TRI-CITY HERALD (Kennewick, Washington) 25 July 05 Watch out! (Anna King)
Do not go near that rattlesnake. Yeah, that may sound like a "No duh" statement, but Lisa Hallock, a herpetologist for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, said the hot weather will make rattlesnakes more active at night and may draw them to roadways, where they can stay warm.
That, however, can bring the snakes and humans uncomfortably close -- which can be bad for both.
The advice of Hallock, a reptile scientist, is to keep a safe distance from the venomous fellows. And she said it's usually not necessary to kill them.
"If they are in people's yards it's a different situation," she said. "But if you are in their habitat we recommend people try and avoid them."
Mid-Columbia residents might see more snakes in the evenings lately because of the scalding temperatures, she said.
Generally, people shouldn't have anything to worry about because rattlesnakes usually avoid grassy yards, irrigated gardens and most residential areas.
However, if you're in the snakes' home, it's best to be careful.
"Anytime you are in shrub-steppe, you need to be aware that there are snakes there," Hallock said. She said it's a good idea to watch where you're stepping, and if you do hear a snake, stop walking, locate it and back away from it.
Snakes can't strike any distance longer than the length of their body, she said. Usually 3 to 4 feet away or farther is a safe bet.
"They are a dangerous animal, but we have very few deaths in the United States," Hallock said.
Madonna Luers, a spokeswoman with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, said it's not illegal to kill a snake if it's threatening someone, but it is to take the snakes into captivity or to destroy a snake den. She said the best advice is to leave them alone.
Greg Hughes, project leader of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said killing a rattlesnake or any other animal on the Hanford Reach National Monument or other federally protected land is illegal.
He said to his knowledge no one has been bitten on the Reach.
Hughes said during the heat of the day it is best to be careful when approaching cool, shady areas where snakes like to hide.
If a snake is found near a home, Hughes suggested taking a rake or shovel and moving it gently to a new location.
"I don't like killing them," Hughes said. "They are part of the ecosystem and they kill mice and rodents."
Many might consider Hallock slightly nutty, but she often ventures out on a specific mission to find dangerous or rare snakes. Much of her work deals with finding and protecting snake dens, which are rocky areas where snakes huddle together to survive the winter. She's developed a technique of gluing a tiny transmitter to a snake's tail and then tracking it with a hand-held antenna to see where it ends up.
While Hallock goes out looking for snakes, she's qualified. "People should not approach rattlesnakes unless they've had some training," she said.
Watch out!