Santa Clara County Residents Warned To Watch For Rattlesnakes

SAN JOSE (KCBS) - The odds of being bitten by a rattlesnake are slim, but it does happen. 15 people were bitten by snakes in Santa Clara County last year, and emergency responders would prefer not to see it happen at all in 2013.

"With the weather becoming warmer, more and more people are going out and hiking, enjoying themselves at various parks and rural areas. And, the possibility of a snake bite goes up," warned Michael Petrie, director of Santa Clara County's Emergency Medical Services.

"We encourage when people are out of doors in remote areas that they want to wear boots, that they want to wear long pants, that they don't want to make fast movements over logs or other areas where they can't see," Petrie suggested. "It's often helpful to carry a walking stick or another stick so you can tap out in front of you, which helps give snakes time to move out of the way."

According to Petrie, snakes generally do try to avoid humans but may strike if startled. The majority of snake bites do not result in serious injuries, but you're encouraged to call 911 any time you suffer a snake bite, to be on the safe side.

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• Snake