A dead snake can still bite. And 14 other things you need to know about Skaha’s rattlesnakes

Considering a trip to Penticton’s Skaha area now that the weather is starting to cool off? Be forewarned – August is mating season for the Western Rattlesnake, which means it’s best to be wary of horny, agro slithery beasts. (The snakes, not the dudes.)

My friends and I get to Skaha at least twice a year and the last time we had the opportunity to meet one of the area’s rattlers. Four of us “manly men” were standing at the base of Great White Wall, probably flexing and talking smack, when we glanced down and saw a rattlesnake longer than my ape index. Every single one of us dynoed 10 feet and screamed like five-year-olds.

Western Rattlesnake at Great White Wall, Skaha

Since that embarrassing display I was intrigued to find out a bit more about the Western Rattlesnake. Here are a few things you should know:

• The Western Rattlesnake is found in the Thompson-Okanagan dry belt in BC, southeastern Alberta, and southwestern Saskatchewan. It is the only venomous snake in BC.

• Its other names include Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Diamond Back Rattlesnake, Black Rattlesnake, and Confluent Rattlesnake.

• The Western Rattlesnake is a large, stout snake with a triangular head. It can be brown, olive, or grey with a series of large dark-brown blotches surrounded by light-coloured borders, or “halos” running down the middle of the back, with smaller, similar blotches along the side.

• Rattlesnakes do not “hear.” They sense vibrations which is why you’re unlikely to meet them in Skaha because when they sense your heavy footfall, they’ll slither in the opposite direction.

• The last thing a rattlesnake wants to do is bite an animal that is too big for it to swallow. They will not chase after people and cannot strike beyond the length of their body. Most rattlesnake bites are the result of human interference such as attempting to get too close, or accidentally stepping on one.

• In the Okanagan the Western Rattlesnake mates in August or early September, usually near a den. Mated females enter their winter dens soon after, but ovulation and fertilization don’t occur until after they emerge the next spring. An average of five baby rattlesnakes then develop over the next summer and are born live in September or October.

• The Western Rattlesnake can be visually confused with the non-venomous Gopher Snake, also common in the Okanagan.

• A snake’s biting reflex remains intact even after death. If you encounter a dead rattlesnake, don’t touch it!

• Rattlesnakes are also called pit vipers because they have a heat-sensing pit on each side of their head, roughly between the nostril and the eye, used to detect warm-blooded prey.

• Rattlesnakes hatch from eggs. They are ovoviviparous, meaning the unborn babies are nourished by egg yolk inside the mother. They hatch as they are laid and there is little-to-no parental care of the newborns.

• Rattlesnakes are most active at dawn and dusk.

• A rattlesnake’s rattle is made of keratin, the same stuff as your fingernails.

• When in Skaha, it’s a good idea to wear proper hiking boots to protect your feet and ankles should you accidentally step near one. Don’t reach under logs or shrubs where snakes may be resting. If you’re with a pet, keep them leashed. If you do come across any snake, simply stop and allow it to move away, or move away from it.

• The Western Rattle Snake venom is a powerful hemotoxin that attacks the blood and tissue of its prey. If left untreated, a bite can cause tissue damage, hemorrhaging, blood clotting or a significant drop in blood pressure. These symptoms can be severe and can result in death. If you are bitten, seek medical attention immediately.