is from April through October. And yes, we are right in the thick of it.

Seven species of the snake can be found in the state, but in L.A. county the most common is the Southern Pacific Rattlesnake, according to Jeffery Langley, the public safety superintendent for the Angeles District of California State Parks.

Rattlers are generally not aggressive, unless provoked or startled. They tend to avoid humans, but bites do occur, though rarely fatal, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Rattlesnakes pack a bite

“Rattlesnake bites are a medical emergency and they need to be quickly treated at the hospital with anti-venom, and the quicker you get to the hospital the better,” said Emily Taylor, a professor of biology at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. “Because the faster someone gets the anti-venom at the hospital, the less likelihood they will have some long-term symptoms, long-term effects.”

Taylor said the effects of rattlesnake bites vary from person to person. So far this year, Langley with the State Parks said there have been no reported rattlesnake bites in areas he oversees, including Malibu Creek State Park, and Topanga State Park.

How to stay safe on the trail

The first thing to remember is to respect the snakes’ habitats, said Taylor. They contribute to the local ecosystem by keeping rat populations in check, and are an important part of the food chain for their predators.

Langley said that in the spring and summer months rattlesnakes tend to be more active and out during dawn and dusk, while in the cooler months are more frequently out on rock outcroppings and crevices in the warmer part of the day.

Here are recommendations on how to stay safe:

• Wear thick leather boots; avoid mesh shoes since snakes can bite through those. No flip-flops. 
• Wear loose-fitting long pants that cover the whole leg. 
• Have situational awareness on where you place your feet. Don’t stick hands in places you can’t see and always look before placing your hand down 
• Hike in groups, or with friends 
• Stay on the trail at all times, as rattlers can be in the grass, or on the edges of trails. 
• Visually check your surroundings before sitting down. 
• Rattlesnakes can swim, so don’t grab branches and twigs in the water.

What to do if you've been bitten

If you’ve been bitten by a rattlesnake, even if it's a dry bite that injects no venom. Here's what to do according to Langley.

“The most important thing is to stay calm,” Langley said. “The area [where you were bitten] could possibly start swelling so remove any kind of watches or rings or shoes. And then just transport the person to the nearest medical facility.”

Langley said that it's also important to not cut the wound, suck out the venom or attempt to apply ice or a tourniquet — all of which are ineffective.

Where you might find rattlesnakes

Here’s a list of rattlesnake habitats in SoCal compiled by The California Department Fish and Wildlife:

• Mohave rattlesnakes (Crotalus Scutulatus) are found in the desert and foothills of southeastern California. 
• Panamint Rattlesnakes (C. stephensi) are found in inland desert areas with more northerly distribution across Southern California. 
• Red diamond rattlesnakes (C. Ruber) are found in Baja California and in southwestern California south of Los Angeles. 
• Sidewinders (C. Cerates), sometimes called the horned rattler, are the smallest rattlesnake in California. It is commonly found in desert areas from below sea level up to 6,000 feet. 
• Speckled rattlesnakes (C. mitchelli) are found in desert areas from Baja California and much of the Colorado, Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. 
• Western diamond-backed rattlesnake (C. atrox) are rare in california but can occur in desert areas in the far southeastern part of the state. 
• Western rattlesnakes (C. Oreganus) are the most widespread rattler in California. It is found statewide from sea level up to 7,000 feet. There are three subspecies, the North California, the Southern Pacific found in coastal Southern California, and the Great Basin rattlesnake found in northern Sierra Nevada. 

Rattler cam

You can watch rattlesnakes from afar through Project RattleCam streams of Rattlesnake dens in undisclosed locations in Colorado and Central California, which can be found at their YouTube channel.