It’s finally starting to cool off in the Southwest. 105 degree days are now replaced with 90, and the evenings are drying up and cooling off. Soon, we will be in our fourth season, fall (some might not know this, but the Sonoran desert really has five distinct seasons; spring, summer, monsoon, fall and winter).
As our temps start to fall and the rain stops falling, certain animals will start preparing to hibernate. One such creature is the Rattlesnake. They will be trying desperatly to fill their bellies to capacity, and prepare for their long hibernation. These reptiles will be especially active during the evening and into the night as they hunt rabbits, rodents and small antelope squirles. So watch out!
Rattlesnakes can only strike if coiled up, and can usually strike about 2/3 of their body length, which means an adult snake about 5 ft. long will be able to strike just under 3 ft.. Most of the time the snake will be trying to ‘flee’ from you as they percive us as a threat, but they do sometimes coil and rattle their tails as a warning. If they do this, and you still can’t stay a few feet away from the snake, then I question who is to blame?
A few things you can do to avoid any unpleasent encounters are rather easy: 1. Don’t try and handle any snakes you see, 2. Don’t stick your hands where you can’t see then like in bushes or holes, 3. Look where you feet are going and see whats on the other side of a rock or tree before you blindly place your foot there, and 4. Don’t try and handle any snake you see.
Just be on the lookout and you’ll be fine. Let the snakes be.
Happy Trails.
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