Rattlesnake Season!

Pacific Vista Landscape Services has eradicated up to 20 rattlesnakes from communities in

Santa Clarita in one year. This year will be one of the worst snake seasons on record experts are predicting thanks to the heavy rains of a few years ago. The snakes are waking up from hibernation and baby snakes are hatching. There are about 300 snakebite cases in California each year. Most bites in California happen between April and October, and they can be fatal.

Do's and don’ts in snake country:                                                      

**Never go barefoot or wear sandals when walking through wild areas. Wear hiking boots.

**When hiking, stick to well-used trails and wear over-the-ankle boots and loose-fitting long pants. Avoid tall grass, weeds and heavy underbrush where snakes may hide during the day.

**Do not step or put your hands where you cannot see, and avoid wandering around in the dark. Step ON logs and rocks, never over them, and be especially careful when climbing rocks or gathering firewood. Check out stumps or logs before sitting down, and shake out sleeping bags before use.

**Be careful when stepping over the doorstep as well. Snakes like to crawl along the edge of buildings where they are protected on one side.

**Never hike alone. Always have someone with you who can assist in an emergency.

**Do not handle a freshly killed snake, it can still inject venom.

**Teach children early to respect snakes and to leave them alone. Children are naturally curious and will pick up snakes.

Keeping snakes out of the yard:

The best protection against rattlesnakes in the yard is a “rattlesnake proof” fence. It can be expensive and requires maintenance, however. The fence should either be solid or with mesh no larger than one-quarter inch. It should be at least three feet high with the bottom buried a few inches in the ground. Slanting your snake fence outward about a 30-degree angle will help. Discourage snakes by removing piles of boards or rocks around the home. Use caution when removing those piles - there may already be a snake there.

What to do in the event of a snake bite:

Though uncommon, rattlesnake bites do occur, so have a plan in place for responding to any situation. Carry a portable phone, hike with a companion who can assist in an emergency, and make sure that family or friends know where you are going and when you will be checking in. The first thing to do if bitten is to stay calm. Generally, the most serious effect of a rattlesnake bite to an adult is local tissue damage which needs to be treated. Children, because they are smaller, are in more danger if they are bitten. Get to a doctor as soon as possible, but stay calm. Frenetic, high-speed driving places the victim at greater risk of an accident and increased heart rate. If the doctor is more than 30 minutes away, keep the bite below the heart, and then try to get to the doctor as quickly as possible.

The California Poison Control Center advises:  CALL 911

·       Stay calm

·       Wash the bite area gently with soap and water

·       Remove watches, rings, etc, which may constrict swelling

·       Immobilize the affected area

·       Transport safely to the nearest medical facility

For more first aid information please visit:   California Poison Control.