Snakes are active in town

[Wrightwood]

The photos were taken from about 15 feet.

[ckrobbinsnest]

I'm new to Wrightwood and worring about snakes.  Can anyone tell me what I can do to keep my yard safe?  I have a wood pile under the deck area of the house and a shed and some tall grass on the side.  What are some of the typical areas they hide? I also have some playground equipment my kids use.  Should I worry about that?

thanks

[Wrightwood]

The wood pile is a place to keep an eye on. Raise the wood pile so it's not laying directly on the ground. You can also tent the wood pile with plastic and it will help.

As far as the weeds or tall grass by the shed it needs to be cut soon anyway as wildfire season is here.

The more brush, weeds and piles of wood the bigger risks for rattlers. You'll notice the top picture is of a rattler being pulled from a wood pile.

If you are lucky enough to have the a king snake around your property make sure to leave it as they will keep the rattlers away.

[Wrightwood]

[mal]

To the best of my recollection, it was about 6-8 inches.  Looked like a racer, or garter type snake, but I just wanted to make sure since my kids play outside a lot and those type give no audible warnings that I know of.   No others have been noticed yet.  Down the hill at El Mirage we have come across several large Mojave green while riding up in the hills around the lakebed.  Sometimes you can't help but run over a portion of them when they are slithering all the way across a trail and there is no way to stop or avoid them.  Pretty creepy!

[Wrightwood]

Sounds more like you're talking about a Skink.
Years back we were working on a wood pile and a skink with a blue tail took off we were shocked on how fast it was and were positive it was a snake.

We don't have snakes that are blue that I'm aware of.

Here's a page with information about skinks.

http://www.werc.usgs.gov/fieldguide/eusk.htm

[mal]

Wow, that pic with the bright blue tail is exactly what it looked like!  Thanks Wrightwood!  It was weaving in and out of the grass so fast I didn't realize it wasn't even a snake.  

[clint]

The wood under the deck presents a hazard other than snakes. Fire. Wood piles should not be under decks or under the eaves of the house. Move it out away from the house.

[Chesslike]

[Nolena]

Are you going?
Can you give us a report?

[Chesslike]

Sorry no, snakes are not big on my list, but I thought there might be other forum members that would be interested.

[RNgiveTLC]

It would be nice if someone from the Fire department or Paramedics were going. I find that this would be very interesting considering living up here in the mountains and also from a nursing perspective. But, unfortunately, I can not go.
I hope, if anyone does go they will share their information with us.
TY Boston Bob for sharing, I am going to check out some of the sites coming from that link. This will be my first Rattlesnake season up here.


Donna

[RNgiveTLC]

Did anyone get the Chance to see the Venom ER series on Animal Planet. Dr Sean Bush who was the MD on the program is speaking. I saw the program and found it very interesting, was in fact disappointed to see it end.

Donna

[Chesslike]

This was in today's Daily Press and it seemed like interesting training for your dog for those that are hikers or who might come in contact with snakes. Has anyone on the forum ever had their dog go through this program?

Rattlesnake avoidance clinic planned
Hello and welcome back to Critter Corner!

With Susan Lawson now in Oregon, we'll do our best to fill her shoes, difficult as that will be.

If your group has news items for Critter Corner, please let me know so we can keep everyone up to date.

Now that our desert is warming up, so are the hibernating critters. Once again we need to be on the lookout for snakes, especially on warm nights. As the experts have told us, new housing development and lots of vegetation increase our chances of an encounter. That goes for our pets, too.

With this in mind, the Mojave Greens K-9 Training Club is hosting its annual Rattlesnake Avoidance Clinic for dogs on May 7 at S.C.L.A. (formerly George AFB) in Victorville.

The clinic will be conducted by Patrick Callaghan, one of the foremost rattlesnake avoidance trainers in the country. Advance registration and specific appointment times are required. This annual clinic always fills up rapidly.

Callaghan uses muzzled rattlesnakes for the clinic to help dog learn to recognize and avoid rattlesnakes by sound, sight and scent. It only takes a short time for each enrolled dog to go through the training, and it can be a life-saver. There is a registration fee. For information on enrolling your dog, call (760) 240-4300.

[TableMtn]

And don't forget the new rattlesnake vaccine for your dog.  I don't think it will help with a mojave green (neurotoxin venom as opposed to a digestive venom) and won't make your animal totally immune.  However, it will buy you time and reduce the reaction to get you time to get your dog to the vet.  My black lab got bit 2 years ago (before the vaccine came out) and it was $450 for the antivenom alone.  Total of $1100 and an overnight stay at the emergency vet and he was VERY sick for a couple of days.  The shot is $35 for the first innoculation at my vet then they need a booster 30 days later for about the same price.  After that, it is just an annual shot.  If it means they don't get as sick, it saves a lot of money and heartache in the long run. 

And when I found a very large rattlesnake skin about 3 months after he had been bit--I showed it to him.  He took one sniff and immediately turned and ran.  I think he got the ultimate snake avoidance training!   

[kew]

A reminder. The snakes are out.

We've lived here for 25 years and had never seen a rattler before today. My wife just found a 5'+ Mojave Green in our yard (in Phelan). Unfortunately it was necessary to dispatch it, as it was under a bush within 3' of the front gate to our yard. By the way, if anyone has an extra king snake I will gladly take it off your hands.

[KWBoy]

went up this last weekend to see if they finished the house but found a snake on our back poarch and it is like 2 ft up off the ground.... is there any way to keep them out of my 2.5 acres?

[angiepoo]

Wonderin if anyone has seen any snakes up here in WW recently.

[Deadhead]

Saw a dead rattler near the top of Lone Pine this past sunday, pretty small.  My wife almost stepped on a 4 footer the week before in Joshua Tree.  With all the rain there's bound to be alot out there this year.   

[angiepoo]

Will you look at that?  I gave Deadhead his first karma.  Thanks for the info, Deadhead.