Wildlife officials are urging Southern California residents to take extra precautions when they’re outside, as some rattlesnakes are out early.
“Normally, what we see is the seasonal temperatures warming up more towards the month of April, but the warm-up came early this year,” Court Klopping, a spokesperson for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, told KNX News’ Karen Adams. “When the temperatures warm up, a lot of animals come out, and we see increased activity.”
Klopping said when you’re hiking on trails, wear pants and sturdy boots, and avoid tall grassy areas.
“Check rocks, stumps, or logs before you're sitting down because snakes will use those as a form of shelter, so they'll be underneath them,” he said.
He also urges people to shake out sleeping bags and avoid grabbing sticks in the water, as rattlesnakes can swim.
If you do get bit, Klopping said, do not panic.
“Stay calm because increasing your heart rate could be problematic, but you do want to act quickly,” he said. “You're going to want to remove items that are going to constrict with swelling, so like watches, rings, potentially shoes could be an issue as well. “
As for pets, keep them on a leash and consider getting them the rattlesnake vaccine, which will buy them some time while you rush them to the vet.
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