Rattle Snakes

[docsouce]

My wife and I are going to be slow poke RVing for 8 to 10 weeks in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado. Be leaving mid June. I've spent the last couple of hours on internet searches, and I searched here about rattle snakes. I know there are lots and lots of people that live around them.. I live in New england. I have never seen one. My searches gave me good info, and I always try to be aware of my surroundings. But I found an interesting comment here. It mentioned that if camped out at Gouldings RV park in Monument Valley and take a walk to the Natural Bridge, keep an eye out for rattle snakes (what is different about this trail?). I'm sure they can be anywhere and Google gave me good examples. But I've found folks here usually have certain situations that raises their attention level. Mostly from personal experience. Some basic tips would be appreciated. We plan on doing a lot of boondocking. No panic here nor am I changing my plans. Just askin.

[discovery4us]

myredracer wrote:
We have rattlers in the interior of BC which has the only true desert climate in Canada.

Many decades ago I was in a bike race up a mountain there. Afterwards I decided to ride back down to the bottom where the race started. So here I am flying down the mountain at like 50-60 mph (in shorts and short-sleeved jersey) and I see a stick up ahead laying on the road. Not exactly good to run over a stick at that speed so I aim slightly to one side, just enough to clear it. It was only when I neared it I realized it wasn't a stick at all...

Then, in that split second between when a person is about to run over a rattlesnake and get bitten and actually just barely managing to avoid hitting it and not getting bitten, I saw my life flash before me in my mind and got the absolute snot scared out of me. :E Not sure what would have happened if it had gotten tangled up in the wheels but have never forgotten the image of that "stick" on the road. Good thing it didn't slither in the wrong direction.

Similar situation but I was on a Honda Off Road Bike and being followed by three other riders. I though I had been scared until we stopped just a few hundred yards up the trail and saw the pale white color of fear from the rider behind me. Apparently when I hit the snake(stick in the path) it flung it up in the air and into his handle bars. How he didn't wreck was pure luck because at that point any skill or thought process went out the window.

[MrWizard]

in calif they are a protected species
but i suspect NuttyFornia is in the minority

[Jayco-noslide]

Regardless of what I think about shooting one, isn't it illegal; a protected species?

[Optimistic_Para]

A lot of good info here.

For those of you with dogs, I recommend you read this article on Snake Aversion Training that appeared in Truck Camper Magazine:

https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/camper-lifestyle/snake-aversion-training-for-traveling-dogs/

[Desert_Captain]

TechWriter wrote:

Jayco-noslide wrote:
I can understand not wanting rattlers near you're house and in you're yard for safety but you can still call DNR to come get it.

You will most likely have to call a snake removal service (at least in AZ), and that could take some time.

The local Fire Department will come out to your home to remove a rattlesnake. {I live in a senior community about 25 miles north of Tucson}. Since we had dogs for years I snake proofed our yard {as much as possible} and in 12 years have never seen one inside our yard. It must have worked as we see snkaes in the neighborhood all of the time.

:C

[TechWriter]

Jayco-noslide wrote:
I can understand not wanting rattlers near you're house and in you're yard for safety but you can still call DNR to come get it.

You will most likely have to call a snake removal service (at least in AZ), and that could take some time.

[2gypsies1]

A snake cannot be moved to another territory. It will die. They are territorial.

[Jayco-noslide]

I don't get the "if it's not nice, shoot it" mentality. Sounds like the early frontier thinking which wiped out all kinds of species of plants and animals. If one spots a venomous snake on a trail, no need to kill it is there? Just avoid it. If you're far enough away to pull out a gun and shoot, you're far enough to avoid it. I can understand not wanting rattlers near you're house and in you're yard for safety but you can still call DNR to come get it.

[free_radical]

ppine wrote:
All of this talk about snakes reminded me of a couple of stories. A few years ago I had a 60th birthday celebration in the mountains behind the house. A friend of mine found a rattlesnake that same morning on his work bench in the garage. He killed it and brought it to the party. We fried it in olive oil and served it with hot sauce.

I was running a field crew down along the Truckee River. We had about 20 guys on work release from the prison. There were some country boys that found duck eggs, a rattlesnake and hooked a couple of bass out of the pond with hand lines. The urban gangster guys were in shock when they saw the rattlesnake go into the pan.

