Rattlesnake Encounters: Sharing Experiences

Hai friends, I wanted to share a discussion about rattlesnake encounters and how we can stay safe while exploring areas where they're found. I recently had a nerve-wracking encounter during a hiking trip, and it got me thinking about the precautions we should all take. Anyone else have stories or tips to share?Last summer, while hiking in a remote desert area, I came across a rattlesnake sunning itself on the trail. It was a bit too close for comfort, and I must admit I panicked a bit. Luckily, I knew to stay calm and slowly back away. But it got me wondering, what's the best way to react in such situations?

Ruby, are you a real person? Or are you a bot?

Too many to count here: https://www.mountainproject.com/area/110786419/ney-springs 

Home of routes like Buzzworm, rattler buttress, and snake charmer. In my experience they are quite polite. “Hey I’m uncomfortable, here’s a warning to get out of my bubble please.”

I call them the gentlemen snake. 

I got nipped on the foot by one in April 2021 in east county San Diego. Whole shebang - loaded into an ambulance, antivenom IV, boot, wheelchair… quite the saga.

In my time spent with paramedics and ER/ICU staff over those days, I learned a lot about things that people apparently do thinking that they’re helping the situation. Honestly - the only thing you should be doing is contacting paramedics immediately. Even if you have access to a ride (you won’t be able to drive), it is much better to arrive at the ER intake via ambulance than to hobble in through the front doors and have to explain yourself. Also helpful - paramedics can begin to treat your case with painkillers en route.

Paramedics had told me that they have responded to rattlesnake bite calls and arrived to find people performing home remedies that literally do nothing but make the situation worse. Among them would be attempted sucking of the venom from the bite area, making cuts to the skin in the bite area, and tying any kind of tourniquet to isolate the bite area. I’ll spare the details, but none of these are recommended by any medical professionals these days.

Antivenom is good stuff and this is something that the professionals have figured out. While potentially fatal if left untreated, if treated within a reasonable timeframe (12-24hrs), statistics show that fatalities occur in less than 1 in 600 cases, or one to two fatal cases per year.

To wrap it up - if treated in a timely manner, rattlesnake bites are a simple matter. Make contact with paramedics ASAP, let the victim rest, and allow the professionals to do their job.

If anybody has questions or wants to see photos of my foot, send me a DM.

- Brent

PS - saw one in Eldorado Canyon this morning. They’re everywhere.

Let's hear it for Crotalus! (And also Agkistrodon!)

Gentleman snake, I love it. These snakes are in no way aggressive, they largely try to flee as a method of first resort, even ones I've encountered aloft. One of the true gems of the outdoors, along with finding a lady slipper, box turtle, or eastern hognose snake.

William Bartram advocated for their preservation and respect in the 1770s as a boy, and everyone should too.

Here are some amazing ones I've seen over the years: 

B Donovan wrote:

I got nipped on the foot by one in April 2021 in east county San Diego. Whole shebang - loaded into an ambulance, antivenom IV, boot, wheelchair… quite the saga.

In my time spent with paramedics and ER/ICU staff over those days, I learned a lot about things that people apparently do thinking that they’re helping the situation. Honestly - the only thing you should be doing is contacting paramedics immediately. Even if you have access to a ride (you won’t be able to drive), it is much better to arrive at the ER intake via ambulance than to hobble in through the front doors and have to explain yourself. Also helpful - paramedics can begin to treat your case with painkillers en route.

Paramedics had told me that they have responded to rattlesnake bite calls and arrived to find people performing home remedies that literally do nothing but make the situation worse. Among them would be attempted sucking of the venom from the bite area, making cuts to the skin in the bite area, and tying any kind of tourniquet to isolate the bite area. I’ll spare the details, but none of these are recommended by any medical professionals these days.

Antivenom is good stuff and this is something that the professionals have figured out. While potentially fatal if left untreated, if treated within a reasonable timeframe (12-24hrs), statistics show that fatalities occur in less than 1 in 600 cases, or one to two fatal cases per year.

To wrap it up - if treated in a timely manner, rattlesnake bites are a simple matter. Make contact with paramedics ASAP, let the victim rest, and allow the professionals to do their job.

If anybody has questions or wants to see photos of my foot, send me a DM.

