Rattlesnake Safety
Summertime in California means many of us are opting outside with our canine companions. Hiking, camping, and any time spent in nature can be wonderfully enriching activities for us and our dogs, but we do need to be conscientious of our wild neighbors, rattlesnakes. Snakes, particularly rattlesnakes, have a nasty reputation. Whether it’s their slithering movement, eyelid-less stare, or that mouth full of fangs and venom, many people (51% of adults according to a 2014 Gallup Poll) are afraid of snakes.
Like it or not, snakes have been around for about 90 million years and they’re here to stay. These well-adapted and highly successful predators are a valuable part of our ecosystem. You can thank them for helping maintain our rodent populations! Snakes may look scary, but they’re not considered to be aggressive and will only strike if provoked or threatened. Knowing a little bit about snake behavior can help us make better-informed decisions about where and when to hike.
Rattlesnake Ecology
What:
There are 7 species and 3 sub-species of venomous rattlesnake in California, and many other species of non-venomous snakes. Rattlesnakes are unique in their ability to warn us with their namesake rattle prior to striking, but a startled snake may not have time to warn before biting. Large snakes are potentially more dangerous than small ones due to the amount of venom they may possess. Thin and hungry snakes are potentially more dangerous than fat and well-fed snakes due to having larger reserves of venom available.
When:
Snakes, like all reptiles, are ectothermic (“cold-blooded”), meaning they cannot produce or regulate their body temperature internally and rely on the environment to keep warm or cool. You can expect to see snakes out on the trail sunning themselves in the early morning, and hiding off to the sides of trails in shaded areas during the hottest parts of the day. Rattlesnakes are most active starting at dusk and continuing through the night. Most snake encounters happen in the warmer months, the peak being April through October.
Where:
They commonly live in chaparral, forests, canyons, deserts, and even beaches (rattlesnakes can swim!). Most rattlesnakes prefer coverage and will frequently hide in brush, under logs or flat rocks, or flush against buildings and man-made structures. Snakes tend to avoid loud and busy area, and are more likely to be spotted on less-populated trails.
How to Stay Safe
Most pet parents worry about running into snakes on the trails, but a whopping 85% of snake bits happen right in the backyard! You can keep your pups safe by: supervising them in the yard, removing any debris that snakes may want to burrow under (piles of leaves or yard waste, old toys or structures, rock piles, etc), and installing snake-proof fencing around the perimeter
Keep your dog on leash. We get it, hiking with your dog off-leash is awesome, but the absolute best way to ensure your dog’s safety around snakes is to keep them leashed. Any time you choose to let your dog off leash, there is always inherent risk. Rattlesnakes, poison oak, foxtails, unstable terrain and encounters with wildlife are just a few things to consider. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what is best for you and your dog, just remember to check your local leash laws!
Stay and walk on clear, well-maintained trails with frequent foot traffic. Never allow your pup to veer off trail or investigate heavy brush, rocky outcroppings, or any other potential hiding spots for snakes. Whenever possible, stick to wide, clear trails with plenty of visibility.
Avoid hiking alone in snake territory. In the event of a snake bite, having a helper to assist in transporting you or your dog to seek medical attention can make all the difference, especially if your dog is too large for you to carry on your own.
Know where the closest emergency veterinarian is to your favorite trails. You can save phone numbers and addresses on your phone just in case.
Training
Naturally, we always recommend training for these scenarios well ahead of time! If you expect your dog to respond to you on a hike, you need to practice in those specific environments. Dedicate 5-10 minutes of each hike to work on training and you’ll start to see improvements in your dog’s responses.
Focus: Teaching a cue for eye contact and rewarding your dog for checking in frequently is a perfect way to start any hike or training session. If your dog isn’t paying attention to you, any other cues you may want to use might not work!
Hand Target: Having a dog who knows how to touch and follow your hand can be helpful in redirecting your dog or moving them away from hazards.
Recall: Especially if you choose to hike off leash, having a dog who reliably and enthusiastically comes when called is essential! Using a long 30-50ft training line is a perfect way to start.
Leave It: Teaching your dog to leave items of interest alone could be literally life-saving when it comes to snake safety! Make sure you practice with a wide variety of items, including things that smell interesting to your dog or things that make noise.
You may have seen or heard of trainers offering services marketed as “snake aversion” or “snake avoidance” training. Typically, these sessions involve the use of electric collars, commonly known as shock collars, and the goal is to pair the sights, sounds, and smells of rattlesnakes with an aversive electric shock. Not only is there extensive research on the detrimental effects of shock (see reference list below for individual studies), but there is no reputable evidence to suggest its efficacy on snake aversion. There have been reports of dogs becoming fearful of hiking trails in general, or even attempting to attack snakes after this type of training. We strongly advise dog owners to avoid these types of training.
