Rattlesnake Ramblings from Arizonaheat

Trishness · Posted: 4/5/2004, 8:13 pm Post subject:

Something tells me that don't go back into hibernation but probably hang out in warmer/semi-sunny areas(like the middle of the trails)

After my encounter with 2 rattlesnakes on the Terrapin last Tuesday (and then two other snakes on the Dutchman and Peralta)...I'll be on the lookout in the future!

Trish
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~~~Trish~~~

"Eastward the dawn rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and vanished out of eyesight into guess; it was no more than a glimmer blending with the hem of the sky, but it spoke to them, out of the memory and old tales, of the high and distant mountains." ï¿½ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of The Rings.

GTG · Posted: 4/5/2004, 10:32 pm Post subject:

sam_hikes · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 383

TV report the other nite said 13 bits already and profiled 1 guy who spent 3 days in ICU who got bit on the finger. Said it burned really bad and swelled up to the size of a softball. Some pretty serious stuff if they keep you in ICU for 3 days--no mention how many days outside of ICU.

They didn't exactly say but I believe this guy was being stupid when bit.

Davis2001R6 · Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy

I saw my 1st rattlesnake on the trial today. It was on Squaw Peak about 200 feet from the trailhead. My cousin actually saw/heard it first. Good job for a Chicagoan. It sounded more like a cat hissing than it did a rattle, or at least we thought so.

grrlscout · Posted: 5/3/2004, 3:08 pm Post subject:

Hello all. First post here, so please pardon any faux pas.

Pretty much everything was covered. I just wanted to add a couple of things.

- Generally a crew has to be on scene for helicopter ops in order to create a landing zone.

- If it will be a while before you can get medical attention. You should keep the patient still and calm, and if possible the affected area slightly below the heart.

You can also put a restricting band between the bite site and the heart. It should be tight enough to slow the spread of venom, but not so tight as to cut off all circulation. Once it's on, leave it on until medical intervention is available.

Generally, the idea is to slow down the spread of the venom. So you don't want the victim panicking, running around, and just plain freaking out, as that would get his or her heart rate elevated, and the blood carrying the poison spreading all the faster.

- I'm told the area with the densest snake population in AZ is around Montezuma Well. On average, at any given moment, there's a snake within 2 feet of you.

Oh, one more thing! Friday I was fooling around at this site called eNature.com . It's by the National Wildlife Federation. You can put in your zip and it produces photos and info on all the critters and plants in your area. -- they're called ZipGuides.

Arizonaheat · Posted: 5/3/2004, 3:54 pm Post subject:

Welcome grrlscout.

Great link, thanks for sharing it

http://www.enature.com/

Daddee · Posted: 5/3/2004, 4:01 pm Post subject:

CatValet · Posted: 5/3/2004, 5:49 pm Post subject:

"He does not recommend the experience to anyone."

Understatement of the year Daddee.... Shocked

Shawn · Posted: 5/3/2004, 9:32 pm Post subject:

A fellow at work was bitten so we got to learn more than we wanted to know about the ordeal. I knew it was an unpleasant experience, but what grossed me out was what you mention about the flesh dying. He waited in the hospital for a few days to see how much of his finger was going to die, so they could cut it out before he went home.

Yuck!
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

Belinda · Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Tempe, AZ

Personally I think rattlesnakes are beautiful and it is a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to fear them.

That said, if you accidentally step on one all of the information below applies.

But I have met at least 30 rattlesnakes while backpacking and have never been bitten by one (nor do I know of anyone who has been bitten by one, despite trodding Thousands of miles in Arizona's backcountry) so I wonder how can this happen???

Please be aware and remember we are trodding on Their territory when we enter the backcountry and it is vital we respect these creatures and their natural habitat.

Peace

Davis2001R6 · Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy

So I saw a rattle coming down off of Camelback tonight, but can't seem to find out what kind it was.

It was red/brownish/maroon in color with tan stripes going around it. I looked at the www.reptilesofaz.com website but couldn't seem to see anything even close to it.

It was definitely a rattler though, gave a good warning to us, Emma wasn't even phased by the sound of it though. Might just need to get her snake trained yet.

mike · What box? Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 3134

Stripes, eh? My money is on the tiger rattlesnake. See if any of these look close:

http://www.arizonensis.org/sonoran/fieldguide/vertibrata/crotalus_tigris.html

http://www.enature.com/flashcard/show_flash_card.asp?recordNumber=AR0202

http://www.wildnaturephotos.com/WNP/Sets/RattlesnakeID/html/snake_c.htm
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Suz · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 3186

While I wasn't on THAT trail to see it---- I think you nailed it Mike....that matches his description perfectly. Pretty little thang.

Tracy, Diane and I had our own snake encounter coming down Echo. Thankfully, we were able to protect several other hikers with our quick thinking. Rolling Eyes

Davis2001R6 · Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy

Yeah Mike I think you nailed it. It was a little guy so I bet his colors will still be changing, but between the 1st and 2nd link there that would be him. Definitely had a loud rattle on him thankfully!