![]() You are part of nature too after all- it’s ok that you are both there together. So don’t let their presence in their own natural habitat scare you away from the trails. But at the end of the day I love being out on the trail and the snakes don’t seem to mind that I am there. Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix ssp.). I get it- it’s hard to trust an animal with no shoulders. The only dangerously venomous snakes a hiker is likely to encounter on the Pacific Crest Trail are rattlesnakes. I have been plenty uncomfortable around snakes. They are just part of nature and are generally minding there own business. For the most part if you leave them alone they will be perfectly content to leave you alone. They really aren’t out to get you though. Snakes are out on and around the trails in our area. It is wild out there… it is not, however, as scary as some of us might think. If you cannot clearly see a ledge or are stepping into tall brush, take a moment to pause and look around before continuing onward. Your best bet on or off the trail is to be mindful of where you put your hands and feet, as not all snakes make a warning sound. You know your children, you know your pets, watch out for them and you really should tell someone where you are going beforehand. Some species will even play dead, like the hognose snake. And I am clearly not suggesting that you shouldn’t take some time to learn what different types of snakes look (and in the case of rattlesnakes sound) like. What I am also not saying is don’t take extra precautions with children and dogs. What I am saying is not wear headphones and zone out with wildlife around. Rain, snow, and sunshine all year long I really do enjoy getting out on the trails.Īnd in all this time I have never had any real problems with a snake on a trail. Being aware and appropriately cautious while on trails will greatly decrease the odds of any kind of a negative encounter with a snake. I have used the trails in the Spring, the Summer, and the fall (when you will have a much greater chance of seeing one). I have used the trails with larger groups of people.Īnd just to be thorough and clear- I have used the trails in the winter (when you will be hard pressed to see a snake anywhere). Non venomous, these are usually slow moving creatures that will simply crawl away. I have used the trails with a single friend. Pythons, both Carpet and Diamond are often seen on the trails. I have used trails that are really far out there (like going up Arch Dome). I have used trails that are not as popular around Washoe Lakes and above Dayton. I have used the trails that are popular (such as Hunter Creek and Dry Pond). I have also spent a lot of time going off the trails too- but that is perhaps something for another time. That thing is that I have been out on trails in Nevada (and other parts of the world for that matter) a lot. Despite that I can tell you something that I think is valuable (if anecdotal) information. 3:25 PM A jogger filmed the moment she and her husband came across nearly a dozen snakes intertwined on the branches below a popular nature trail in north Georgia. It is also true that I am not any kind of expert concerning snakes. It is true that the venom from a rattlesnake bite is dangerous for children and will really ruin the day of the biggest adult. I am here to tell you that snakes in our area are not necessarily a reason to stay away from trail running. I get asked in the shop about it at least once a week all year long. But I know that many of you have questions about trail running and snakes. If you hurt the snake, and don’t kill it, you have now become the snake’s enemy. They usually ignore me or stay still while I scoot around them, and sometimes they even slither away. Seeing a snake in its natural habitat is a rewarding experience, and if we remove the fear attached to snake sightings, you may just come to enjoy your snake encounters, as if they were kangaroos or koalas.I have never actually been bothered by a rattle snake while out running in the desert… actually, I have never been bothered by any kind of snake while out running in the desert. Like many of our hiking community, if you have a snake fear, or don’t like snakes, they are still important members of our ecosystem. With correct bandaging and post bite care, your time to reach hospital increases to 20 hours! Without bandaging or correct first aid, an envenomated snake bite victim has 20 minutes to get medical attention. Only 100-200 snake bites are venomous per year ( require antivenom) Recent figures show around 550 hospitalisations each year and an average of two deaths. There are around 3,000 snakebites in Australia each year. So, let’s talk about the worst case scenario.
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