Watch for outdoor danger: Rattlesnakes

By Lauren Rothering
Cardinal Staff

With autumn in full swing, many students head to the bluffs for hiking, jogging and camping. Though most students are aware of basic bluff safety precautions, many outdoor enthusiasts seem to forget one particular danger: rattlesnakes.
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Dr. Philip Cochran, professor and chair of biology at Saint Mary’s University, said that although garter and milk snakes are the most commonly found snakes in the bluffs, rattlesnakes do veture into some of the lower areas such as the ski trails and Saint Joe’s field, especially in early fall.

If students see a rattlesnake, Cochran said, “first of all, they shouldn’t panic.” Venom leaves rattlesnakes better protected than most snakes, meaning they are slower moving. If left alone, most snakes will usually crawl back into the woods without any provocation, said Cochran.

If a rattlesnake is preventing students from using a trail or practicing in a field, they should call Campus Safety to have the snake removed, said Cochran. If the incident occurs during school hours, students can also call Cochran, who is certified to move rattlesnakes back into wooded areas.

In the extremely rare event that a student is bitten, Cochran said that students should call Campus Safety immediately. The bite may be a “dry bite,” meaning that no venom was injected, said Cochran. However, students with bites should be taken to Gunderson Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wis., which keeps a steady supply of anti-venom specifically for rattlesnake bites, said Cochran.

Students can protect themselves against rattlesnakes simply by “watching where they put their feet,” said Cochran. Although rattlesnakes populate the bluffs, sightings and attacks are rare, especially after rattlesnakes go into hibernation in September.

“If (a student) does see a rattlesnake, they can count themselves lucky,” said Cochran. “It is a true symbol of the wilderness.”