Snakes and Hiking Safety

Avoiding snakes is a key part of hiking safety. While the chances of being bitten by a poisonous snake are low, a few simple steps can reduce the risk even farther.

The first thing that a hiker needs to know to avoid snakes is to understand where snakes are likely to be found. Snakes are cold blooded and need to use their environment to regulate their body temperature. Snakes are often found sunny themselves on rocks and roads on bright days in the spring and fall when it is not hot. Hot days normally find snakes in cool, shaded areas. Snakes are quite often found near water. Rock outcroppings, fallen trees, and other areas that can provide both a place to catch the sun and a place to get under shade are ideal for snacks. Hikers that are hiking near these areas need to be especially cautious to avoid snakes.

As with most problems in life, a dose of common sense can help hikers stay out of trouble with snakes. Don't place bare feet or hands into rock piles, under logs, or into high weeds with checking it out closely. As with bears and most other animals, snakes prefer to avoid humans altogether. Make noise and use a hiking staff to poke around in high grass and other areas likely to hold snakes before moving through. Given the opportunity, the snake will move out of the way.

If a hiker sees a snake while hiking they may want to watch the snake momentarily or take a picture, but the hiker needs to stay away from the snake. Don't poke the snake with a stick, pick it up, or get on the ground with it for a better picture angle. If the snake acts aggressively simply move away from it, snakes can strike quickly but do move over long distances quickly.

In area where encounters with poisonous snakes are more likely a hiker may want to wear long pants and even consider snake chaps and boots that are bite resistant. Normal hiking boots and shoes are probably not bite proof but will provide a good measure of protection from bites.

Every hiker needs to have a thorough understanding of First Aid skills including how to deal with snake bites. Snake bite kits can also be inexpensively purchased and carried along on hiking trips.