- Brent

PS - saw one in Eldorado Canyon this morning. They’re everywhere.

I'm curious to hear more about your insurance and out of pocket costs regarding the snakebite treatment if you'd be willing to share.

Ruby Grace wrote:

Hai friends, I wanted to share a discussion about rattlesnake encounters and how we can stay safe while exploring areas where they're found. I recently had a nerve-wracking encounter during a hiking trip, and it got me thinking about the precautions we should all take. Anyone else have stories or tips to share?Last summer, while hiking in a remote desert area, I came across a rattlesnake sunning itself on the trail. It was a bit too close for comfort, and I must admit I panicked a bit. Luckily, I knew to stay calm and slowly back away. But it got me wondering, what's the best way to react in such situations?

It is legal to kill rattlesnakes. 

Tradiban wrote:

It is legal to kill rattlesnakes. 

Lazy trolling Nick. You can do better

Climb On wrote:

Lazy trolling Nick. You can do better

i’m so good I troll on reputation alone.

But seriously, just kill it. You would kill a black widow spider, wouldn’t you?

Tradiban wrote:

You would kill a black widow spider, wouldn’t you?

We’ve co-existed for 20+ years with black widows in our small backyard.  Includes 5 kids without any spider-caused problems. Suck it. What’s the big deal about the possibility of severe pain and nausea?  ;)

Jaren Watson wrote:

If it was in my home, maybe. If not, no. Kill it for what purpose? Because it’s icky? Come now, dear son. You can do better. I believe in you.

Gosh, I seemed to have struck a nerve here. We kill many species that threaten us and many more simply for food. What’s the problem?

https://youtu.be/FGY0MoIU-Ik?si=GiqR2nDjXWDAwk8T 

Don't bitch when you have rats in your house.

 Are humans good for anything except killing?

Years ago I was climbing in clear creek canyon and stumbled through an area that must have been very close to a rattlesnake den. There were baby rattlesnakes everywhere. We hit the abort button when we saw the 13th snake of the morning within 3 minutes of the first.

Hai, Ruby…still waiting for a response as to whether you are a bot or not…

I'm betting it's a bot

Big year for them! Stoney King! 

Mark Frumkin wrote:

I'm betting it's a bot

Probably. Still a fun topic

Todd Jenkins wrote:

I'm curious to hear more about your insurance and out of pocket costs regarding the snakebite treatment if you'd be willing to share.

At the time of the incident I was unemployed and had coverage through MediCAL. My out of pocket cost was zero, but I’ve since learned from friends in the medical field that the total billing for a case like mine would have been pushing $200k.

Here’s the noodle I saw yesterday in the general area of the route Rincon, high up in Eldo. The one that sent me to the hospital was about the thickness of a pencil but maybe a foot long. Tough to spot in the grass.

"Probably. Still a fun topic"

That's why bots work

Guess I got triggered by the bot. They are up there as one of my favorite animals. So majestic, misunderstood, badass. People who kill them suck. They are an important part of the ecosystem. Bites happen when idiots mess with them. They just want to be left alone! If you see one, the protocol is pretty simple...just don't mess it with, leave it be, give it a wide berth and continue on your way. I truly despise when uninformed people spew some anecdote about how one aggressively chased down and attacked their uncle's neighbor's cousin's innocent little child one time. This simply does not happen. If you are stomping around in their habitats, LOOK where you're stepping. Chances are you've walked right by many of them and never noticed. And for the times you do get too close for them, they'll let you know via some smart evolution. I've come across many dozens over the years and I'm captivated every time. Had the pleasure of watching a Great Basin rattler gobble down a mouse a few months ago. So cool.

Seriously, the type people who kill rattlesnakes should receive a swift kick in the genitals. They aren't endangered, but they are threatened. Like so many other species, they are very susceptible to habitat destruction. Rattlesnake roundups in Texas are shameful events that should be outlawed. 

This is a fun video that perfectly demonstrates how unaggressive they are: https://youtu.be/XCVl1ll2VrE?si=ogfl0pT6nFWH_hof

Glad you ended up OK B Donovan! I also recognize that you were likely not messing with the snake and your's was an unfortunate, unintended accident, which happens. Please don't take my bashing of people who get bit as a personal attack to you!