Hiking Tips #3: Snakes Alive!!

Perhaps humans will never get past their unfortunate bigotry of snakes. Most people are revolted by the sights and sounds of reptiles in general and snakes in particular. This is a shame, as it keeps people from appreciating the role serpents play in the ecosystem.

Snakes are predators, feeding on small mammals, small birds, small fish, insects, and the eggs of all of the above. As carnivores, they do their part to keep the populations of their prey in check. The reptiles have evolved over millions of years to become experts at this task.

Human hikers have little to fear from most snakes. A non-venomous constricting snake would have to be particularly large to pose any threat to a human. Even encounters with venomous snakes are mercifully rare in the US. Hikers should, however take the time to brief themselves on their snaky know how to ensure a toxin-free hike.

Snakes are uninterested in humans as prey, and will thus usually only attack when stepped on, or when whatever crevice they've occupied is invaded. This much is the good news.

The bad news for a hiker is that a snakebite can occur when the hiker is miles and hours away from medical attention.


Beware These Snakes!

Snakes are actually "venomous" not "poisonous". Poison is ingested, and venom is injected. Popular usage has blurred the semantic line somewhat, and the difference is likely to be of little note to a hiker encountering a serpent.


Poisonous snakes in the US fall into four main categories ...

1) Rattlesnakes

2) Cottonmouth Water Moccosins

3) Copperheads

and

4) Coral snakes.

These species can be further broken down into subspecies (there are several types of rattlesnake, for example), as this handy webpage does...

http://www.trailquest.net/SNpoi.html

Of them all, the coral snake has the most potent venom. The other three, Rattlers, Copperheads, and Water Mocs, are vipers. These snakes have fangs that hinge back into the roof of the mouth when not in use, and snapping out when the snake bites. Vipers also have interesting organs between their nose and eyes, called 'pits'. They're heat sensor devices, and they allow the snake to sense when prey is near. Exactly how they work is not yet known to herpetologists.

Caution Around A Snake

Snakes can strike with amazing speed, and can lunge to more then half their body lenght. Avoid approaching a coiled snake when spotted.

First Aid for a Snake Bite

If a snake bite occurs near anything like civilisation, remain where you are, and call for medical help. Getting the victim to the hospital is crucial. Wash the bite with water (and soap, if available) and keep the wounded limb (it'll almost always be a limb) lower then the heart.

If help is far away, then the best bet is to apply a bandage four inches above the bite- not tight enough to cut off the blood flow- it should be loose enough to slip a finger over it, before having the vicitm make his way towards help.

Commercial snake bite kids are available at most sporting goods stores, and will normally contain a suction device for removing the venom.

Survival Topics elaborates

http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/snakebite-first-aid/

It is important to remember that snakes, lothesome though they are to most people, are permanent residents of the great outdoors, and hosts to us human visitors who would explore their world. Like all creatures, they should be treated with respect. Unlike many creatures, they can impose stiff penalties on the careless and foolish. Mind your footing, watch where you put your hands, avoid long grass if you're not wearing hiking boots, leave napping or sunning snakes be, and you'll have little to fear from serpents as you hike through "hisssss-tory"...