Rattlesnake 101

March 27, 2009 by taha 

Okay, let me first say that I am not an expert when it comes to snakes. However, with that said, I do know enough about them to be able to admire them from a distance. Call me crazy, but it is always a treat to come across our desert dwelling snakes on a hike. Let me reiterate… I like to see them from a distance.  I actually had a great opportunity this past week to do just that!

While out hiking on Pinnacle Peak on my way back down the trail, I turned the corner of one of the switchbacks and whoa….there it was.  Surprisingly, I was one of the first to come across the rattlesnake as he crossed the trail. I say surprisingly because I have never seen the Pinnacle Peak trail so crowded!  The snake must have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to pass by unhithered. Anyway, the photo at the top of this post is the one of the actual snake I saw on this hike. It was a Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake. After seeing this truly “pretty” snake, I thought perhaps it would be fun to share some information about these reptiles that call the Sonoran Desert home.

One interesting bit of trivia that I learned from the folks over at the South Mountain Environmental Education Center  is that there are more kinds of rattlesnakes that live in the Southwest than anywhere else in North America! However, you are more likely to be struck by lightning than bit by a rattlesnake. That should be encouraging to those of you who may be fearful of hiking in areas where rattlesnakes reside. What also may be of interest to you, is that the majority of rattlesnake bite victims are younger (under 30 years of age), male, and inebriated. I think you get the picture. If  you mess with the snake, it will mess with you.

Now let’s move on to the rattlesnake that comes to mind most often when talking about the desert southwest, the Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake.  This particular snake is Arizona’s largest rattler. It can reach lengths of up to 7 feet (or more).  I’ve heard that a coiled snake can strike at a distance half its body length. So if my math is correct, that means as long as I stand 30 feet away from this rattlesnake, I should be safe!  Bummer. I don’t think my zoom lens is that strong.

So back to the rattlesnake. A rattlesnake is a pit viper. This means that the snake has heat sensing pits to detect warm-blooded prey and predators. These heat sensing pits are located on each side of its face between the eye and nostril.  Since people are larger than most desert animals (that’s another blog post), we project a lot more heat and the rattlesnake senses that we are too big to eat.  Another feature that defines a rattlesnake is the flattened, distinct triangular shaped head, elliptical pupils like cat eyes and fangs that fold back into its mouth. One of the defining characteristics of  a Western Diamond-backed Rattler are the black and white bands around its tail right before the rattle. 

Speaking of the rattle, many people do wonder about what exactly is inside that part of the snake’s tail that makes that rattling sound. Well, actually there is nothing inside the rattle. The rattle itself is made of hollow segments of keratin. This is the same substance that our hair and fingernails are made of. The rattling sound is created when these segments of keratin are rubbed/shaken together – think of dry leaves rustling in the wind.  I cannot tell you how many times someone walking behind me brushed up against a dry bush on the side of the trail and I’ve stopped short in my tracks looking for the rattlesnake!  Now for the “however”. One thing to keep in mind, contrary to popular belief, you do not always hear a rattle as a warning when you come too close to a rattlesnake. Young snakes have only what is called a “prebutton” and really cannot create the rattle sound and for one reason or another an adult rattler may be missing his rattler all together. So always keep an eye out as you hike along don’t just rely on your hearing.

 So, rattlesnake 101 desert safety tips:

• Stay on the trail. You may encounter a snake on the trail, but you can see it and it can see you. Don’t go wandering about off trail where you are putting your feet down in areas that are not cleared and don’t go climbing up rocks and boulders where you are placing your hands where you can’t see them. You never know when a snake might be happily sunning itself on the boulder above you and there you go disturbing its fine day.
• If you hear a rattle, stop immediately. Look around for the source. If it’s your 8 year old nephew, then all is good (except for the 8 year old nephew). If you do see a rattlesnake, do not make any sudden moves. If you can, back away slowly to put some distance between you and the person closest to the snake. Seriously, that’s what I would do. Okay, not really. If someone is closer to the snake than you, then their hearing is not as acute as yours and you need to move them back with you away from the snake. More than likely, the snake will move along its way and you can continue your hike. Do not approach and/or try to encourage the snake to move along as it may take it as a challenge.
• It is always advisable to also wear high-topped shoes or boots for hiking in the desert.  
• Lastly, stay alert and keep your ears and eyes open! 

So those are the quick, (not all inclusive) rules of safety to try and avoid negative encounters with the rattlesnakes.  If for some reason there is an encounter that results in the rattlesnake biting someone, the first thing you should do is call 911 immediately. Then have that individual remove all jewelry such as rings, watches, bracelets, etc. Do not apply a tourniquet, do not administer any type of drugs or alcohol or suck the venom out (now we have 2 victims), and do not apply ice. Any person bitten by a snake should be transported to the hospital without delay even if you do not think it was a rattlesnake. And you do not need to take the snake with you to show the doctors what type of snake bit the individual. The doctors will treat the symptoms not the species of the snake.

Just as an added FYI, a typical rattlesnake bite will require 20 vials of antivenin ($3,000 per vial) and a tetanus shot. But look on the bright side, it’s better than running into a rabid bobcat. Oh, did I mention we have those too?

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