John Jacobs
Aug 2, 2023, 9:50:13 AM
Hi, Neighbors-
There have been two recent instances of rattlesnakes found in the yards of residents in our neighborhood- one on Lower Pine Crest, and one on Riv Co Play Road (last weekend). One of the relocation providers in the area says that he has removed nearly 300 this year from the areas of Idyllwild, Pine Cove and Garner Valley.
In light of the fact this is an ongoing issue at certain times of the year, I thought I’d share some basic information about their biology, how to deal with them when they are encountered, and first response medical care. What I have to share comes from 30+ years of teaching a specialized form of emergency medicine oriented to environments where medical care is delayed, some amateur herpetological knowledge I’ve gathered over time, and many, many years of encountering them in the backcountry, as well as in and around Idyllwild.
Biology
Rattlesnakes are Crotalids, a subfamily of Viperadae (vipers)- they are ectothermic (cold-blooded) reptiles, so they don’t have the ability generate their own heat, and manage their core temperature by changing their location over the course of the day. In the mornings, they will often seek sunny locations to warm themselves, then as the day gets hotter, will seek shadier locations- then come back out in the evening hours as the day cools. During very hot days, they can be active during nights, sometimes seeking warm rock, ground or asphalt.
The Viperadae family (‘pit vipers’) includes all species of rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads. Only rattlesnakes are found in the wild in this area of the country- there are numerous species, but the most common in the San Jacinto mountains is the Southern Pacific, with the Speckled rattlesnake occasionally found as well. All pit vipers share common physical characteristics of a triangular shaped head, vertical pupils (yes, if you are close enough to see this, you are likely too close), and the heat sensing organ (‘pit’) just below their eyes/nose- this is a very sensitive organ that allows them to sense prey and the environment around them. They have very poor eyesight, effectively cannot hear at all, and sense the environment around them via this heat-sensing pit, ground vibrations and a sensitive olfactory function in their tongue (which is why they flip it out regularly). Rattlesnakes in particular have a ‘rattle’ that is formed by modified skin cells as the snake ages and sheds their skin, which can occur several times per year (so the number of buttons does not equate to years of life).
Pit vipers have retractable fangs (the only type of snake that does) that flip forward when they bite their prey, and inject the venom into the tissue of the prey. This venom has two general components to it- a neurotoxin, which immobilizes the prey; and a ’tissue toxin’ (hemotoxin), which breaks down the tissue to make digestion easier. (It’s worth noting that this venom is intended for small prey, which is why it is uncommon to be lethal to otherwise healthy adult humans, and the greater concern comes for children or small animals- dogs in particular.) Different species have varying concentrations of the two types of toxins, but all pit vipers have both in their venom. Contrary to common belief, there is very little science that demonstrates that snakes will vary the injection of venom according to whether they ‘believe’ it to be prey or something else- ‘dry bites’ do occur at times (bites with minimal/no envenomation), but the mechanics of the circumstances of how the bite occurred probably plays a strong role (thickness of clothing worn, bite location on the body, how long the snake was able to ‘latch’, etc.). There is no difference in the toxicity of venom in juvenile vs. adult snakes.
Avoidance
Keeping in mind some their basic biology can be helpful in avoidance. During the spring/summer/early fall, keep an eye out for them anytime on a trails in the local area, and especially at the key times of mornings and late afternoons. They are absolutely not interested in seeking out humans- they will avoid us at all possible opportunity! Most bites occur because they are startled, or cornered with no escape route. (Statistically, there are about the same number of bites that occur to the foot/lower leg as there are to the dominant hand & forearm due to people trying to handle the snake- this is documented fact, made more striking that the vast majority of those hand/forearm bites are on males, with alcohol involved…) If you encounter one on a trail somewhere, just walk around it and leave it alone- they won’t chase you. If you are a regular hiker or lived in these mountains for any period of time, you have undoubtedly walked by many of them, without knowing it- they will simply lie still, and let you pass on by. Basically: when you are in terrain where snakes may be present, keep an eye on where you step, and where you reach.
