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Experts Provide Safety Tips On Rattlesnakes In Santa Clarita

California Poison Control System (CPCS) is reminding Santa Clarita residents of the dangers of rattlesnakes and providing information on how to stay safe around them, officials said Wednesday.

Now that hot weather is here, rattlesnakes are more likely to be found on hiking trails and sunning in rural areas.

Most rattlesnake bites occur between the months of April and October, according to the CPCS.

Even baby rattlesnakes possess dangerous venom as soon as they hatch. About 300 cases are reported to CPCS annually in California, with additional other cases managed by physicians and hospitals.

However, rattlesnakes are not the only snake that slither around the Santa Clarita Valley.

There are a few ways residents can distinguish a rattlesnake from other snakes that look similar to them such as a gopher snake, according to officials.

A few ways hikers or homeowners could identify a rattlesnake from a gopher snake are rattlesnakes tend to be shorter and have a broader body than a gopher snake.

“The average adult gopher snake measures between 6 and 9 feet long, while (depending on the species) rattlesnakes come in between 3 and 6 feet long,” according to the California Department of fish and wildlife. “However, while the gopher snake is longer, its body is slender and whip-like compared to the rattlesnake’s heavy-bodied, broad appearance.”

Another way to identify a rattlesnake is they have a flat triangular head in comparison to a gopher snake’s narrow, rounded head, according to officials.

“With people staying home because of the COVID-19 virus, there are more eyes on the ground in backyards and hiking trails than in previous years. While the odds of being bitten by a rattlesnake are small, residents can follow precautions outdoors that can minimize the chance of being bitten,” said Dr. Rais Vohra, medical director for the Fresno/Madera Division of CPCS.
He added that children spending more time at home, rather than school, are naturally curious and may look into open pipes, under rocks or kick loose brush and bushes where snakes may lie quietly.

Children need to be carefully supervised outside, especially in wooded and desert areas where snakes tend to live, according to officials with the CPCS.

Some rattlesnake bite prevention tips include:

Wearing boots and long pants when hiking; stay on trails when hiking, away from underbrush and tall weeds; do not touch or disturb a snake, even if it appears dead; carefully inspect logs or rocks before sitting on them; never hike alone in remote areas. Always have someone with you who can assist in an emergency.

Calling for help if alone is not an option, as cellphones do not always work in remote areas.
Teach children to respect snakes and to leave them alone.

For Santa Clarita residents who may come across a rattlesnake are encouraged to slowly walk away from the snake and call 9-1-1.

“Even though it is not an emergency the fire department will come out and remove the snake,” said Cpt. Randy Gee, with the Los Angeles County Fire Department in a previous KHTS article. “But if you do call please keep your eye on the snake until we arrive, so that it is easy for us to locate the snake.”

In the event of a rattlesnake bit, call 9-1-1, according to Fire officials.

“If someone does get bit by a rattlesnake it is very important to call 9-1-1 and remain calm,” Gee said. “As soon as a rattlesnake does bite, use a marker or a pen and circle the area where the bite happened.”

This is a technique paramedics use to determine how fast the venom is traveling, officials said.

“Do not try doing anything to remove the venom such as cutting open the area where you got bit,” added Gee.


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Experts Provide Safety Tips On Rattlesnakes In Santa Clarita

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About Louie Diaz

Louie was born and raised in Santa Clarita. At the age of two Louie lost his vision due to a brain tumor. However, Louie doesn't let blindness stop him from doing what ever it is he wants to accomplish. Growing up some of his favorite hobbies were wood working, fishing and riding bikes. Louie graduated from College of the Canyon in December of 2017, with a Broadcast Journalism degree. Growing up Louie has always wanted to be a fire fighter or a police officer, but because of his blindness Louie knew that wouldn't work. Louie has always loved listening to police and fire radio traffic, using a scanner, and he figured if he was going to listen to the scanner so much, he should do something with it.