In the News: Tails of Marin
Don't misssss thissss: What to do when you see a rattlesnake
By David Herlocker
Of the eleven species of snakes found in Marin County, perhaps none gets as much attention as the rattlesnake. I have been hiking the trails of Marin for many years (looking for snakes with nearly every step) and I can probably still remember every rattlesnake I have seen here. I don’t think I am unique in this regard; nearly everybody can usually tell you when and where they saw their last wild rattlesnake. Part of the explanation may lie in our own evolutionary history: recognizing venomous snakes may be deeply rooted; our reaction to rattlesnakes might be linked to some genetic memory that triggers a special response deep in our psyche, such as: last time I was here I saw a rattlesnake; I should watch where I step! To take this line of reasoning a step further, humans probably evolved in an environment where there were many dangerous snakes, so a general avoidance of snakes led to survival, and this trait was passed along to future generations. So even though a generalized snake aversion seems irrational (particularly in a place where most snakes are harmless) there may be a rational explanation for snake phobia.
So, what should we do when we do see a rattler?
Most of the time, we can just walk around the snake. The snake is happy to continue whatever it is doing, and we can pass without even eliciting a reaction. The most likely reaction on the part of the snake is to simply sit and let you pass. The next most likely reaction is that the snake will slowly retreat to a safer hiding place. But these reactions are not particularly memorable, so the stories that form our impression of these serpents usually involve rattling, striking, and perhaps a daring dispatch of the deadly creature by some brave person. In fact, it is often the attempt to kill (or chase off) the snake that puts people at risk; the animal is cornered and then approached – what a good formula for getting bitten!
What we must remember when we consider our relationship to these snakes is that the bite that we fear is really a last resort for the snake – the snake only bites if it feels threatened, and in most cases, rattlesnakes will signal a warning before striking (the most notable exception to this is the snake that gets stepped on and bites reflexively, so remember, watch your step when you are in prime rattlesnake habitat). Another important thing to remember is that the venomous bite is not primarily a defensive trait, but a means of securing food. Unless you are the size of a typical rodent, the snake has no real interest in biting you, and will only do so if it finds itself in a life threatening situation.
Those of us that spend our time outdoors with our dogs must consider the following: while dogs also seem to have an innate caution about snakes, our typical domestic pet is also capable of ignoring these primal warnings. Some dogs just can’t avoid moving in for a good sniff of the novel new treat; this sometimes means a bite to the muzzle. If this happens, you should make an effort to get the dog to the nearest veterinarian’s office immediately. If you regularly walk a dog in rattlesnake country, you should know in advance if the nearest vet has the right serum on hand.
Of course, there are many more fascinating things about rattlesnakes that don’t involve the prospect of getting bitten: how did the elaborate venom delivery system evolve, and why? Why does this one group of snakes have a rattle? What is the natural history of a typical Marin rattlesnake? What are modern biologists learning about rattlesnakes that not only refutes the mythology surrounding these snakes, but also challenges some of the “scientific facts” that have been repeated for decades? If you want to learn much more about rattlesnakes, please join me for a FREE workshop at the Marin Humane Society on Wednesday, May 28 at 7pm.
David Herlocker is a Marin County Open Space Naturalist. For more information, call 883-4621 or visit MarinHumaneSociety.org.