Thicker, durable clothing can reduce the likelihood or severity of envenomation (see this research paper from Loma Linda University), at the very least, long pants made of thicker denim. Those that tromp around in areas with high snake populations (biologists, foresters, hunters) often wear kevlar-constructed chaps or gaiters, available from many retailers. While this specialized clothing is probably excessive for around the home, simply wearing long, thicker pants is helpful when working or hiking in brushy areas where they may be present.
Because our homes lie in the midst of, or immediately adjacent to wild areas, they will sometimes wind up in residential yards. Keeping a property clear of excessive brush, wood piles, etc. reduces habitat and the likelihood of encountering them. Should you encounter one on your property, it’s generally best to not attempt to handle or move it unless you have good skill and experience. Killing is a common tactic, but also takes some skill- bites have occurred when this isn’t done carefully, and there is still the dead snake that has to be dealt with, which can be dangerous even after they are dead. (While I’m generally not a fan of killing them, there may be some locations where this is the best strategy, such as when they are found in the midst of a large camp where lots of people or kids congregate.) Relocation is also an option, but should be done by someone who is familiar with ideal relocation sites, and to improve the likelihood the snake will survive in the new site. (This is generally my preferred strategy.) There are several sources here in Idyllwild that will capture and relocate rattlesnakes:
Karin and Richard Greenwood
($40 relocation fee)
951-973-8651
951-961-6956
Tracy Phillipi
($50 relocation fee)
951-795-6093
These folks have a longtime history in Idyllwild, and are quite skilled at humane capture and proper relocation.
First Response medical care
The bottom line is that someone who is bitten and envenomated will require antivenin- more on this in a moment- but there are several things that can be done that are useful as supportive care. For starters, secure the safety of the scene, and obviously make sure the snake is no longer a threat to anyone. Envenomations will result in very dramatic discoloration and swelling- if the person has any kind of restricting articles on the limb that is affected (rings, jewelry, etc), remove it immediately- the swelling that can follow can be very dangerous simply because circulation can’t get past the constricting article. It is ideal to keep the personal relatively calm with minimal movement, as movement can spread the venom a bit faster- if possible, bring a vehicle to the person. Splinting/limiting mobility of the affected limb may be helpful (but monitor that it isn’t too tight). Keeping track of the swelling as it progresses is useful to the toxicologist who will administer antivenin- mark a line on the limb as to the extent of the swelling, or take regular photos with your phone.
No doubt the person will be in pain, and quite frightened- reassure them as much as possible, keeping them relatively calm. Know that the likelihood of death is extremely low- as a statistical example, according to the American Academy of Poison Control Centers, in 2004 there were about 2900 venomous snake bites in the US hospital system. In this particular year, there was a single fatality- and these statistics are fairly consistent from year to year, with a similar number of total bites, and typically between 0-5 fatalities. (For comparison, there were 43 lightning-related fatalities in that same year…) One of the more likely possibilities is longterm tissue damage due to tissue destruction from the hemotoxin. Neurologic effects are less common (esp. with the species of rattlesnakes in the San Jacinto mountains), but may present with some disorientation or weakness- in rare cases, it can depress respiratory drive, requiring ‘rescue breathing’ until the patient receives full treatment.
Things you should NOT do: No cutting or suction of any kind- it’s completely ineffective, and potentially dangerous- none of the mechanical devices you may have seen have any usefulness to them. No tourniquets or constriction bands- they won’t significantly reduce the movement of venom, and place the entire limb at risk because of lack of circulation. Ice has no value in slowing the spread of venom, and can be harmful if overused. Very simply, you need to get the person to a hospital that is skilled with the use of antivenin. (Do NOT capture/kill the snake and bring it to the hospital- it is not necessary for treatment, and creates risk to others.) You will probably want to initiate this by calling 9-1-1, but there can be circumstances where transporting the person yourself may be desirable, or meeting an ambulance at some location enroute to the hospital- if you choose to transport them yourself, contact the receiving hospital and let them know you are enroute. They need to get to that facility quickly, but *safely*.
