Snakebite Season

Rattlesnakes are expected to be abundant this year, in part because of last winter’s heavy rains and the resulting bumper crop of rats and mice the snakes favorite food. Denser grass and shrubbery will also make it harder for hikers to spot the snakes.

Rattlers, California’s only venomous snakes, begin a brief hibernation in late November and are out as early as February. Up to six feet long, they are found in deserts and foothills. They favor cool, shady spots during the day, but at night seek rocks, concrete or asphalt that is still warm.

Young rattlers can be especially dangerous because they are prone to release all their venom as they bite. Last year, a 20-month-old girl was bitten by a baby rattler that crawled into her Santa Clarita Valley house. The toddler required an initial five vials of venom-fighting serum and another five just a few hours later. The indoor encounter was unusual, however, and experts say rattlers generall will not strike unless they feel threatened. There are about 200 rattlesnake bite cases a year in Southern California, but the fatality rate is less than 2%. Six Local Species Western Diamondback: From three to seven feet long, it favors dry prairies, brushy deserts and rocky foothills. Red Diamondback: Tan, pink or reddish relative of the Western diamonback. Likes rocky brushland on coastal and desert sides of the mountains. Mojave Green: Considered to be among the world’s most poisonous rattlers, it is greenish and has well-defined, light-edged diamonds or hexgons down the middle of its back. Speckled Rattlesnake: Has dark rings on its tail and faint designs ranging from hexagons to hourglasses to diamonds. Colors vary as well, including creme, yellow, pink and brown. Sidewinder: A desert species found in areas with fine, windblown sand. Noted for moving by swinging its body in a distincitive S shape. Western Rattlesnake: The Southern Pacific rattler, a subspecies of the Western rattlesnake, is the main rattler in this area. Western rattlesnakes are one to five feet in length and have dark blotches on their necks that become bands toward the tail. Habitat ranges from prairies to evergreen forests. The Poison The Southern California area has six species of rattlesnakes. Some rattlesnake venoms primarily attack the nervous system, while others affect the heart and circulatory system. If bitten, a person should be kept calm while help is summoned. Experts no longer advise making an incision across the bite and sucking out the venom, unless help is a few hours away. The Rattle The rattle is the feature that distinguishes rattlesnakes from other snakes, which also vibrate their tails when alarmed. The loosely interlocked rattles are composed of keratin, the same substance that forms human hair and nails. When shaken, the rattles rub against each other, producing a hissing sound audible up to 100 feet away. Young Mature Old The Victim Dr. Willis E. Wingert, a County-USC Medical Center physician specializing in rattlesnake bites, has developed statistics on injuries. The vast majority of people bitten are men between the ages of 17 and 27. 85% of all bites are on the hand or arm; 10% occur on the foot or lower leg. Many bites occur because of carelessness or ignorance, such as when a hiker steps on a sleeping rattler or a child plays with one. In more than 30% of the cases, the victim is drunk. 20% of victims have tattoos. Avoiding Rattlesnakes Don’t keep stacks of wood outside. They make great snake nests. Repair leaky outdoor faucets (snakes occasionally drink from them). Wear high boots and long pants in grassy areas and carry a stick to beat the brush. Keep trash in containers with tight-fitting lids. Install molding on door bottoms, particularly on garage doors, to seal off potential entrances. Clear brush from around buildings. Teach children to identify rattlesnakes. Calling for Help To remove snakes: Los Angeles County Animal Control Dept.: (310) 940-8888. Los Angeles City Animal Regulations Dept.: (213) 893-8400. Advice for you or your doctor: Los Angeles Regional Drug and Poison Center: (800) 777-6476. Sources: Los Angeles Animal Regulation Department, “A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians,” Encyclopedia Americana Researched and written by STEPHANNIE STASSEL / Los Angeles Times