Triangular shaped head (although nonvenomous snakes can flatten their heads when they feel threatened, making it difficult to tell the difference sometimes between the two types).
#LOTS OF SNAKES ON TRAIL HOW TO#
As with anything in life, knowledge is power, and my hope is that you walk away after reading this post with a better understanding of our reptilian trail mates, how to increase your odds of never suffering from a bite, and what to do if you are the unfortunate recipient of one. Id be lying if I said they didnt make me jumpy when I first come across them on a hike. I get it, they can be intimidating, scary, and yes, even dangerous. One student, with all the enthusiasm in the world, raised his hand and proudly exclaimed, Stop, drop, and roll! It was a comical moment to be sure, but it was also indicative of something else: How poorly understood snake safety is in the backcountry! The Ranger leading them on a hike asked the class what they should do if they encountered a snake. I am simply an avid hiker (and search and rescue team member) who wants to pay it forward to my fellow hikers by sharing the information Ive learned.Ī couple of years ago, I attended a field trip in Great Smoky Mountains National park with my daughters 4th grade class. It is by no means exhaustive in its content, and I am not claiming to be a snake expert. These are prudent measures which can help keep you safe from snakes which can be dangerous and even deadly like this rattlesnake I nearly stepped on near Rattlesnake Mountain.Disclaimer: This article is a collection of information I gathered from various resources I deemed credible (references included). There are several safety tips I suggest whether you are ophidiophobic or not.
#LOTS OF SNAKES ON TRAIL FREE#
there is even a free guide you can download. I have no affiliation with this site or financial interest in you clicking on this link, I just thought it would be helpful. You can find this helpful web site by clicking here. While your fear of snakes may be a good thing as it can help keep you safe from these critters, you don’t want to be crippledand homebound because the warm weather is here. The trails on Badger Mountain, White Bluffs, McBee Hill, Red Mountain, or Candy Mountain are all fairly narrow and give snakes a chance to be hidden in the brush.įree Guide on Overcoming “Snake-a-phobia”Īs I was researching for this blog post, I found a web site which might be helpful if you have snake anxiety. Now, there are many trails that would not provide this level of safety and you should probably avoid if you have ophidiophobia (fear of snakes). See additional tips for safe hiking during snake season below These wide trails, like Johnson Butte, Jump-off Joe or Zintel Canyon (see more suggestions below), make it easy to recognize if a snake may be in your pathway way before it has a chance to frighten you or even present any potential for danger! These are hikes with wide trails or, they are even graveled roads which are mainly only used by hikers. There are several hikes where snakes simply aren’t a worry and you can feel perfectly safe enjoying the beauty that surrounds us. I was on a new hike and the thought popped into my head, as I was walking along surrounded by butterflies (really, see the post here!), I realized this hike would be great for anyone who gets squeemish or just plain freaked out at the sight of a slithery snake. I wanted anyone who has this fear to be able to continue hiking, even though the snakes are now out and enjoying our warm, sunny days.
I was thinking about this and how so many people have the same, reasonable reaction. I totally get the fear and fright associated with snakes. Snake on Badger Mountain (thanks to Teresa for the picture)
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