THE HERALD (Sierra Vista, Arizona) 29 October 07 Snake handler sheds misconceptions about dangerous serpents (Shar Porier)
Sierra Vista: Nothing would make herpetologist Charles Rau happier than to know that Cochise County residents aren’t just out there randomly killing snakes, even rattlesnakes.
“When you live in an area like this, where there are a number of rattlesnakes, you have to be careful. They all have territories and they traverse those territories,” he said on a bright, sunny day at his home in Sierra Vista where snakes around the house and in the house are a common sight.
Charles Rau places a blacktail rattlesnake into a tube for safe handling Sunday. (Ed Honda•Herald/Review) Rattlesnakes set up a specific home area that is generally around 500 to 600 square meters in size. They don’t hibernate, but do slow way down in the colder months. They also have specific shelters in the home range that they travel between, he explained. In his back yard, he has seen a number of rattlesnakes, mostly the blacktail rattlesnakes that are common in the area.
“The best protection from a potential rattlesnake bite is education and knowledge. Educate yourself, your family and friends, and learn which snakes are harmless species and which are venomous and potentially dangerous,” he says.
Most of the time, there will be little interaction between rattlesnakes and people. They tend to hunt during hours when most people are inactive.
And most snakes fear you as a potential threat and will not want to waste valuable venom on something they can’t eat.
“Many times the rattlesnake will warn you of its presence by rattling its tail. But, this is not true always. Sometimes they won’t make a sound and hope you will not see them and just move on. If you see a rattlesnake, you should slowly back away at least 10 feet and stand motionless. The snake will probably move away from you. If it holds its ground, you back up more or just leave the area. It’ll find a safe exit. It will not chase you,” he emphasized. “If it moves in your direction, it’s probably looking for familiar shelter near you or behind you.”
Getting rid of one in your yard can be just a matter of turning the garden hose on it. The negative encounter will more than likely leave a lasting impression on it, and it will not return.
Rau knows snake behavior, especially rattlesnake behavior. He spent 10 years in the Portal area researching behavior of the blacktail rattlesnake. As part of a team of researchers, he had many experiences in photographing and studying the reptiles up close and personal. Two males even did a courting battle at his feet. They were too busy to notice him, he said.
During the monsoon, rattlesnakes start to hunt for something other than food — the opposite sex. Monsoon time is mating time in the Arizona snake world. The females become impregnated but do not get pregnant. Instead she holds the sperm until spring, and then the cycle of life begins. One other point of note is that the female blacktail does not eat until the following year after she gives birth. Researchers also discovered that mothers tend to be protective of their little venomous brood for the first few days.
Rattlesnakes do not get a new rattle every year. On the contrary, they get a new knob for a rattle every time skin is shed.
Rattlesnakes have a pair of heat sensing pits just below the nostrils that allow the snake to “see” a sort of a three-dimensional infrared image of the warm-blooded prey. After a snake sizes up its prey, it strikes, sinking the two hollow fangs now filled with with a toxin into its intended meal. It may wait for a few minutes until the animal quits moving before moving in to begin its feast. One mouse can last a rattlesnake two or even three months, explained Rau.
Trouble can be encountered when the snake has discovered a way to make mealtime quick and easy. If there is a mouse or rat problem around a home, a rattlesnake can decide to set up a “blind” to catch that little rodent. By detecting traces of rodent scent with flicks of its tongue, the snake can determine a good spot for hunting. It may curl up on a rock, or around a mesquite or just in a pile of dead leaves. Camouflaged, it sits and waits for its prey to come along. Unfortunately, if that’s in your back yard, the pit viper can pose a dangerous situation for a child or a family pet. That’s why it’s so important to be alert when outdoors. If there is a known rodent problem, be aware that a snake can turn a back yard into its diner. Their colors and patterns blend in so well with their surrounding, many times they can be next to impossible to see. Since they are ambush hunters, they tend to coil in a hunting posture with the head ready to strike. They can remain motionless for hours at a time.
“People should not try to kill a snake themselves. They should call animal control or the fire department or call a snake expert. Let them handle it. Even a dead snake can envenomate by reflex bites hours after being killed,” he pointed out. “Statistics show that 65 percent of the rattlesnakes bites that occur were due to the person provoking them in some way.”
Rau is one of those experts to call. He’ll come and take care of the snake. He’ll also train your dog to stay away from them in one trip to the home.
“It’s important to me to teach the dog on its home ground. There’s no distractions. When you put a dog in a strange place with other strange dogs, they tend not to pay full attention,” he said. “That’s why I go to the home.”
He brings one of his rattlesnakes, depending on what type of snake frequents the area. He has a mohave, a Western diamondback and his old buddy Bandit the blacktail rattler. He places the snake in an open wire cage so the dog can see and smell the noisy thing. With the dog leashed, he approaches the cage and the snake tends to start rattling away and gains the dog’s attention. When Rau is sure the dog is totally focused on the snake, he gives the dog one small electric shock through a special collar.
“I really believe that the dog thinks the snake did it,” Rau said. “The dog will stay clear of the cage and I can’t drag them back to the snake.”
Rau advises, “Be alert when going outside at night. During March or April through October, it’s wise to get in the habit of watching where you walk and take a flashlight with you after dark. Always look where you are putting your feet or hands. They will seek the warmth of your asphalt driveway or concrete patio. It’s a good practice to keep shrubs cut back and get rid of wood piles or brush piles. Rodents seek shelter in them, and it will attract snakes. Eliminate any areas where rodents might live.”
Even bird-feeders, ponds and fountains can attract the pit vipers. Some, especially Western diamondbacks, eat birds, and when they catch the scent of those feathered creatures, they will want to visit — frequently.
It can take a snake as long as a week or more to catch its choice of prey.
Of course, one would want the “good” snakes — the kingsnakes and gopher snakes — they eat the rodents, too. That’s why he says it’s important to know the different species.
To keep snakes out of your yard, Rau recommends constructing a four-foot tall concrete block wall that has been sunk at least one foot. Cover drainage holes with screen cloth or hardware cloth. Gates should be snug against the ground.
While there are a number of products on the market that claim to deter snakes, Rau points out that none of them have evidence to support their effectiveness.
“It’s important to remember that snakes are not aggressive by nature, but they will defend themselves if they are threatened. If you carelessly step on one, it will bite you. Any encounter with a rattlesnake has the potential to be dangerous,” he cautioned. “Your knowledge and understanding about rattlesnakes and other reptiles can be invaluable to your family.”
Snake handler sheds misconceptions about dangerous serpents

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