How to Avoid a Rattlesnake Bite While Hiking in the Great Outdoors

If you are at all like me, hiking in the Great Outdoors is probably one of your life's greatest passions. There's nothing more exhilarating or refreshing than trekking along some mountain trail far away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The fresh air, the blue sky, and the sweet smells of the forest - what could be better? Unfortunately, as is the case with most things in life, there are certain hazards that are endemic to the outdoors. And one of the most common and dangerous is the rattlesnake. Nothing can turn a pleasant day hiking into a nightmare as quickly as a bite from a frightened or pissed off rattlesnake. So, if you are at all interested in making your hiking endeavors as safe as possible, and if you don't covet an unexpected encounter with a rattlesnake, just follow these simple suggestions and get back out on your favorite trail.

Keep Your Eyes and Ears Open

Out of all the precautions a hiker should take while hiking in rattlesnake country, this is undoubtedly the most important. An unaware and distracted hiker is an accident waiting to happen. Not just in terms of potential rattlesnake bites, but in terms of overall safety. Whether it's getting lost, falling, or running into some other kind of nasty predicament, a hiker who is not adequately tuned into his surroundings is just asking for trouble. And in rattlesnake country, keeping your eyes focused on your immediate vicinity and keeping your ears open to the various sounds emanating from around you will go a long way towards keeping you from any surprise encounters with a rattlesnake. Focus on the trail in front of you, and focus on the sides of the trail. Know exactly where you are stepping, and know exactly what is coming up in front of you. And since rattlesnakes, fortunately, possess a natural built-in alarm system in the form of rattles on their tails that are designed to alert you to their presence, paying attention to the sounds emanating from around you will alert you to their presence. So, while out hiking, I would advise you to keep the headphones and ear pieces tucked away in your backpack. Safe the music listening for another time!

Stay On the Marked Trail

Nothing says adventure quite like blazing your own trail across unchartered land, right? Well, maybe so, but that's the worst thing a hiker could do while hiking in the outdoors. Trails are designed to keep you safe and to allow you to arrive at your intended destination in one piece. Naturally, some trails are better than others, and some trails are maintained better than others. But all trails are delineated, cleared paths that allow a hiker to see where he/she is going. Straying off of a clearly marked trail, and wading through tall grass, shrubbery, and woodsy, rocky areas is just asking for trouble. Rattlesnakes like peace and quiet, and for the most part, they tend to avoid high-traffic and high-visibility areas like trails. They favor shady, quiet, and overgrown areas where they can nest and sleep and go about their business unimpeded. So, a hiker who decides to go traipsing through these types of areas - usually off the beaten path - run a tremendous risk of either stepping on or startling a rattlesnake and getting bit. So, take my advice: stay on the trail!

Dress Appropriately

It's always wise to venture out on a hike in the Great Outdoors wearing the appropriate clothing. Besides the usual concerns about dressing for the possibility of inclement weather and/or for the unlikelihood of becoming stranded out in the wilderness, wearing the right kind of clothing can be of great benefit when venturing into areas that are known for their rattlesnake population. No matter how careful and how alert a hiker may be, there is always the chance of a freak encounter with a rattlesnake. Whether you accidentally bump into one or step on one or somehow just end up annoying one somehow, it pays to be clothed appropriately. The majority of rattlesnake bites occur on the lower extremities of an individual, most commonly below the knee. So, wearing long pants - preferably thick, heavy-duty type pants - and high top boots can do wonders to mitigate the effects of a rattlesnake bite. If your clothing and footwear are thick enough, there's a great possibility that a rattlesnake bite may not even puncture your skin. So, to further increase your odds of not becoming the latest rattlesnake statistic, dress appropriately. Ditch the shorts and tennis shoes in favor of long pants and high top boots!

Pick Your Season

If you don't mind scheduling your hiking adventures for certain times of the year, the only foolproof way to avoid an encounter with an angry rattlesnake is to avoid hiking during times of the year when rattlesnakes are active. And that means during the Spring and Summer months. Although the ranges vary from location to location, rattlesnakes generally "wake up" from their hibernation-like state in early April to early May, and they stay pretty active until late October to early November, a time when the temperatures start to cool down enough to force them to take shelter underground. So, if you want to hike without the rattlesnake worry, save your hiking times for the colder months. Between roughly speaking November to March you should be virtually rattlesnake-free!

So, follow these simple recommendations and get back out there on your favorite trail!