In recent years, doctors have noticed a troubling pattern: more patients are arriving in emergency rooms with snake bites. Some hospitals surpassed last year’s totals before summer even ended, and poison control centers confirm the trend with steady calls from people bitten in their yards, driveways, and gardens. The surge has everyone paying close attention this Fall, especially since it is leaf peeping season in many areas, and hunting season is also in full swing.

Rattlesnakes are most commonly encountered from early spring through late fall, and then they are presumed to hibernate. A steady temperature drop does signal a snake to enter brumation, similar to hibernation, but  as long as warmer temps prevail, as it seems to be doing this year in many regions, copperheads, cottonmouths, and rattlesnakes are still out and about. 

Brumation is an extreme slowing down of a snake’s metabolism. Rattlesnakes are awake, but just very lethargic so you don't see them moving around. Snakes are more reactive to consistently cold weather, rather than a change of seasons. Rattlesnakes are even known to move around during extended warm periods during the dead of winter, especially if they hole up in a stump or other location that can be warmed easily by sunshine. Many states are having a warm and wet autumn season, which increases the food supply (small mammals) for pit vipers that have heat-sensitive pits in front of each eye to help locate prey.

Snakes become sluggish anywhere below 60 degrees° F, so it’s better to be safe than sorry and wear snake gaiters (lower leg protection) when raking leaves, stacking firewood, hunting, or hiking. On warmer days in late Fall, brumating rattlesnakes sometimes come out of their dens to bask in the sunshine. Nice sunny days that follow a long cold snap are often when people are surprised by rattlers. Just like humans, snakes head out to enjoy the sun and unsuspecting humans can startle them and cause them to strike.

The unmistakable sound of a rattlesnake’s tail is one of the most feared warnings, but that sound could actually help prevent a bite. But do not count on it. Remember that most rattlesnakes don’t rattle to begin with. “In the wild, they rarely rattle,” experts say. “The majority of rattlesnake encounters that a person’s going to have out there are going to be ones that they never even know about.” Never assume a rattlesnake will rattle before striking.

It’s interesting to know that venom glands for a snake are in the head, and they inject venom through fangs that act like a hypodermic needle. When a snake bites, it compress the muscles over the glands that funnels the venom down the fang. This is why the viper species of snakes have a big triangular head. They have that very beefy triangular head and that’s because of those big venom glands that are on the side of the head towards the back.

There are about 20 species of rattlesnakes found in nearly all parts of the U.S. except for Alaska and Hawaii. They can be found in all sorts of different terrain, from river bottoms to mountain elevations of 8,000 feet or more. They particularly like hiding under logs, inside rock crevices, or in vegetation along trails.  If you are bitten, seek medical attention immediately, say the experts. If you can, call 911 to come get you.

Rattlesnakes are most commonly encountered from spring through October, and then they are presumed to hibernate. But that's not exactly true, depending on where you live. Snakes are more reactive to consistently cold weather, rather than a change of seasons. Rattlesnakes are even known to move around during extended warm periods during winter months, especially if they hole up in a stump or other location that can be warmed easily by sunshine. Snakes become sluggish anywhere below 60 degrees° F, so as long as warmer temps prevail, as it seems to be doing this Fall, please be diligent and wear snake gaiters (lower leg protection) when outside raking leaves, stacking firewood , hunting, or hiking.  A steady temperature drop is a signal for the snake to enter brumation (similar to hibernation), but that’s not nessarily  happening yet.

Snakes do not actually hibernate, rather they become less active during cold weather. It is called "brumation."  Brumation is an extreme slowing down of their metabolism. Snakes are awake, but just very lethargic so you don't see them moving around. In late Autumn, snakes move back to the previous year’s den. If a sudden cold snap catches them before they get there, they may die if not fortunate enough to  find a suitable secondary den. They usually do not stay long at the den entrance, but hurry in for the long winter sleep. A number of species may share the same den. For example, black rat snakes, timber rattlesnakes and copperheads commonly den together. Sometimes there will be as many as 100 snakes in one cave. A group site is called a hibernaculum.

Cold-blooded animals like snakes, fish, frogs, and turtles need to spend the winter inactive, or dormant,  because they have no way to keep warm. Snakes will crawl into any area free from frost such as caves, hollow logs, holes under trees and stumps, under wood piles, in other animal's burrows, and occasionally in a person's basement, barn, or outbuilding. Snakes will increase their intake of food before brumation occurs, if they can.  Not all snakes will survive brumation. A skinny snake will not survive. If the snake feeds heavily before they hibernate, and have digested their meal before the cooling starts, they will be OK.  If food is in their stomach or intestines when they cool, it will rot and kill them. Vipers can also brumate during normal conditions, due to a loss of food, but normally when they become dormant it corresponds with extreme temperature changes.

