We are smack dab in the middle of spring, which means that you can expect to see more cherry blossoms, baby birds, and… rattlesnakes?! That’s right, folks; just like every other creature that hibernates through the winter, rattlesnakes are beginning to rear their ugly – err, tails, and you will want to watch your step:
Just as The Byrds sang back in 1965, "To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose, under heaven," which, unfortunately, includes rattlesnake season.
Emerging from their warm and safe dens in early May, rattlesnakes can be found all around the Centennial State, even in open spaces and along popular Front Range hiking trails.
How can you tell the difference between rattlesnakes and their less venomous counterparts? Aside from the rattles on the end of their tails, rattlesnakes have broad triangular heads and narrow necks, one row of scales from the vent to the tip of the tail (versus non-venomous snakes, who possess 2 rows of scales), and vertical and elliptical pupils (versus round pupils).
While rattlesnake bites are considered to be rare, Jefferson County Open Space Visitor Services Manager (and rattlesnake expert) Mary Ann Bonnell told the Denver Post that they can still happen, citing six reported snakebites at Jeffco Open Space Parks from 2015 to 2019.
If you do encounter a rattlesnake and are the victim of its venomous bite, it is essential to remain calm (as panicking may result in both increased heart rate and the venom spreading faster) and to seek medical help immediately.
To prevent snake bites, the Colorado State University Extension Office recommends always being prepared (especially when you are hiking in their habitat) by wearing long and loose-fitting pants with calf-high boots, remaining aware of your surroundings, and never jumping over logs or turning over rocks.
In general, rattlesnakes are not aggressive toward people unless they feel threatened, so remain aware of your surroundings, and you should not encounter any problems.
