SNAKE SEASON IS WARMING UP

Warm temperatures are drawing desert dwellers outside to soak up the sun. But some of the neighbors coming out to enjoy the warm weather are ones most of us would rather avoid.

Rattlesnakes in Arizona tend to be most active from March through October. Meeting up with a rattlesnake can be frightening, even dangerous. While there is no way to guarantee that you won’t encounter a snake, Northwest Fire District has some suggestions to help you avoid them:

• Watch where you step. Rattlesnakes blend in with their surrounding, so look where you put your foot down. Wear closed-toe shoes or boots outside and use a flashlight at night, especially as nights get warmer and rattlesnakes are more active. Keep walkways well lighted and clear of brush.

• Eliminate rodents, a favorite rattlesnake food, from around your house and yard.

• Remove what look like attractive residences for snakes. Instead of digging their own dens, rattlesnakes prefer move into existing structures. Woodpiles and junk piles should be eliminated, or moved away from the house. Fill in rodent holes and abandoned burrows.

• No wall is totally snake-proof, but a solid four foot wall with a lip at the top angling outward can help discourage snakes. The bottom of the wall should be sunk into the ground and have no tunnels under it. Gates should fit snugly against the ground.

If you do encounter a snake, back slowly and deliberately away from it. Alert others in the area, restrain pets and keep an eye on the location of the snake until it moves out of the area. If the snake is in your home or walled yard and you want it removed, you can call your fire department (Northwest will remove only snakes that cannot get out on their own) or call a pest control service. No one without proper training should pick up a rattlesnake, even a dead one. Reflex bites are possible from a snake that has been dead several hours.

If, despite precautions, someone is bitten by a snake:

• Stay calm. Victims should avoid moving too much or becoming excited

• Remove constricting items such as jewelry and watches from affected area

• Immobilize a bitten extremity and keep below heart level

• Transport victim to closest health care facility without delay

• DO NOT use ice, tourniquets, electricity or drugs, or try to cut the skin

For additional information, contact the Northwest Fire/Rescue Life Safety Office at 887-1010.