snakes in southern calif

Risk is low but danger is high.
Worked in a power plant in S. Cal high desert and every spring we had to carry a long 1" wooded pole while out making rounds. Dozens of sidewinder babies every week.
We'd round them up and then relocate them to the isolated back 40 where the wells where.

Them suckers are fast!!!

Pay attention to where you walk/step and don't be sticking your hands into the brush/rocks. Keep pets on short leash when at walking and DON'T let them go snooping.

We have camped and hiked for over 40 years and could count on 1 hand the number of times we have encountered snakes on a trail and have only seen 1 poisonous snake that I know of; a rattler in Everglades NP. Like most wild animals, they prefer to avoid us so all I do is keep alert, look at the ground and avoid poking around in brush and rocks off the trail. Your risk is low.

Can't speak for California, but I camp/hike a lot in Eastern Washington, also rattlesnake country. A few early encounters unnerved me, all right.

Since then, I've started "belling" myself, the dog, and any others in my party. Theory being that snakes being earless but very sensitive to vibrations, the bell's jangle would warn of our approach in time for them to escape. Sounds dumb, I know...but as proof of its effectiveness I'll offer that I haven't encountered a rattler- or any other wild critters- since I started doing this.

As a side benefit in remote off-leash country, the bell is a constant tracking device on the dog. I can tell exactly where her very-short-self is no matter how tall the brush!

Wow! What a wonderful photo. I don't mind snakes. In Ontario there are about a dozen species.

There are a number of poisonous snakes in California deserts with the most common one I have seen being the sidewinder rattlesnake. I would be wary of letting my dogs off-leash in the desert mainly because a dog may not see the snake or, if it does, challenge it. I went camping in mid-October and woke up in the morning to find a sidewinder coiled up directly under my porch steps. The dogs had already bounded out and luckily did not notice it laying in the wind blown carpet. Sidewinders are usually out at night but other rattlesnakes, such as diamondbacks, are out in the day. In Anza-Borrego SP dogs are not allowed on or off trails, on leash or not.

In AZ have seen a lots of the coon tail rattle snakes. They don't appear to give a very loud warning. They are striped like a raccoon. Saw several in the rv park east of Kingman about 3000 ft elevation.

We live north of Tucson but the snake of concern, you are most likely to encounter is the western Diamondback and they are found throughout the southwest. While most of them are denned up for the winter the Official Snake season here is January first through December 31st. Any sunny day can bring them out.

We see the most activity in the spring following the first week or so of 80 degree days. At this point they emerge, hungry and horny seeking meals and mates and can be very aggressive. In the spring if you see one chances are there is another close by. The best advice year round, is simply to never put your hands or feet where you cannot see. Don't step over a log, low wall or reach where up to or into any area that is not clearly visible. Avoid tall grass and heavy brush as that is where they will often be found. Sticking to the trails and paying attention are your best defense.

If someone is bitten transport them immediately to a the nearest medical facility while treating for shock as necessary. Do not use a tourniquet, make cuts to the wound, apply ice etc..

:C

Snakes are every where. However, I camped in the mountains and deserts of So CA for over 40 years and only saw a few snakes in the mountains. None in the desert. I'm not saying there aren't any but I never found many. Found hundreds of snakes in other areas like WY, CO, and UT.