I wonder does the snake taste similar to eel?
We dont have any around here so every time I visit Nipon I get me some
Very tasty btw
https://youtu.be/7WsV0LUEjs0

[bigred1cav]

Bobbo wrote:

docsouce wrote:
Oh.... We didn't change our plans to visit the PNW last year despite the rampant Bigfoot sightings.

I hope you carried your can of Bigfoot Spray while out hiking.

LOL https://www.amazon.com/Anti-********-Spray-SAR-Holdings-Limited/dp/B01L35CRG0/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_121_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=8BGN9T0BR4BQAXH1HEVS

[westend]

myredracer wrote:
We have rattlers in the interior of BC which has the only true desert climate in Canada.

Many decades ago I was in a bike race up a mountain there. Afterwards I decided to ride back down to the bottom where the race started. So here I am flying down the mountain at like 50-60 mph (in shorts and short-sleeved jersey) and I see a stick up ahead laying on the road. Not exactly good to run over a stick at that speed so I aim slightly to one side, just enough to clear it. It was only when I neared it I realized it wasn't a stick at all...

Then, in that split second between when a person is about to run over a rattlesnake and get bitten and actually just barely managing to avoid hitting it and not getting bitten, I saw my life flash before me in my mind and got the absolute snot scared out of me. :E Not sure what would have happened if it had gotten tangled up in the wheels but have never forgotten the image of that "stick" on the road. Good thing it didn't slither in the wrong direction.

BC has desert? I guess I learned something, today.
I don't have any abnormal fear of snakes or much else in the animal kingdom. I figure if I just leave them alone, they'll do the same. Chance encounters with bears, wolves, or lions is another thing, those guys can eat me. I try to stay observant in those areas. If I see a large amount of tracks or sign, I choose another path.

Snakes don't leave much sign and rattle snakes are usually found near hard surfaces. A chance encounter is possible but steer clear of rocky outcroppings or shaded areas in the day.

The last rattlesnake I saw was an Eastern Timber Rattler, all stretched out on a State Park roadway in the early morning. I assume he was soaking up the heat from the asphalt to start his day. I was in a car, along with my then GF, now wife, on a camping trip. She got scared when I stopped the car, got out, and was pawing through the trunk looking for a tire iron. Never found it but I had "new belt" in mind. The snake chose to leave, also.

Now that I'm older and have learned some things about snakes and the environment, I wouldn't kill a snake nor do I mess with any other living thing except mice in my house. I think I may have hung up the deer rifle, too. I'd rather capture them on camera than harvest for food.

[Bobbo]

docsouce wrote:
Oh.... We didn't change our plans to visit the PNW last year despite the rampant Bigfoot sightings.

I hope you carried your can of Bigfoot Spray while out hiking.

[docsouce]

To 2gypsies, yes I certainly have the information I was looking for. My wife, 2 small dogs and I appreciate the advise. That is what makes this forum such a great place. Folks are willing to share their knowledge with others. I hope I have the opportunity to do the same.
Oh.... We didn't change our plans to visit the PNW last year despite the rampant Bigfoot sightings. Not going to change them this year because of Snakes.. We are again prepared. Thanks to all!!

[myredracer]

We have rattlers in the interior of BC which has the only true desert climate in Canada.

Many decades ago I was in a bike race up a mountain there. Afterwards I decided to ride back down to the bottom where the race started. So here I am flying down the mountain at like 50-60 mph (in shorts and short-sleeved jersey) and I see a stick up ahead laying on the road. Not exactly good to run over a stick at that speed so I aim slightly to one side, just enough to clear it. It was only when I neared it I realized it wasn't a stick at all...

Then, in that split second between when a person is about to run over a rattlesnake and get bitten and actually just barely managing to avoid hitting it and not getting bitten, I saw my life flash before me in my mind and got the absolute snot scared out of me. :E Not sure what would have happened if it had gotten tangled up in the wheels but have never forgotten the image of that "stick" on the road. Good thing it didn't slither in the wrong direction.

[2gypsies1]

docsouce wrote:
My wife and I are going to be slow poke RVing for 8 to 10 weeks in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado. Be leaving mid June. I've spent the last couple of hours on internet searches, ....... No panic here nor am I changing my plans. Just askin.

OP: After all these posts have we answered your basic questions? You got more than you asked for. 🙂 Hope you haven't changed your mind.