Rattlesnakes visiting suburbs for shelter and a cool drink
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Slithering down from the hills in the spring and summer are unwanted creatures that rattle, hiss and sometimes even bite.

Rattlesnakes are coming out of hibernation this year to the driest season ever recorded.

In Thousand Oaks, where a third of the city is dedicated as open space, the gray and brown reptiles have plenty of room and opportunity to eat rodents and just lounge around. In other parts of the Conejo, suburbs snuggle against brushy hillsides, confusing the native wildlife.

Many creatures wander across the invisible line that divides wildlife from people. People also wander onto the snakes' territory and call it hiking.

Either way, people and rattlesnakes do not mix well when they meet unexpectedly--mostly because rattlesnakes protect themselves with poisonous venom.

When people happen upon rattlesnakes they usually call the fire department. Even though nothing is on fire and no one has been hurt, firefighters answer these calls as a public service.

"During the summer months we get about two to three calls a day for snakes," said Capt. Barry Parker, Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson.

People can become very frightened when they find rattlesnakes that average about 3 to 4 feet long in garages or around their patios.

"Rattlesnakes are seeking a cool, dark place and are looking for water," Parker said.

A coiled rattlesnake can strike one and a half times its length, he said. So, it's good to be careful. People should leave snakes alone.

Firefighters use a special grabbing tool to catch a snake. They then place the snake inside a bag or container and take it to a safe place back in the wild where it is released away from people, he said.

"We're not in the business of killing rattlesnakes," Parker said.

The closer homes are built to open space, the more rattlesnakes there are near homes. The dry year could mean even more snake encounters, he said.

Before letting small children go out in the yard to play, parents should take a broom outside, poke the bushes and listen for rattling sounds, Parker suggested.

Even the smallest rattlesnake can be a concern because baby rattlers do not yet know how to control their venom output and can end up pumping more into a bite than a big snake would, he said.

But "bites are not very common. They usually happen out on a hiking trail," he said.

That's why Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control spokesperson Brenda Sanchez suggested hikers always wear hiking boots and go out on the trails with a buddy.

"Never hike alone. If something happens, you need someone else to go for assistance," Sanchez said.

Animal control officers also answer rattlesnake calls, she said, and they, too, use the catch and release system. If for some reason a rattlesnake cannot be released back into the wild, which is very rare, she said, the snake is euthanized humanely in the same way a dog or a cat would be put down.