Snakes

F.Y.I.

There is and will be a higher number of rattlesnakes out this spring through the summer in the Southern Nevada desert. There has been numerous sightings already which is much more than I've seen or heard of, as compared to the previous years in Red Rock/Southern Nevada desert.

Also...I once encountered(in the Illusion Crags area)a young Mohave Green(venom 16 times more potent than that of a Sidewinder)in a horizontal crack that I was about to place my hand in, about 30 feet up a climb(rare occurrence, but it happens) so be a little cautious even when starting up a route.

Not to scare anyone,as it's highly unlikely that you'll be bit, but just watch where you put your hands and what you step on, especially this Spring and Summer in Red Rock.

If you do get bit, your best chances of a full recovery will be at Loma Linda University Medical Center Venom E.R.
See if you can get a Flight For Life ride there.

In addition to rattlers, you should be careful of Gila Monsters if in the AZ area. I have seen two this year since it is so hot so early. Putting your hand into the mouth of a monster hurts!

Golden Rule of the desert folks..Do not place your hands and feet where you can't see them!

Wow,

I've searched for a live Gila Monster for years. I even looked in Arizona a few times and searched in Utah too with no luck! Saw a couple of dead ones at Valley of Fire in Nevada. To see a live one in the wild is rare!Can you tell me exactly where you saw the Gilas? I'm shaking with excitement.

Oh, don't worry about being attacked by one. They bite really, really slow. Although if someone is dumb enough to put their hand in the Gila's mouth, it'll be a bitch to get him off. Their jaws will lock down on you.

Getting back to snakes....

Here's some good information on snake envenomations

And also info. re; the "Mojave rattlesnake" envenomations

Maybe print it out and keep in your pack, just in case you get bit and you end up at a shitty E.R.(warning, there's very few good ones in Vegas!)

Tea wrote:Golden Rule of the desert folks..Do not place your hands and feet where you can't see them!

Listen up all you crack climbers out there!
Stay away from all the crack climbs in Red Rock, especially all the classics.(kidding)
Happy climbing desert rats!

Found this little one just the other day. They're definitely out in large numbers.

Looks like a Southern Pacific.

Well, I know this is Nevada forum, but CO has some snake activity also. Given a crag's frequency of use & habitat available, N Table Mtn in Golden, CO offers the chance of encounter along the approach trail. Be aware that nesting sites can be along the trailside where dogs & kids find their curiosities. My encounter last year was from a defensive position without a rattle notification, as I backed off & gave it ground so I could pass, it tried to flank me around a small boulder and almost got the guy behind me.

I was impressed though, that everyone who reported the snake, left the snake alone. I wish I still had pics some of the climbers sent me, it was a nice looking snake. This is the type we saw (the markings are really striking to see up close - no pun intended):

coloherp.org/geo/species/sp…

Mark Nelson wrote: My encounter last year was from a defensive position without a rattle notification.

Yes, they don't always rattle before they strike.

Greg wrote:Have seen two Gila Monsters while out climbing.

Geeeezzzzz!
All I can say Greg and Shiloh, is the fact that you've encountered Gila Monsters means you must do a hell of a lot of playing in the desert to be so lucky!

Guess I better play more in Arizona, so I can see the G.M.'s!

FYI- I was climbing last weekend at the second PO, and had to use the restroom that is there. As I opened the door there was a 2.5ft rattlesnake hiding in the shade behind the door. It was trying to escape the heat I'm sure... He was all coiled-up, and stayed in the corner while I did my business.

Always be sure to be cautious in the shady spots during the day... =)

David and I were on the main wall's ledge in Isolation a couple weeks ago and he walked under a 5' oak tree and saw a rattler S-coiled on a branch above him. He didn't recognize it as a rattler cause it was on top of its coils on a branch as he hung down. It never moved as we approached it but the coils told me it was ready to strike. It probably was waiting for a bird.

Manny

I have seen a few rattlesnakes in Colorado, up in Eldorado Canyon's higher areas, and then at Mickey Mouse Wall on Eldorado Mountain (where I also found bear tracks).

But after 10+ years of visiting Indian Creek, UT, I have yet to see a snake other than the occasional "Peanut-backed rattler" or the "Colorado Corn-snake."

In a related story of vicious karma though, I recently heard a story of a dog who had been gobbling up some such "wildlife" the party had been leaving behind and then barfed all over inside a tent...

Rattlesnakes taste like chicken. LOL!! I am just happy they have rattles as I almost stepped on a big fat one in AZ!!

Hey watch out I've seen several rattlers in AZ already. Here are a couple of the more interesting sightings:

-Last month at Jack's I left the campfire to pee on a bush only to see a soaking wet rattler come slithering out of the bush and over my foot.

-A couple months ago at Isolation Canyon I was doing the 2nd ascent on a climb and when I got towards the top I thought I saw an old, faded climbing rope jammed back in the crack. I poked it with my finger and it seemed to move a bit, so I thought I'd work it out with a stick (why? who knows) and yelled down to my belayer that I was trying to get something out of the crack. As I started poking at it the thought ran through my mind that my friend (Manny R) had just done the 1st ascent less than 1 hour ago, so how did an old rope get in there? Then the rattler started to move. So there I am, on lead and 15' out from my last piece, poking a rattlesnake with a stick. He quickly slithered farther back into the crack. It reminds me of that joke: What does a redneck say just before he dies? "Hey y'all watch this."

