How to Stay Rattlesnake Smart this Summer

May 21

Rattlesnakes provide much needed rodent control and are important members of our wildlife community. They are very mild-mannered snakes who go out of their way not to waste a bite on protecting themselves. As long as you give them space and don’t bother them, they will not bother you (1).

Here are some safety tips to prevent accidentally scaring a rattlesnake and getting bit:

Prevent Snake Bites in the First Place:

Work outside and hike in the coolest hours of the day when snakes move a bit slower
When hiking, stick to the trail (which should be practiced anyway) so you can see the ground in front of you
Keep an eye scanning the trail ahead
Try to walk in the center of the trail so you have good visibility for where you are putting your feet. This is also a good technique for avoiding ticks that tend to hang out on the edges of trails.
If you need to go through grassy or brushy areas, use a walking stick to rustle the grass in front of you and go slowly to allow snakes to move out of the way
Large rattlesnakes will rattle if given a chance to warn you. It sounds like a buzzing sound more than a rattle sometimes. But young snakes have not developed a rattle yet, so when they shake their tail it will make no or very little noise. Your eyes and behavior are the best things to rely on.

If a Rattlesnake Bites Someone:

Locate the snake and back slowly away to a safe place, then slowly sit down. Snake bites (and shock) can cause blood pressure to drop and you do not want to faint and cause further injuries. Do NOT try to photograph the snake or interact with the snake (2). Believe it or not people will do this and can end up getting more than one bite!
Remove any rings, bracelets or other items that could become constricting if swelling occurs (2)
Keep the person calm with the bitten part below heart level. If you are alone, walk calmly in the closest direction of help.
Call 911, or if that is not an option for some reason, know that Stanford Hospital is where you have to go. Stanford is the only hospital on the Peninsula that carries antivenom.
Use a pen or permanent marker to circle the bite, note any swelling and the time that the bite occurred. Write down any other symptoms. This will help doctors track the swelling and monitor symptoms.
Do not ice the bite. This can cause unnecessary constricting of small blood vessels which in combination with the snake venom could further worsen tissue damage (2).
Do not take NSAID painkillers (e.g. Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Motrin) as these can cause blood thinning and lead to worse internal bleeding. Rattlesnake venom interferes with clotting and so any additional blood thinning medication could worsen effects.
In 20% of cases, a rattlesnake will not inject venom, they can also control how much venom is injected (they don’t want to use up their resources), which is great news (1). Even if your symptoms are mild at first, it is VERY important to get medical help right away. Even if you think you were bitten by a non-venomous snake, you will need to clean the bite and get a tetanus booster shot if it has been 5 or more years (1).

Why do Some People Suggest Giving Benadryl?

Benadryl does NOT help with the venom (3). But it could help with an allergic reaction (in rare cases) to the bite or to the antivenom later (3). To counteract an anaphylactic reaction though (where the person could not breath), epinephrine (an epi-pen) in combination with Benadryl could be helpful. Epi-pens require careful use too, so make sure the person who uses it is trained.

Tips for Pets:

Keep dogs on trails where you can see where you are walking
Ask your veterinarian about getting a rattlesnake vaccine for your dog if your dog will be frequently hiking with you
If a pet is bitten by a snake, take them immediately to the vet. Even if they have received a snake vaccine.

The recommendations in this post are based on the sources cited below. If bitten by a snake always be sure to consult your health care professional about proper care and treatment.