Snake Season Safety

Now that we've addressed some common snake myths, let's take a few minutes to explore what you can do to be safe and avoid dangerous encounters.

#1: What should I do if I come across a snake in my footpath?

Very simply remain calm and carefully back away from or walk a decent distance around the snake. Screaming, running, and otherwise having a 'hissy' is only going to make your blood pressure go up and the neighbors call 911. Trust me, the snake will not be impressed.

#2: How can I keep snakes out of my yard?

The best way to keep your yard snake free is to keep it mowed. Granted, this isn't exactly 100% all of the time effective, but if your lawn is cut on a regular basis mice and other creatures (snake food) won't have any where to hang out making it much less likely that a snake is gonna be enjoying your evening cookout with you.

#3: How do I know if a snake is poisonous or not?

This one's a little tricky because I don't want to encourage you to pick up, poke, or otherwise harass a potentially venomous snake just to determine whether or not it's venomous.

It has been said that you can tell the difference via head shape: venomous snakes (copperheads, rattlesnakes, cottonmouths) have broad triangle shaped heads while others don't, but this is simply not accurate. Some non venomous species, such as water snakes, also posses this attribute. And in fact, one of the most potent of all venomous snakes, the coral snake, is often confused with a non venomous snake due simply to color band arrangement.

The best way to avoid a harmful bite is to not handle any snake that cannot be POSITIVELY identified as non-venomous.


#4: What should I do if I am bitten by a snake?

First off, try not to panic. Stay as calm as you can. Try to remember that almost half of all venomous bites are dry(no venom injected) and you CAN be treated. DON'T run or overly exert yourself. Try to SAFELY determine if the snake was venomous or not. Non-venomous bites do not generally require medical treatment, but please do not take any chances if you are unsure. Get to the nearest hospital or emergency facility IMMEDIATELY or dial 911 or your local emergency number. Do not eat, drink(including alcohol), or take any medicines. Don't apply a tourniquet or attempt to suck the venom out. Do not cut the bite wound with a blade in an attempt to excise the venom and do not apply ice or anything extremely cold to the bite area.

If you are certain the bite came from a non venomous species: be sure you wash the area well with soap (an antibacterial hand soap) and water and keep it clean. Take some Tylenol or Aspirin for pain relief. If the wound is becoming infected, seek medical attention.

#5: What is the best way to avoid a snake bite if I am going to be out and about hiking, camping, working in brush, etc?

Wearing long pants and above the ankle boots is a great start. If you don't desire to wear pants/boots then at least wear solid cover sneakers of some sort, NOT sandals. Gloves are great for working in brush along with long sleeves if possible. When you're in a possible snake 'hot zone' be as aware as you can of WHERE you're putting your hands, feet, and hiney. Don't sit before you look, especially around piles of rocks and out crops. Be aware that many snakes blend in SUPERBLY with leaf litter so PAY ATTENTION especially in low light situations. And finally I would suggest not roaming around after dark if you can at all help it.

I hope some of these suggestions will stick with you as we venture outside to enjoy the summer season. Remember, be safe and enjoy from a distance! Leave only footprints.