Not every hospital will have antivenin- it’s not available at any of the clinics or fire department in Idyllwild, as it is complicated to use and requires strong expertise. Eisenhower Hospital in Palm Springs is a good choice, but probably the best choice is Loma Linda University Hospital- they are a world-renowned research hospital in this type of toxicology. There is a very strong likelihood that any patient from Idyllwild will eventually be referred to, or transported to Loma Linda for this type of care.
I won’t go into too much technical depth on antivenin, except to say it has much improved over the years, and has far fewer complications than earlier versions (though typical treatment costs are very, very high). A skilled hospital will make good decisions on how best to use that antivenin (or whether to use it at all, in some cases). The antivenin that is used is the same for all types of rattlesnakes (and pit vipers, in general)- a key reason why bringing the snake in for identification is *not necessary*.
Because of their much smaller size, the risk of fatality to dogs is quite high. Avoidance is probably the best strategy, keeping dogs leashed while on any trails (there ave been several dog bites in the Idyllwild area over the years, and a dog fatality in County Park a few years ago related to an unleashed dog on the trails). There is a ‘vaccination’ available for dogs, but it isn’t a *true* vaccination- in some cases, it has been found to lessen the effects of the venom, but is not consistent. Aside from keeping them leashed, one of the better options is ‘Snake Aversion Training’- this trains the dog to simply avoid the snakes altogether. There is a program called ‘Natural Solutions’ that has provided this training in the Idyllwild area at least once a year, however they provide these trainings regularly across Southern California. (More information can be found at the link above.)
If your dog is bitten, you will need to find immediate veterinary care- the ability of veterinary doctors to provide rattlesnake antivenin therapy can vary (and their hours are usually limited), so if such an emergency occurs during business hours and you prefer your regular vet, you may choose to start there. (It is a very good idea to know this *before* an emergency!) The following veterinary hospitals are the closest 24 hour emergency vets to Idyllwild that have the ability to provide rattlesnake antivenin therapy:
VCA Murrieta
951-600-9803
39809 Avenida Acacias Ste. E
Murrieta, CA 92563
Emergency Pet Clinic
951-695-5044
27443 Jefferson Ave.
Temecula, CA. 92590
Hopefully this information is useful, though it is worth keeping this hazard in perspective- rattlesnakes have been in this area much longer than we have, and for all of the encounters that occur with them in our yards or on the trails, bites are very uncommon (let alone fatalities). During ‘snake season’, keeping an eye out for them will go a long way towards avoiding any kind of emergency.
_________________________________
John Jacobs
Pine Crest – Riverside County Playground Rd. Neighborhood Watch
Idyllwild, California 92549
888-522-9001
www.pinecrestwatch.org
buckhorncamp214
Aug 2, 2023, 9:59:02 AM
Thank you for this information!
Mission: To maintain a safe space to build sacred community.
furpeople54
Aug 2, 2023, 11:17:10 AM
Great information John. Thanks!
Reverence for all life…
1mtn.tomboy
Aug 2, 2023, 1:48:23 PM
What an informative article!! Wow!! Thank you for your knowledge. Dave H. has current, cool picture of nature. Rattlesnake included. Thanks John. Had a baby in yard, last year. Be safe, everyone . Hard to spot.
grams…@
Aug 2, 2023, 2:33:40 PM
Pics for visual reference.
This was from last year. He/she? was relocated out and away from town and people.
kellyvisel
Aug 2, 2023, 2:44:57 PM
We haven’t spotted a rattlesnake at our house in many years, but I will definitely be on high alert now. Thanks for the relocation resources, John. Ed Huddleston also does snake catch & release, not sure about his rates though; 659-4714 or through Facebook DM to Elaine Huddleston.
tracyphilippi
Aug 2, 2023, 9:38:58 PM
brownbooher
Aug 2, 2023, 9:41:06 PM
This email is super helpful, thank you John!