Rather than suffer trauma-by-TV, Lilly and I went for a hike Sunday, September 11, 2011. It’s our version of praying, I suppose you could say.
It has been a HUGE snake year with many sightings nearby, so I’m ever-vigilant … constantly sweeping the trail ahead with my eyes.
Look what I found:
In person, the very young snake looked quite red in its markings, so I assumed it was a bull snake, not a rattlesnake.
Still, it looked content to snooze in the sun, in the middle of the trail, so we gingerly made our way AROUND it. Only after getting safely to the other side did I use the ZOOM on my camera to get this image.
With the naked eye, I would have sworn that the little snake had its head curved around on top of the loop in the “neck” area. And, I saw no rattles on the right end, so …
However, when I saw the full image on my computer and enlarged it, I realized the whole left END of the snake was its BIG, heart-shaped VIPER head.
Tom helped me see my mistake and gave me no end of @#$@# for making a WRONG trail-side snake ID.
I know it’s hard to have perspective, but I wasn’t about to lay something next to it for context. So, let me just say, that this young snake was only about 6-8 inches long and about the diameter of one of my fingers. (And, I’m a relatively small person.)
Now, there is a lot of talk about very young rattlesnakes being MORE dangerous than bigger, older ones … some say because they have no rattles with which to warn you. Others say it’s because they unleash every ounce of venom they’ve got because they haven’t learned to control it.
I wanted to clarify that point, so I emailed my “venomous snake expert” at Southeastern Louisiana University, Dr. Brian Crother.
I first interviewed him in 2010, while working on a dogs + snakes magazine article. The piece included the real-life tale of a large bloodhound who died about a year after suffering multiple strikes from a large Western Diamondback Rattlesnake in California. The venom destroyed his kidneys. So, while the bloodhound survived the initial emergency, he later died from damage done.
If you’re new to our Champion of My Heart community, I’ll add quickly that Lilly has survived TWO rattlesnake bites to the face in recent years: Rattlesnake bite –> fall 2008, Rattlesnake bite –> summer 2010, and a near miss in summer 2010.
Keep in mind that relatively speaking prairie rattlesnakes we have here in my part of Colorado deliver less toxic venom than either of the diamondbacks (east or west) and the Mohave ones. Still … dogs die from bites here in Colorado, too. We’ve just been LUCKY.
Oh, and since everyone asks, these are my thoughts on rattlesnake aversion training for dogs.
Anyway, I emailed Dr. Crother the photo above to:
- Confirm it’s indeed a baby rattlesnake
- Find out why very young snakes can be so dangerous
Here is his reply (emphasis mine):
“Hi Roxanne: I am happy to help! Hey, that is a good looking little prairie rattlesnake. You gotta be careful around those little guys because juvenile (two weeks to three months old) prairie rattlers (and some others) have venom twice as potent as older snakes. But, they are able to control their venom delivery and they apparently can do so quite well. So these real young snakes are dangerous because their venom is more toxic, not because they can’t control venom delivery.”
The good news is that Lilly had NO idea there was a snake. Not a clue. She didn’t see it (likely because it wasn’t moving). She didn’t smell it … which is interesting … because on that same hike she snuffled around on the side of the trail and found this shed snake skin.
We, and our neighbors, have found many skins around lately. Looks like all the snakes are getting a fresh outer layer before winter.
Wow, Lilly is quite the little trooper having two rattle snake bites under her belt! This is a great article Roxanne. We have alot of copperheads in our area as well as black snakes. The black snakes don’t scare me too much, but the copperheads – that’s a different story.
I’m curious how Lilly recovered so well from the snake bites.
Janie :o)
We were VERY lucky that both of Lilly’s rattlesnake bites were relatively “dry,” meaning not that much venom got released. They can tell that (somewhat) through bloodwork. The first time, there was ZERO antivenin in the state, so we just had to rely on the usual supportive treatment at the 24-hour ER hospital … fluids, antibiotics, steroids, antihistamines, pain meds, etc. The second time, Lilly didn’t get nearly as sick (so she didn’t need antivenin) and only spent about a 1/2 day with the staff at our regular veterinary hospital with a bit of supportive care.
Sounds like you guys were definitely PRETTY lucky!
I would NOT have stopped to take a picture! You are quite brave! We have no poisonous snakes in Ontario and I have zero knowledge of snakes. Feet don’t fail me now!!!!
Yikes! How freaky is that? I did not know that about young rattlesnakes. I wonder how many people don’t? A lot I am sure.
Were you a little freaked when you realized what you had passed by? You sound so calm. I’m just glad Lilly didn’t see it. I remember when she was bit in the summer of 2010.
I have seen Garter Snakes on the walking paths of our dog park, but never rattle snakes. Each time, my dogs have been oblivious it was even there. I imagine that would be my worry if we had rattlesnakes here. Eeeek!
Hey, Mel ~ Yes, I did get a little weird feeling in my stomach … when I realized later it wasn’t a bull snake.But, it really was kind of sweet, just laying there in the sun. It ignored us, and we didn’t bother it … so it wasn’t as scary as say … seeing one rattling at us or seeing a mtn lion. ;o)
We’ve seen some snakes recently too. I think they’re getting ready for winter as well.
Elka and I have yet to encounter any snakes, and with how populated and traversed the areas we go are, I’m not sure we will (fingers crossed!). I don’t have a phobia of snakes, personally, but when they’re poisonous, I’d just as soon not deal with them, especially when my dog is involved!
Maaaahhh (distress call)!!! It’s been a good snake year here too. Kona doesn’t smell snakes either (unless they’re dead. Then she rolls in them =/
I’ve taken to carrying my headlamp on our early morning outings to keep an eye out before the sun’s up. I’ll be happy when the weather cools and the snakes get a bit slower!
Oh. My. Goodness. Interesting info but scary stuff! Thank goodness Lilly didn’t see it. I know my guys can’t resist a wiggling animal of any sort.
Betsy and Norman do not see of sniff snakes either. My guess is because they are cold blooded — they do not give off an odor. They will bark at them if they move; however, if the snakes stay still they loose interest imediately.
Thanks for filling us in on these interesting tips. Snakes are worrisome in the Amazon as well, but some people seem to believe I am surrounded by them. As you know, a watchful eye is one of the best “early detection” systems!
Scary! We also encountered a snake last week on the Danish island we stayed. First time ever with the dogs, as there are not a lot of snakes in Denmark. When I saw it, all your snake stories flashed through my head. Luckily the snake left almost immediately. Thinking it was a black viper I scolded myself for not being better prepared. On return I did some research and luckily it was a just a grass snake.