Rattlesnake in a rural yard not far from a house
Summer is here and besides barbecues and swimming and longer days there is also the danger of rattlesnakes.
According to the Zack Walker Statewide Non-Wild Bird and Mammal Program Supervisor at Wyoming Game and Fish, “We have two types of rattlesnakes that have been documented in Wyoming. These are the prairie rattlesnake and the dwarf rattlesnake.
Walker said in an email interview, “Avoidance is the best way to avoid getting bitten. Many people get bitten when trying to harass snakes. This would involve attempting to handle or kill the snake. I always recommend avoiding the line whenever people can.
Also, keep an eye on where you are going in the field. “I always recommend that people can see where they are stepping. If you are in a rattlesnake area, avoid walking through tall vegetation, especially in areas where snakes hunt. “
He added that rattlesnakes often hunt around old wood, rocks, or other ancient structures. He advises always stepping on a structure when crossing these areas and looking to the other side before crossing. Try to avoid simply stepping over a place where a snake might be hiding. Also, always be careful where you put your hands before grabbing anything where a snake might be hiding.
Two coiled rattlesnakes
“A snake can strike up to half its length,” said Walker. So keep a safe distance if you see a snake.
“Snake boots and gaiters are also good protection against snakebites,” he added.
If avoidance doesn’t work and you or a friend or family member is bitten by a rattlesnake, what do you do?
This is what she had to say in an email correspondence with Lynn Grady, Emergency Department Manager at Sheridan Memorial Hospital, about snakebites.
“If you are bitten by a snake, try to stay calm and move away from the snake. If you have jewelry on the limb that you were bitten on, remove the jewelry and any tight clothing. If the bite area swells, it becomes more difficult to remove and can reduce bleeding from the limbs that have become swollen. Wash the bite with soap and plain water. Keep the bite area at or below the level of your heart. When you can have someone drive you to the emergency room. Please seek medical treatment immediately. If the snake poisoned you, treatment is an antidote. This treatment is administered through an IV. “
Snakes are not something to play around with. Even if you kill a snake, it will have involuntary muscle movements, including the striking mechanism, for several hours. A man in Texas spent a lot of time in the hospital last year when he picked up a severed snakehead and held the fangs on his finger, injecting a large amount of venom.
A rattlesnake near a garden plot
Grady continued, “Do not try to catch the snake you are bringing with you. We’ll let you describe what the snake looks like. Do not place a tourniquet on the limb with the bite. Avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine after the bite. “
“Snake bites can be fatal,” added Grady. “It depends on whether the bite was a dry bite or not. A dry bite is one in which the snake has not released venom and does not require antivenom treatment. When the snake releases venom, the area will swell. The longer the time from the bite to receiving the anti-poison, the swelling will progress up the bitten limb. The poison also prevents the blood from clotting properly, which can lead to increased mortality. “
When asked how many snakebites Sheridan Memorial Hospital treats in a year, Grady said, “In a normal year we only see one rattlesnake bite that requires an antidote, the treatment of venomous snake bites. This year, as the weather is warmer and drier than normal, we have already seen four snakebites and three people in need of antidote treatment. “
Snake bites can also fall victim to pets. Dogs, especially because of their nature, can attempt to play with a snake and receive a bite. If you are certain it was a rattlesnake that bit the dog, remember to keep the pet calm, not cut off the bite, suck out the venom, or put a tourniquet on the wound. Keep the dog calm and, if necessary, take him to your veterinarian for an antidote. Even non-venomous snakes can cause serious infection, so any snake bite must be examined by a veterinarian.
For anyone whose dog travels a lot in the mountains and might encounter rattlesnakes, there is a rattlesnake vaccine available from your veterinarian. The vaccine consists of two vaccinations one month apart and a booster shot every spring before the snake season. This will help the dog’s body build immunity to the poison. Most dogs survive a snakebite with proper treatment, but proper medical care is essential.
A pretty harmless bull snake
Many people often fear snakes for good reason, as rattlesnakes can injure or even kill a person. Children in particular are more prone to snake bites. However, bull snakes and other harmless snakes can be beneficial as they will eat mice and other rodents. It is worth knowing the difference between a bull snake and a rattlesnake.
When asked how best to identify a rattlesnake since fairly harmless bull snakes have a very similar pattern on their skin, probably to scare away predators that think YOU are a rattlesnake, Walker had this advice.
“The best way to identify a rattlesnake is with the rattle. However, some snakes may miss the rattle due to injury. Aside from the rattle, rattlesnakes have warming pits on the side of their head near the nostril. They also have “cat-eye” pupils that slit up and down. The color of rattlesnakes is also a good indicator. Basically a yellowish to greenish body with dark spots around the back. The tail is typically streaked with black. Prairie rattlesnakes and dwarf rattlesnakes are difficult to distinguish from one another. If you’re near Flaming Gorge in SW Wyoming, be near faded rattlesnakes, not prairie rattlesnakes. ”
Bull snakes climb trees
A rattlesnake also has a very distinctive triangular head, unlike a bull snake, whose head looks like an extension of the body and is smoother and flatter than that of a rattlesnake. Rattlesnakes also have coarser skin that looks almost like pearls. Also, they often don’t rattle unless a rattlesnake is provoked or threatened. Hence, it is best to watch out for them while hiking, or even in some cases in a rural yard.
When it’s extremely dry, the snakes like to come to cool, shady lawns to escape the heat, so keep an eye out for them. The city of Clearmont often publishes notices when rattlesnakes are seen in the city, and recently some have been seen within the city limits.
Snakes of all kinds are part of life in rural Wyoming, and they are well worth keeping an eye out for and knowing what to do when the worst happens.
The most important thing is not to panic and help as soon as possible. Most people survive a snakebite with proper medical care.
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