Rattlesnakes arrive with warm weather across Nevada; here's how to avoid being bitten

Listen, if you live in Nevada, you live in rattlesnake territory. Does that mean you can't leave your house for fear of being bitten? Of course not! Especially because there might be a rattlesnake in your house right now, watching you, so whether you're inside or not makes no difference. However, you can avoid getting bitten with these 10 tips on rattlesnake awareness.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, approximately 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the U.S. each year, resulting in between 10 to 15 deaths. In the Silver State, we don’t have to worry about many of the venomous snakes found in the eastern or southern U.S., but we do have our local rattling reptiles to worry about.

Most bites occur throughout the warm seasons when both rattlesnakes and humans are at their most active outdoors.

For the most part, all snakes will try to avoid humans and will only strike when threatened or surprised. The best way to avoid a bite is to make yourself known, keep a good lookout nearby, and give them space if you encounter one.

Here are some tips to avoid any bites for you and your family during rattlesnake season:

1. Don’t touch the snakes

Most snake bites occur when a person attempts to either kill or capture a snake. Dead snakes can still bite due to their reflex action.

2. Know when to give them space

During the Spring and Fall, snakes are often slithering around in the middle of the day because temperatures are more comfortable. During the summertime heat though, they’ll either be seen in early morning or in the evening. During the hot parts of the day, snakes will seek shelter, whether it be in a hollowed log, within tall grass, under a propane tank, or curled up in an overturned bucket on your porch.

3. Protect your pets

Rattlesnake bites occur more often in dogs than in humans, and for good reason. Dogs are low to the ground and extremely curious about things that rustle in the bushes. Luckily there are many rattlesnake avoidance training classes in the Northern Nevada area to choose from. When in doubt, keep your dogs on leash when out in rattlesnake territory. They also make a rattlesnake vaccine for dogs now, and you can contact your local vet for more information.

4. Dress appropriately

Wear over-the-ankle hiking boots, thick socks and loose-fitting long pants when out hiking. Don’t go barefoot or wear sandals in wild areas. This is also good advice for avoiding the dreadful goat-heads, which are far more prevalent than rattlesnakes.

5. Don’t put your limbs where you can’t see them.

This is probably just good advice year round. Keep your hands and feet where you can see them. Teach your kids that while that dark spooky hole does look inviting, it’s probably not the best idea to go digging in it. This goes for crevices within rocks, inside logs, or any dark and mysterious hiding hole.

6. Listen and freeze

If you hear a rattle (though it sounds more like a sprinkler than a baby rattle), stop what you’re doing immediately and look around your feet. If you do not immediately see the snake, walk back the way you came. One sure fire way of being bitten is by stepping on a rattle snake without being aware. This is also a good reason to keep one earbud out while listening to music or podcasts while out in the wild.

7. Don’t grab sticks or branches from streams or creeks.

Contrary to popular belief, rattlesnakes can and do swim. What you might think is a lone stick or branch floating down a creek could very well be a snake and if you grab it willy-nilly they’ll react defensively.

8. If you’re bitten, don’t suck out the poison. You’ll hurt yourself.

If you’re bitten, keep your mouth away from the injection site. Realistically keep everything away from it, including ice or tourniquets. According to the USDA, most amputations or other serious results of a snakebite are a result of icing or applying a tourniquet. Don’t cut into the wound with a knife. If you’re bitten, stay calm and try to keep your heart rate down and call 911. If possible, you can wash the area gently with soap and water. Remove any jewelry such as watches, rings, or bracelets that may constrict swelling in the body. Try to keep the bite wound below the heart and keep it still.

9. Bring a snake kit with you

There are now many snake bite kits you can purchase over-the-counter that are generally light weight and easy to pack that will help you in the case of an emergency where getting to a hospital could take some time. They generally include an extraction pump to help remove venom from the skin, suction cups, antiseptic wipes, and bandages, among other first-aid items. These can’t be used on their own without medical intervention, but it will buy you time while you get to a hospital.

10. Most importantly, know your snakes!

The friendly gopher snake is often confused for a rattlesnake, and it’s no wonder; the gopher snake has actually evolved to mimic and look like a rattlesnake for better protection against predators. They even curl up and snake their non-rattled tails and hiss loudly to give the impression of a rattlesnake. However, gopher snakes are our friends and actively compete for resources against the rattlesnakes. If you have a gopher snake in your yard, it will keep rattlesnakes away.

Not only that, they eat garden pests such as mice, gophers, ground squirrels, and more, which are known to spread diseases. The easiest way to tell the difference between a gopher snake and a rattlesnake is in the head. Rattlesnakes, like most venomous pit vipers, have a triangle shaped head, while gopher snakes have an oval shaped head. Rattlesnakes’s bodies are matte and dull while gopher snakes are glossy. Rattlesnakes tail’s end bluntly with one or more rattles (except for young rattlesnakes which may have not grown them yet). So just remember: triangle head, non-glossy body, blunt rattled tail.