Life in the Wood River Valley comes with the assumption that wild animals will wander through the backyard and that we will go wandering through theirs. However, a recent e-mail sent by Alan Rickers, reptile enthusiast, made some locals start questioning how far from the safety of their homes they dare to venture.
The e-mail contained four photos of a rattlesnake den west of Hailey, showing a mob of rattlers piled on top of each other in a small rocky outcrop. Although the e-mail was only intended for a friend to see, it went “viral” as Rickers described it, and was forwarded from resident to resident.
Comments on the e-mail conveyed fear triggered by the images. The photos could be shocking for those who do not know much about the snakes, but Frank Lundberg, wildlife educator and president of Reptile Conservation Resources, said the mass of snakes should not be concerning.
Lundberg explained rattlesnakes return to the same den each year to hibernate for the winter. When the weather warms up enough, they begin to appear outside of the den in groups but then will disperse for the summer season.
Rickers has been watching the den for about five years, and said the rattlers have just begun to come out with the increase in temperature. He said they usually come out near Memorial Day, but this year it was still too cold.
Despite the threat a sudden abundance of waking rattlesnakes may seem to hold, Lundberg said rattlesnakes try to avoid people as much as possible.
“They really just want to be left alone,” Lundberg said. Unless a snake is provoked or surprised, it will avoid confrontation and usually will not strike he said.
EMT Captains Tom Ancona of the Ketchum Fire Department and Ron Taylor of Wood River Fire and Rescue said they had never received any calls about rattlesnake bites in the area as long as they have been working. Ancona has worked in the area for 25 years and Taylor for 11.
The lack of incidents does not mean rattlesnakes cannot pose a threat, but demonstrates biting is a last-resort defense, opposed to routine.
Rickers acknowledges that people, especially those with pets, should be aware of the snakes and how best to handle an encounter.
If you see a rattlesnake, do not make sudden movements, but slowly move away and either go around it or wait for it to leave, Lundberg said.
For cyclists, Greg Martin, director of the Wood River Bike Coalition, said to keep your eyes on the trail for snakes.
In the case of a rattlesnake bite, both the EMTs agree, the most important thing is to try to stay calm.
“The more you panic and scream and freak out, the faster you’re pumping the venom through your body,” Martin said.
While trying to remain calm, both EMT captains and Lundberg said doing whatever is necessary to reach a medical facility is the next step.
Aside from these two steps, there is not much else a bite-victim should do. Taylor said some stores sell “snake bite kits” that include tools to suck the venom out, but he recommended people forget things like that exist as they can do more harm than aid.
Photography by Alan Rickers