In the Event of a Bite
Snake bites are rare, and lucky for us they are most often non-fatal if treatment is sought quickly. Often times owners will not witness the initial bite, so keep an eye out for any swelling, lethargy, or other odd behaviors from your dog.
Remain calm and immediately make your way to the closest emergency veterinarian. Administering antihistamines such as Benadryl can help reduce any allergic reactions to the venom, but will not help with the harmful effects of the venom itself.
While keeping a safe distance, either snap a photo or note the size and markings of the snake to aid in the species identification later. Never attempt to move or capture a rattlesnake!
Keep the area of the bite lower than the heart if possible to slow the distribution of venom.
Never apply a tourniquet, lance or cut the wound, or attempt to “suck the venom out.” These are all ineffective, dangerous, and waste valuable time.
The best things you can do for your dog is be knowledge, be prepared, and brush up on their training. There is no guarantee when it comes to nature and safety. Please always feel free to reach out to us with any questions.
Clickstartdogacademy@gmail.com
Research on the Effects of Shock and Aversive Training
1 Polsky, Richard, (2000), Can Aggression in Dogs Be Elicited Through the Use of Electronic Pet Containment Systems?, Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 3(4), 345-357, http://www.dogexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Electronic-fences.pdf
2 Schilder, Matthijs B.H. and van der Borg, Joanne A.M., (2004), Training dogs with help of the shock collar: short and long term behavioural effects, Applied Animal Behavior Science 85 (2004) 319-334, http://eldri.ust.is/media/ljosmyndir/dyralif/Trainingdogswithshockcollar.pdf
3 Schalke, E., Stichnoth, J. and Jones-Baade, R., Stress Symptoms Caused by the Use of Electric Training Collars on Dogs (Canis familiaris) in Everyday Life Situations, Current Issues and Research in Veterinary Behavioral Medicine, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159106003820
4 Defra AW1402 (2013) Studies to assess the effect of pet training aids, specifically remote static pulse systems, on the welfare of domestic dogs. University of Lincoln / University of Bristol / Food and Environment Research Agency. Final report prepared by Prof. Jonathan Cooper, Dr. Hannah Wright, Prof. Daniel Mills (University of Lincoln); Dr. Rachel Casey, Dr. Emily Blackwell (University of Bristol); Katja van Driel (Food and Environment Research Agency); Dr. Jeff Lines (Silsoe Livestock System). http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&Completed=0&ProjectID=17568
5 Defra AW1402a (2013) Studies to assess the effect of pet training aids, specifically remote static pulse systems, on the welfare of domestic dogs; field study of dogs in training. Final report prepared by Prof. Jonathan Cooper, Dr. Nina Cracknell, Jessica Hardiman and Prof. Daniel Mills (University of Lincoln). http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&Completed=0&ProjectID=17568#Description
6 Blackwell et al., The use of electronic collars for training domestic dogs: estimated prevalence, reasons and risk factors for use, and owner perceived success as compared to other training methods, BMC Veterinary Research 2012, 8:93, http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/8/93
7 Bradshaw J.W.S., Blackwell E.J., Casey R.A. 2009. Dominance in domestic dogs - useful construct or bad habit? Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, May/June 2009, pp 135-144. http://www.journalvetbehavior.com/article/S1558-7878(08)00115-9/abstract
8 Herron M.E., Shofer F.S., Reisner I.R. 2009. Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors. Applied Animal Behavior Science, 117, pp. 47-54. http://vet.osu.edu/assets/pdf/hospital/behavior/trainingArticle.pdf
10 American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior 2007. AVSAB Position Statement - Punishment Guidelines: The use of punishment for dealing with animal behavior problems. http://avsabonline.org/uploads/position_statements/Combined_Punishment_Statements1-25-13.pdf
11 Hiby, E.F., Rooney, N.J., Bradshaw, J.W.S., 2004. Dog training methods—their use, effectiveness and interaction with behaviour and welfare. Anim. Welfare 13, 63–69. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ufaw/aw/2004/00000013/00000001/art00010
12 Blackwell, Emily J., Twells, Caroline Anne, Seawright, Rachel A. Casey. 2008. The relationship between training methods and the occurrence of behavior problems, as reported by owners, in a population of domestic dogs. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, September/October 2008, pp 207-217. http://www.journalvetbehavior.com/article/S1558-7878%2807%2900276-6/abstract
15 Hanson, Don, 2010, Brambell’s Five Freedoms, Green Acres Kennel Shop web site, http://www.greenacreskennel.com/dog-behavior-and-training