Rattlesnakes are Out: How to Avoid Them

Mid-summer is here, and the rattlesnakes are out.  The hot, dry weather means more rattlesnakes are moving into the cool lawns and shady areas near rural houses or in small towns.  Since the grass in the hills is so tall this year, one has to be careful when hiking.

Rattlesnake and human interaction on the plains have been going on for hundreds of years. John A. Doerner, historian at the Custer Battlefield Museum, in an interview for an article about sabers at the Custer battle, said that sabers were used on the plains, but not specifically for combat. “Once the cavalry was on campaign in North Dakota,” he said. “One big problem was rattlesnakes in the camp, so they used the sabers to clear away the snakes.”

In Margaret Carrington’s book, Absarka, Land of the Crow, she mentions rattlesnakes at their camp on the Clear Fork of the Powder River. 

The Iron Riders, who rode bicycles from Montana to Missouri in 1897, planned to spend a night in Arvada, but there were too many rattlesnakes, so they moved on.

There are two species of rattlesnake that have been documented in Wyoming. These are the prairie rattlesnake, statewide. and the midget faded rattlesnake, in Southwest Wyoming.

A few things one can do to prevent rattlesnake encounters is to keep your lawn grass short, as the snakes like grass they can hide in. Shorter grass also allows one to see the snake, hopefully before they do any damage. When gardening, wear gloves and check to make sure that the flower bed is free of any snakes before reaching your hand down to weed or plant. Avoid brushy areas and rock piles when hiking and keep alert.

Not all snakes are poisonous.  Bull, or gopher snakes, can bite but do not have venom, and they are normally not aggressive, preferring to slither away from danger. They are beneficial, as they eat rodents. Blue racers and garter snakes are common as well but are not poisonous or aggressive.

Snakes are good swimmers as well and can be seen crossing lakes and ponds in Wyoming.  Bull snake are good tree climbers as well, and often slither up trees to rob bird’s nests.

Although it is better to avoid snakes if possible, knowing the how to identify a rattlesnake or a bull snake is difficult but not impossible.  A bull snake has a smoother skin, a rattlesnake has more of a rough, beaded appearance.  Bull snakes are a lighter brown, and rattlers have a greenish hue.  A bull snake’s body flows into the head, where a rattlers head is triangular, with a definition between the head and the rest of the body.  A bull snake does not have the distinctive rattle on the end of its tail either, but sometimes a rattlesnake may lose his rattle through an injury.

When it is extremely dry, the snakes like to come into cool, shaded lawns to get out of the heat, so always be on the lookout for them. The town of Clearmont has posted notices this year to watch for snakes, and so far in 2022, they have killed eight within the town limits.  

Another thing to remember is that a rattlesnake does not always rattle before they strike.   “Avoidance is the best way to keep from getting bit.”  Zack Walker Statewide Non-game Bird and Mammal Program Supervisor at the Wyoming Game and Fish, said. “Many people get bit while trying to harass snakes. I always recommend that when people can, they just avoid the snake.”

Also, keep watch of where you’re going when out in the field “People should be able to see where they are stepping. In a rattlesnake area, try to avoid walking through tall vegetation, especially around areas where snakes hunt.”

He added that rattlesnakes often hunt around old timber, rocks, or other old structures. He advises that, if going through these areas, always step on a structure and look on the other side before crossing. Try to avoid just stepping over a place where a snake could hide. Also, always look where you are putting your hands before you grab something where a snake could hide.

“A snake can strike up to half its body length,” Walker said. So keep a good distance if you see a snake. Snake boots and gaiters are also a good way to protect against snake bite,” he added.

If you do get bit, Lynn Grady, Emergency Department Manager at Sheridan Memorial Hospital had this advice:

“If you do get bitten by a snake, try to remain calm and move away from the snake. If you have jewelry on the limb where you were bit remove the jewelry and any tight clothing. Please seek medical treatment right away. If the snake did envenomate you the treatment is antivenom. This treatment is given through an IV.”

“Snake bites can be lethal,” Grady added. “In a normal year we only see one rattlesnake bite that requires anti-venom, the treatment for venomous snake bites.” In 2021, the hospital saw four snake bites and three people requiring antivenom treatment.

Dr. Nickerson, of the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Urgent Care Clinic, had this to say.  “If you get bit, remain calm. Don’t do things to elevate your heart rate.  The best thing to do go calmly to the Emergency Room.”  He said that some bites do not inject venom, but one should go to the ER just in case.

He added the ER seems several rattlesnake bites each summer, and a good many bites happen to hikers in Tongue River Canyon.

Don’t handle a dead snake, the muscles can keep moving for several hours and the head can reflectively bite and inject venom, even after they are technically dead.

Snakes of all kinds are a part of life in rural Wyoming, and it pays to be on the lookout for them and know what to do if the worst happens.

It was a harmless snake that came into the Clearmont Post Office recently and they do occasionally slither into a building, even a house.

Pets can become snake bite victims as well. Dogs, especially due to their nature, can try to play with a snake and receive a bite. If you know for sure it was a rattlesnake that bit the dog, do not cut the bite, attempt to suck out the poison, or put a tourniquet on the wound.

Keep the dog calm and take him to your vet for anti-venom if necessary. The owner must remain calm as well. Pets can sense their owner’s panic, which can add to their stress. This can cause the venom to be circulated more quickly throughout the bloodsteam.

Even non-venomous snakes can cause a bad infection, so any snake bite needs to be looked at by a vet.

For anyone whose dog is out in the hills a lot and may encounter rattlesnakes, there is a rattlesnake vaccine, available at your vet. The vaccine consists of two shots a month apart and a booster every spring before snake season. This helps the dogs body build up an immunity to the venom. Most dogs, given the right treatment, survive a snake bite, but proper medical care is essential.

So, when hiking or working outside, be snake aware to avoid being bitten. Depending on the weather, snakes can be seen through October, or until the weather cools enough to force them in hibernation. 

The most important thing to remember if one gets bitten is don’t panic and get to help as soon as possible.  Most people survive a snake bite with the proper medical care.