Finding a rattlesnake while hiking or camping in one of the terrifying experiences a traveler can have. In spite of their venomous nature, is it feasible to escape rattlesnakes when trekking or camping?
There’s good news: the answer to that question is “yes,” and it’s a lot simpler than you would imagine.
Table of Contents
The Best Ways To Avoid Rattlesnakes While Hiking
In order to keep you safe when hiking, we have come up with some really unique ideas. Let’s discover the best possible ways for avoiding rattlesnakes when hiking.
Continue on the Trail
Staying on the route is the quickest and safest approach to avoid encountering rattlesnakes. In the early morning hours, rattlesnakes emerge from their burrows to take advantage of the sun’s rays. Other than that, rattlesnakes like to hide in shrubs or rocks. In order to avoid being seen by predators, such as feral pigs, kingsnakes, and roadrunners, they hide in the bushes. Avoid rattlesnakes by staying on the route and not tripping over rocks or crawling beneath bushes when out trekking.
Prepare Your Wardrobe Ahead of Time
If you do get bitten, you’ll want to dress in such a way that your clothes and shoes take the brunt of the bite’s force. As a result, long leggings and ankle-covering shoes are required. Because of this, hiking boots that are well-made are ideal. Open-toe shoes, sandals, and Converse should never, ever be worn! Long trousers with reinforced knees and seats are the best option for pants.
Maintain Complete Concentration Throughout
At all times, remain mindful of your surroundings while trekking in an area known to be inhabited by rattlesnakes. Always trek with a companion and on a well-known path if at all feasible. Avoid going into dense vegetation or wooded areas without first inspecting them. Make sure there are no snakes in the vicinity before you take a break. Avoid stepping on rocks or logs to make sure there aren’t any snakes, and never grasp anything you see close since it may be a snake.
Carry a Walking Stick When Hiking
It’s easier to check for snakes if you hike with a stick. You can move anything in front of you out of the way with the stick. Snakes may be detected by shaking the neighboring grass and plants with the stick. Another benefit of this is that it warns snakes in the vicinity that people are around. If such is the case, they will make every effort to crawl away from you.
Be Extra Cautious When Surrounded by Water
Remember that snakes are capable of swimming. In fact, if you see anything that looks like a stick as you walk by the water, even if it’s water in a ditch, it might very well be a snake.
As you can see, the best strategy to avoid seeing a snake when hiking in an area known to contain them is to be a bit more proactive about your approach.
Identifying and Dealing With A Rattlesnake
In the event that you come face-to-face with a rattlesnake or any other sort of poisonous snake, the most important thing you can do is to remain cool and not freak out.
How difficult is that, right? Roughly speaking, rattlesnakes are more terrified of humans than the reverse is true. The only time they’ll bite is if they feel threatened, so you may just walk away and continue on your way even though it should go without saying. Never irritate a snake by taunting it or otherwise provoking it.
As a result, your chances of being bitten will be considerably increased because of its inherent tendency to defend itself. To be safe, you should just move away from the snake and let it go about its own business as well! The majority of persons who are bitten by rattlesnakes when they attempt to touch them are doing it for one of many reasons. Keep your hands well away from the snake at all times. Remove yourself from the snake’s path and do it as quickly as feasible.
Here’s What to Do If You Get Bitten
The best thing to do if you are bitten by a snake is to visit a doctor as soon as possible, no matter how cautious you are. However, what should you do first if you’re in the middle of the woods and want to accomplish anything before you get to the hospital for treatment?
If you’re a frequent hiker, you should already have one of the several over-the-the-counter snake bite kits in your bag. Avoid sucking out your wound’s venom, which may easily enter your bloodstream and inflict serious harm, contrary to popular belief. Follow the instructions in your kit and don’t panic, and if the symptoms are already beginning to develop, try to go to the hospital as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Avoiding rattlesnakes at all costs is the most effective method to ensure that you never get bitten by one, and now that you know how uncommon it is to get bitten or die as a result of a rattlesnake, bite, you should feel a little more confident about your next hiking excursion. However, avoid being overconfident or arrogant. Simply be cautious and use common sense, and you should be okay.
Richard Sam is a 22-year-old Blogger from the USA. He loves traveling and exploring the terrific stuff. His hunting experience began at an early age. He enjoys outsmarting challenges.