EL PASO TIMES (Texas) 19 June 08 Rattlesnake meet-ups grow more likely (Aileen B. Flores )
El Paso Animal Control Services officials are predicting more close encounters with rattlesnakes this summer.
Unusually hot weather, the lack of rain and housing construction in outlying areas of the city could increase residents' chances of running into a rattlesnake in the backyard, said Hugo Navarro, an Animal Control Services supervisor.
Animal Control has responded to 40 snake reports this year, compared with 23 in the same period last year.
"About 60 percent are rattlesnakes reports, at least 30 percent are other type of snakes from the region, and 10 percent are exotic snakes," Navarro said.
He said a lot of people confuse rattlesnakes with bullsnakes, which are not harmful.
In 2007, at least four rattlesnake bite reports were filed at El Paso Animal Control Services. No snake bites have been reported so far this year in El Paso, said Karla Alvarado, health education specialist with Animal Control Services. However, one death from a rattlesnake bite has been reported by the West Texas Regional Poison Center, which encompasses about 30 counties in Texas, including El Paso.
Gilbert Parra, a specialist in poisoning information at the West Texas center in El Paso, said at least 25 percent of rattlesnake bites do not contain deadly venom. However, he said, rattlesnakes "are dangerous creatures and a bite can cause severe consequences."
According to the West Texas Regional Poison Center, an average of 51 rattlesnake bites are reported every year. Last year, however, 76 cases were registered by the West Texas center.
Many rattlesnake bites can be avoided if people use common sense, Parra said.
"To keep awake is the number one rattlesnake bite prevention," he said.
John Kiseda, animal curator at the El Paso Zoo, said he discourages people from wearing earphones or covering their ears while walking or running in the street and recommends that they pay attention where they step.
He said it is wise to use a walking stick when hiking and to always look for concealed snakes before picking up rocks.
Because rattlesnakes are also found at high altitude, people should always look before putting their hands in a new location when climbing, he said.
If a person is bitten, the best thing to do is to calm the victim, call 911 or take the person to the nearest hospital or clinic for treatment, said Parra.
According to Kiseda, the most common rattlesnake in the El Paso region is the black-tailed and the Western diamondback, one of the world's largest and most dangerous snakes.
Rattlesnake meet-ups grow more likely

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