Rattlesnakes out and about

Lea este artículo en español aquí.

As the days get warmer and daylight hours increase, rattlesnakes can be seen sunning themselves or moving around. The Northern pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus oreganus) is the only rattlesnake found in San Benito County and is a subspecies of the Western rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus). Although there are 18 species of snakes in the county, rattlesnakes are the only venomous one. 

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) says this about seasonal rattlesnake activity:

• Spring and summer: most active at dawn, dusk and night to avoid overheating.
• Fall and winter: inactive and some may go into brumation (a state of dormancy with periods of activity), for several months in rock crevices, rodent burrows, or thick vegetation.

Californiaherps.com states that they are found in rocky hillsides, talus slopes and outcrops, rocky stream courses, rocky areas in grasslands, mixed woodlands, mountainous forests, pinyon juniper, and sagebrush. Adults are 15 to 36 inches long, sometimes up to 48 inches, with 60 inches being the longest. 

Western rattlesnakes prey on birds, lizards, snakes, frogs, insects and small mammals including mice, rats, rabbits, hares and ground squirrels. Adult California Ground Squirrels are immune to rattlesnake venom. Rattlesnake predators include coyotes, eagles, king snakes and roadrunners.

Though local rattlesnakes are dangerous, they are not typically aggressive, according to the website. They usually will not strike without reason. Given space and time to escape to safety, they will. They avoid striking and biting because doing so uses up their valuable supply of venom, which they need to kill and digest their food. 

“They do not need to coil to strike,” the website states. “Young [rattlesnakes] are probably less dangerous than adults as they do not have as much venom. Also, a rattlesnake will inject less venom if it has just preyed and is still rebuilding a venom supply.”

This species is a heavy-bodied pit viper with a thin neck, large triangular head and a rattle on the end of the tail consisting of loose interlocking hollow segments. Pupils are elliptical.

It has two pits that sense heat when hunting warm-blooded prey—one on each side of the front of the head above the mouth. The ground color is variable, matching the environment—olive-green, gray, brown, golden, reddish brown, yellowish or tan. Dark brown or black-blotched markings, usually with dark edges and light borders, mark the back, with corresponding blotches on the sides.

Dorsal blotches mark the front two-thirds of the body, changing to dark bars on the body and dark and light rings on the tail. The underside is pale, sometimes weakly mottled. It usually has a light stripe extending diagonally from behind the eye to the corner of the mouth. Rattlesnakes are born with a bright yellow tail with no rattle—just a single button that does not make a sound. The pattern is brighter on juveniles than on adults.

Gopher snakes can have markings similar to rattlesnakes and will coil in imitation to ward off predators. Below are tips for telling the difference between them. 

Rattlesnakes can lose their rattle, so the absence of a rattle is not always a good indicator. If you find a nest with eggs, it is not a rattlesnake, as the female keeps her fertilized eggs inside her body and gives birth to living young. 

Mating usually occurs in the spring. Litters average from four to 12 young, which are born in August through October. Young are born with one pre-button, which is replaced several days later with a full button when the snake sheds its skin. It develops a new bottom each time it molts, which may happen several times before adulthood. When the snake shakes its tail the interlocking hollow buttons vibrate creating the rattle sound. 

Northern Rattlesnake rattling: 

The University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management program says in the United States, about 1,000 rattlesnake bites are reported annually, although typically fewer than four people die from these bites each year. While seldom fatal, bites can be extremely painful and lead to severe tissue loss and medical trauma. It’s important to never handle rattlesnakes, not even dead ones. 

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital Emergency Room told BenitoLink it has not seen any rattlesnake bites yet this season and the pharmacy said it currently has 22 vials of antivenom and usually dispenses six or seven a year. 

There is a vaccine available for dogs. According to several sites including Great Pet Care the vaccine is made from deactivated western diamondback venom and works by creating antibodies that protect against rattlesnake venom. It does not protect against Mohave rattlesnake venom. 

UC advises the following for bites on humans:

Initial First Aid

• Try to calm the victim.
• Gently wash the area with soap and water.
• Apply a cold, wet cloth over the bite.
• Transport victim to the nearest emergency facility for further treatment.
• Phone ahead to notify the emergency facility that a snakebite victim is being brought in.
• If safe to do so, have someone photograph the snake so that identification can be made to aid in treatment.

What should NOT be done after a rattlesnake bite?

• Don’t apply a tourniquet.
• Don’t pack the bite area in ice.
• Don’t cut the wound with a knife or razor.
• Don’t use your mouth to suck out the venom. 
• Don’t let the victim drink alcohol.
• Don’t use a snakebite kit—they do not work and can cause more damage.

What Can be Done to Prevent a Bite?

• Never go barefoot or wear sandals when walking in areas where you cannot clearly see where you are placing your feet. Always wear hiking boots.
• Always stay on paths. Avoid tall grass, weeds and heavy underbrush where snakes may be present.
• Always look for concealed snakes before picking up rocks, sticks or firewood.
• Always check carefully around stumps or logs before sitting.
• When climbing, always look before putting your hands in a new location. 
• Never grab what appear to be sticks or branches while swimming; rattlesnakes are excellent swimmers.
• Baby rattlesnakes are venomous! They can and do bite. Leave them alone.
• Never hike alone. Always have someone to help in case of an emergency. 
• Never tease a snake to see how far it can strike. You can be several feet from the snake and still be within striking distance.
• Don’t keep rattlesnakes as pets. Many rattlesnake bites occur when people tease or play with their “pet” rattlesnake.
• Teach children to respect snakes and to leave them alone. Curious children who pick up snakes are frequently bitten.
• Always give snakes the right of way.

According to CDFW, outside of San Benito County, there are six other rattlesnake species found in California, some notably more aggressive and more venomous than the western rattlesnake. The two most dangerous species are the Mohave and the western diamondback. 

Rattlesnake Range Maps

California Poison Control

We need your help. Support local, nonprofit news! BenitoLink is a nonprofit news website that reports on San Benito County. Our team is committed to this community and providing essential, accurate information to our fellow residents. Producing local news is expensive, and community support keeps the news flowing. Please consider supporting BenitoLink, San Benito County’s public service nonprofit news.