by Terri Wiebold

Due to recent sightings of rattlesnakes in Castle Pines North (CPN) neighborhoods, the following information has been compiled by the CPN Master Association and provided by the Colorado Division of Wildlife:

Prevention –

Effective snake control begins with prevention. Make your property an undesirable home for snakes and be prepared for possible encounters. For thousands of years snakes have been an important part of the ecological food chain and should be left alone to fill their niche unless they create a health hazard for people.

Snakes need cool, damp shelters and may take residence under and possibly inside buildings. This behavior may become more noticeable in the fall, when snakes seek areas to hibernate for the winter. Here are a few suggestions for ways to discourage snakes from moving into a yard or home:

1. Eliminate cool, damp areas where snakes hide. Remove brush and rock piles, keep shrubbery away from foundations, and cut tall grass.

2. Control insect and rodent populations (the snakes’ primary food source) to force them to seek areas with a larger food supply. Put grains in tightly sealed containers and clean up residual pet food and debris.

3. In rattlesnake-infested areas, construct a snakeproof fence around the backyard or play area. Use 36-inch high galvanized hardware cloth with a 1/4-inch mesh and bury it 6 inches deep, slanted outward at a 30-degree angle. Make certain the gate fits tightly and swings into the play area. Keep all vegetation away from the fence to prevent snakes from climbing over it.

4. To prevent snakes from entering basements and crawl spaces, seal all openings 1/4 inch or larger with mortar, caulking compound or 1/8-inch hardware cloth. Check for holes or cracks around doors, windows, water pipes, electrical lines, etc.

Preparation –

In areas inhabited by rattlesnakes, wear long, loose pants and calf-high leather boots, or preferably snake guards. Rattlesnakes generally are non aggressive toward people unless they are startled, cornered, or stepped upon. Alert them of your approach by sweeping grassy areas with a long stick before entering. Never jump over logs, turn over rocks, put your hands in rock crevices, or sit down without first carefully checking for snakes. Remember, rattlesnakes do not always shake their rattles before striking, so do not rely solely on your sense of hearing. If confronted by a rattlesnake, remain calm and still at first, then try to back away slowly and carefully.

Sightings –

If a rattlesnake has been startled and is rattling, the first thing to do is stop and hold still, visually locate the snake, let the snake calm down, then move away from it at least ten feet. Next, take a look around just to make sure there are not any others nearby, but stay aware of the original snake’s location and movements. Then work out a safe route around it, and leave. Unless there is some overriding reason to do so, do not mess around with the snake – that is actually how most bites occur.

Identification –

Nonvenomous snakes do not pose any major problems except for possibly frightening people and being a nuisance. Venomous snakes, however, may cause a health hazard by biting people, pets, and livestock, so steps should be taken to exclude, and if necessary, remove them.

The Colorado Herpetological Society has a Web site, (http://webspinners.com/coloherp/), that can be used to identify Colorado snakes.

Bites –

If bitten by a rattlesnake, remain as calm as possible. Venomous snakes do not always release venom when they bite. If venom is present, panic will only increase the heart rate, causing the poison to circulate more quickly throughout your body. Do not try to kill the snake because it may lead to additional bites and delay your arrival at the hospital for professional treatment. For a list of the symptoms and treatments of a snake bite, go to http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/mar/stories/rattlesin.html.

Additional Information –

To learn more about treatment methods or if you have questions about first aid procedures for snake bites, call the Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center at the following numbers:

* Colorado Toll free: 1-800-332-3073

* Denver Metro: 303-739-1123

* Hearing Impaired TTY: 303-739-1127

* National Toll free Number: 1-800-222-1222

Web Sites –

Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, www.coopext.colostate.edu/wildlife

Colorado Herpetological Society, coloherp.org/geo/

Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, www.rmpdc.org

Colorado Division of Wildlife, http://wildlife.state.co.us