Rattlesnakes are back in the Bay Area. Dog owners should be especially alert
It's springtime again, and along with warmer weather and baby animals abound, the season has brought another familiar face back to the Bay Area: rattlesnakes.
The East Bay Regional Park District issued its annual Rattlesnake Advisory on Thursday, warning park goers hiking along trails or visiting grassy areas about the increased likelihood of encounters with Northern Pacific rattlesnakes. Research suggests that dog owners should be especially vigilant about the risk of fatal bites.
Most rattlesnake bites happen in April through October, when both humans and snakes are spending the most time outdoors, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
For humans and pets alike, these bites can cause severe injury or death, the CDFW cautioned. This March, the Calaveras Consolidated Fire Protection District said on social media that a man was taken to a local hospital after being bit on the leg by a baby rattlesnake.
But for dogs, the bites can be especially dangerous. A 2020 study by the University of Queensland in Australia found that dogs were twice as likely to die from a venomous snakebite than cats. The reasons were twofold, the researchers found — dog blood clots faster, which allows snake venom to act more quickly; and dogs also explore with their nose and their mouth, areas with a large number of blood vessels, allowing venom to spread more easily.
For dogs that frequently visit areas known to have rattlesnakes, an annual vaccine is available, according to the Sacramento Animal Hospital. The vaccine helps slow the spread and severity of symptoms, buying more time for a dog to seek medical help, according to the hospital. In 2022, the American Animal Hospital Association said such vaccines are recommended for some dogs based on their lifestyle and risk exposure. But it also cautioned that there wasn't published data documenting the efficacy of such vaccines.
Rattlesnakes can be recognized by their triangular heads and segmented tail tips, which make the characteristic rattling noise when the reptiles get defensive. Still, some rattlesnakes may have small rattles or none at all, wildlife officials previously told the Chronicle. Their bites appear as one or two puncture marks that cause intense, burning pain, according to the East Bay Regional Park District.
The park district recommends keeping dogs on a leash and avoiding straying off trails or into high grass to avoid potential rattlesnake encounters. It also cautions visitors to scan the ground ahead of them as they walk and to avoid placing their hands or feet in areas they can't clearly see.
Rattlesnakes are especially active at dawn, dusk and night when temperatures aren't too hot, according to officials.
If you are bitten, the park district advises you should stay calm and lie down, with the bitten limb held lower than your heart, to try to slow the spread of the venom. If you are alone and need to seek help, park officials said to walk rather than run to avoid raising your heart rate.
It's crucial to call 911 and seek medical attention as quickly as possible, according to officials.
Contrary to common belief, the CDFW warns it isn't a good idea to try to suck the venom out with your mouth. You also should not ice the bite or try to use a tourniquet. Instead, they advise removing any items that could restrict swelling, such as watches or shoes.
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