On warmer days in late October and November, early spring, or even during winters, brumating rattlesnakes sometimes come out of their dens to bask in the sunshine. Nice sunny days that follow a long cold snap are often when people are surprised by rattlers. Just like humans, snakes head out to enjoy the sun and unsuspecting hikers can startle them and cause them to strike. Generally, rattlesnakes emerge from their pseudo-hibernation in March or April, or when the average daytime temperatures reach and remain about 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius) and higher.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 7,000 to 8,000 people get bitten by venomous snakes each year in the USA (mostly by the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Western Pygmy Rattlesnake, Timber Rattlesnake, Cottonmouth, Copperhead, and Coral snake), resulting in 8 to 15 deaths. That number is reason enough to always wear  snake gaiters when in the desert or the woods. If you do, you won't have to worry so much about the temperature or the season.

For the average person, chances of a potentially dangerous snake encounter are small. But those of us who hunt, fish, hike and work in the outdoors, are at greater risk because many of the areas we frequent are prime snake habitat. Serpents are shy by nature and do their best to avoid humans, but an unnerving close call with a  snake can happen when you least expect it, no matter how experienced you are in the outdoors or how often you are out there. Whether you’re bow hunting, shed hunting, stalking big game, or turkey hunting in a southern swamp or the Texas brush country, you might stumble across a venomous snake, so be prepared. According to herpetologists, there are  four groups of venomous snakes in the United States: rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths/water moccasins and coral snakes.

About 30 species of rattlesnakes inhabit a variety of environments across the U.S. In the eastern half of the country, the timber rattler thrives on rocky ridges and mountain sides from 1,000 to 3,000 feet in elevation. Further south, the timber snake, along with its close relative the eastern diamondback, are at home in swamps and thick, mixed forests. Five different species of western rattlers live in diverse habitats from sea level to 9,000 feet–from the desert to rocky hillsides and canyons, on grassy coastal plains and in conifer forests.
 

Copperheads are the most numerous and most frequently encountered venomous snake, and have bitten more people in the United States than any other pit viper. Copperheads range from southern New England, south to the southeastern U.S. and west through the Ozarks and into Texas.  Their young are hatched between August and mid-September, which is prime time for humans to trek into their their territory.

Cottonmouths are also pit vipers and range roughly from the Carolinas west to Oklahoma and south to Florida and Texas.

Smallest but deadliest of North America’s venomous snakes are two species of coral snake, which belong to the same family as cobras, sea snakes and mambas. Coral snakes are often confused with non-venomous king snakes due to their similar colored band patterns. You can easily distinguish the two if you remember the phrase: “Red touches yellow, kill a fellow. Red touches black, friend to Jack.”  There really is some truth to that rhyme.

KNOW WHERE SNAKES LIVE

Wherever you roam, know where rattlesnakes live and especially remember the word “rocks.” Prominent rocky ridges marked with crevices, ledges, and shady dens are all great hiding spots for snakes. Keep an eye peeled as you traverse rocky habitat. If you’re turkey hunting, always check the ground near your setup tree and inside your ground blind before sitting down to call a gobbler. Check the brush at the base of a tree with a stick. Probe the brush with your pole or shooting stick before reaching too close. Many times hunters don’t follow the beaten path that hikers take. When off-trail, avoid thick brush in the woods where a snake might be hiding.  The rattlesnake is an ambush predator that hides and coils beside logs and rocks. When you walk up to a fallen tree or large stone, step up on it rather than over it, as there could be a snake lurking on the other side. After ankles and legs, most snake bites occur on hands and arms, so never put your hands in spots where you can’t see what might be hiding there. If you come upon a steep stretch of trail that requires scrambling up and over rocks, check each ledge or crevice.

If you ever hear a rattle or see a snake, back slowly away with no sudden movements. Hold your trekking pole or stick between you and the snake, if you have one. If it lunges, it will go for the pole rather than you. Keep in mind sometimes they rattle, sometimes not, you never know. Beware of silent slitherers! When you are safely away, calm down, catch your breath, make a big detour around the snake and mosey on to enjoy your hike or hunt.

WHAT TO DO IF BITTEN BY A SNAKE

If you are bitten, the Mayo Clinic advises:

• Call 911 immediately or get yourself to a hospital as quickly as possible.
• While waiting for medical help, stay calm and position the body so that the bite is at or below heart level.
• Remove jewelry or tight clothing before swelling starts.
• DO NOT apply ice or a tourniquet on or near the bite.
• DO NOT cut the wound or attempt to suck out the venom.
• DO NOT drink caffeine or alcohol, which could speed the body's absorption of venom.

PREVENT SNAKE BITE

Just like you learn in the Scouts, preparation and prevention are key. Always wear long pants and snake chaps or snake gaiters with thick footwear that fangs cannot penetrate. Knee-high snake proof boots are a good alternative to wearing gaiters if you prefer.  We have all heard the basic hunter safety lessons thousands of times and unfortunately, over time we can become complacent. When this happens, the chances of an accident can drastically increase. Safety should always come first, so take time to review not only firearm safety, but basic first aid and these tips on snake bite prevention as well. And please pass your knowledge down to new hunters.