-Mike

Illusion Crags/ French Bulges

Okay, here’s a snake story.

I was about 30 feet up on lead when I had stopped to place a Cam. Just as I had steadied myself and was about place my hand and Cam in a nice horizontal crack, I noticed a Mojave Green rattlesnake right at my eye and hand level. It was comfortably seated in the horizontal crack. Initially, I was excited to see such a snake that high up on a climb, but of course, within seconds, I had thought it would be a good idea to give it some space. I moved to the left of it, and had called down to partner X to not stick his hand in the crack where the snake was, when following. He immediately yelled up to me, “Uh, I’m NOT climbing past a snake!” I assured him it was slow moving, and not to worry but partner X didn’t believe me. I offered to use my nut tool to gently flick him out and down into a soft bush, as the crack where he was lying was shallow enough to do it fairly easy, but partner X nervously yelled up, “NO, it might fall down on me!!” Unfortunately there aren’t anchors atop this climb, so I couldn’t finish my lead with the intention of rapping down to clean my gear. I had no choice but to down lead. I made damn sure I looked down at partner X to make sure he didn’t run off and still had me on belay. Just as I stepped down, the slow moving snake was moving fast, and out towards me. I instantly slithered down to a piece of pro I had placed below me, so I'd be out of it’s way, and yelled down to partner X, “I guess it’s good that you didn’t come up, it's a little pissed.” I lost my on-sight of French Bulges but at least I got a little down leading experience and some laughter from it.
Experiences such as this make for a more memorable day that’ll stick with me for life.

Remember this Mohave Gigette? It's the one Larry tried to step on in Willow Springs. I thought it ironic that young kids were running around not a few hundred yards away from this guy at the picnic area.

Karsten, I didn't have the pleasure of seeing it.
Remember I hiked out ahead of you guys, because I was feeling a bit anti-social, and met up with you guys back at Anthony's car by the Donkey sign because he forgot to give me back my precious rope, and Larry accused me of leaving you three men to fend for yourselves with the snake.
REMEMBER?

Nice Varmint photos you posted!

Oh about snakes in the Willow Springs picnic area....
I once saw a cute little hispanic toddler, near where his family were barbecuing, almost reach to pick up a huge rattler at the base of a bush. I ran towards him, and yelled, NOOOOOOO, and the poor kid stumbled backwards, and fell on his butt. The mother looked at me like I was crazy until I pointed out the snake to her, and then she thanked me.

figured i'd throw in my 2¢ since venomous critters are my speciality. the rattlesnakes are generally found around crags, just happens that climbers and rattlers share the same taste in places to sun themselves. early morning and evening, they will likely be sunning themselves and in an obvious spot. however, during warmer hours of the day (~10am to 7pm right now) they will likely be under rocks or brush. the morning and evening--and ESPECIALLY night--they are most dangerous as this is when they hunt. when hunting they are less likely to rattle and far more likely to sense the heat of an ankle placed in front of them and strike without warning. in the hot hours of the day, they should be very alert an give plenty of noisy warning. HEED THAT WARNING!!!! no, a north american rattlesnake is very unlikely to kill you, but it will wreck you!!! you will almost certainly have permanent tissue and/or nerve damage from any rattlesnake of any size or age. then there is the financial cost.... a vial of crofab antivenom is WHOLESALE $900/vial. think about how expensive it is for a hospital to administer an aspirin then think how much crofab is! i would expect at least 8 vials and know of more than 20 being administered. of 2 people i know who had colorado prairie rattlesnake bites, both spent several days in intensive care and the bills both were well over 100k!
i give these warnings, because most (over 90% i believe) bites are the result of people messing with the snake (even with good intentions). actually, MOST venomous snake bites occur to male age 18-35 on the arm or the face. also, if you aren't 100% SURE it is not a rattlesnake, leave it be. a lady in golden just got bitten trying to get a snake out of the road. i was young and did not have a rattle. honest and well-meaning mistake, but costly.
as for gila monsters. i've worked with these critters for years. if you don't stick your finger REALLY CLOSE to their mouth it would be quite difficult to get bitten. they are very slow, but their bite is excruciatingly painful. this is the only venomous family that likely developed venom as a defensive weapon.... i.e.--cause so much pain and discomfort the victim will never mess with them again!
happy climbing and play safe. but please, if you have the urge to mess with a rattlesnake, just go for a run with scissors instead. it is much safer and has fewer long-term consequences.
tim

I've already had several run in's with snakes in the Colorado Springs area this year. Took a strike to the cuff of my jeans by a baby rattler at work before I could have even had a chance to see the little bastard. With the early warm weather I think they are out in force. Also walked within 6 inches of a bull snake sunning himself beside the trail today and didn't even notice till after the fact. Had it been a rattler I would be hurting. Basically I've seen more snakes this year already than I have ever in an entire season. Big warning for me to watch out.

An interesting observation we had during our years of night time snakehunting is that when there was a full moon, the only type of rattlesnakes we'd see out were Sidewinders. Could never figure that one out. I'm sure there is a scientific explanation for it. I've asked a couple herpetologists, and they didn't know why.
As far as the non-venomous snakes, we would see mostly gophers. Lizards didn't seem affected by the full moon.

Coach Whips, and Gopher snakes are some of the most aggressive snakes I've seen, and although non-venomous, they can give a painful bite,which can give you a serious infection. Coach Whips will actually come at you at times. Thank goodness rattlesnakes are less aggressive.