MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT (Placerville, California) 03 June 05 Busy time for snake catcher (Sonya Sorich)
When Indiana Jones wondered why it always had to be snakes, he clearly hadn't heard about Humane Rattlesnake Removal Service.
Whether you're forging through the Temple of Doom or simply cleaning your garage, rattlesnake season has arrived, and Mike Meissbach of the removal service is urging El Dorado County residents to proceed with caution.
Promising a maximum half-hour response time, he helps search for and pick up rattlesnakes across the county. In addition to performing safety inspections, the business offers advice and information.
In spite of the fluctuating weather, Meissbach has already received a fairly high volume of calls this season. After removing a rattlesnake from an individual's property, he releases it in a remote, non-populated area.
"I've learned to have their respect and give them their space," Meissbach, whose removal service is fully licensed, said of rattlesnakes.
Having worked with snakes for about 30 years, he emphasizes the importance of reacting appropriately after finding a rattlesnakes on your property.
In this situation, he advises homeowners to make sure everyone - especially pets and children - goes inside. He then recommends keeping an eye on the snake from a distance, or at least getting its general direction.
If a rattlesnake injects venom into the wound, symptoms can include swelling, pain, bleeding at the site, nausea, vomiting, sweating, chills, dizziness, weakness, numbness or tingling of the mouth or tongue and changes in the heart rate and blood pressure, according to the California Poison Control System.
Other symptoms might be excessive salivation, thirst, swollen eyelids, blurred vision, muscle spasms and unconsciousness. Rattlesnake venom also interferes with the ability of the blood to clot properly.
A rattlesnake may strike without injecting venom, but even though the victim is not poisoned, the bite can still become infected. All rattlesnake bites require medical attention in an emergency room.
"Keep the patient calm and get them to the emergency room as soon as possible," Meissbach said.
Meissbach is quick to refute the myth that age makes a difference in the extent to which rattlesnakes are venomous, adding that baby rattlesnakes "just haven't learned to control their venom."
A rattlesnake's venom, Meissbach explained, is contained in its head, so it's important to think twice before burying a rattlesnake in a place easily accessed by children or animals. He urges people in this position to call Humane Rattlesnake Removal Service.
California is the home to several different species of rattlesnakes, including the Western Diamondback.
The California Poison Control System reports that nationwide there are over 800 cases of rattlesnake bites reported annually to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.
For more information, call Humane Rattlesnake Removal Service at 295-5539 or 391-1477.
Busy time for snake catcher