Rattle snakes in the okanagan

[Onemoremile]

I'll be hunting in the okanagan this fall what can i wear to protect me? Do carhart pants work? What about an anti venom shot is there such a thing?

[Ghengis Khandrey]

Ask your partner to suck the poison out. Hope you don't get bit on the main vein

In all seriousness it's not a common occurrence. I've never run across one hunting

[604redneck]

I would not worry about it. More likely to get a tick then a rattler bite.ive only had 1 strike at me and that was last september.

[wideopenthrottle]

http://www.bcreptiles.ca/snakes/n_pacificrattle.htm

http://www.chigiy.com/the_gardeners_anonymous_b/2011/05/12-things-i-learned-after-being-bitten-by-a-rattlesnake.html



a couple of links I found interesting

https://wildsafebc.com/rattlesnake/

from this one above
Rattlesnake bites are very rare in British Columbia and are almost never fatal. Most snake bites are due to people deliberately trying to handle or harm rattlesnakes. The most important thing to remember is to get the victim to the hospital.
If you are bitten:
1. Stay calm and remove yourself from the area. Move slowly or be carried.
2. Remove any constrictive clothing or jewelry, which otherwise would act as a tourniquet and concentrate the venom and prevent fresh blood from entering the area (which is not desirable).
3. Go to the nearest hospital. Phone ahead if possible, or phone 911. Preferably, have someone else drive you.
4. Mark swelling with lines and times every 10 minutes or so. This will help doctors assess the severity of the bite.
5.If necessary, you may clean the bite area to prevent further infection.
6. Do not:
· Apply a tourniquet
· Make an incision
· Attempt to suck out the venom
· Ice the wound
· Kill the snake
· Bring the snake to the hospital. Snakes are protected by law and doctors do not need to identify a snake to treat snakebite in BC.

[Seeker]

I have bumped a dozen or so in my time. Usually hear them before you see them. If your wearing your hiking boots and pants you will most likely be ok (carharts are fine). The only place that an issue may arise is if you are climbing and placing hands blindly and surprise the snake. Doesn't hurt to do some reading should you be unlucky, but I wouldn't stress it too much. Good luck.

[elch jager]

Good numbers around the Thompson River between Ashcroft and Wallichin. See them often while fishing. Been followed by an aggressive one that made me abandon my shady nap area. Never been struck at though. A bite would hamper your day...

[savagecanuck]

In the Okanagan I wouldn't worry about it. I've lived here for 50 years and have only run into 3 and only one was aggressive.

[tracker]

snakes everywhere sssssssssstay away

[uraarchr]

Some around Vernon on the south sides.relatives hiking have run into a few this year.Deep lk,Cozens bay,and probaly the Rise/Canadian Lakeview.

[uraarchr]

If you're out a lot. And it's hot out and on the South sides you may run into a few.i personally don't know anyone whose been bitten............and I'm definitely no expert.i steer clear of those things

[Ourea]

Onemoremile.....rattlesnakes in the southern part of the Okanagan r simply part of the landscape.
Spend enough time during the right temperatures and u should b fortunate enough to c one or two.

I wouldn't waste a moment worrying about them.
They r an extremely passive creature.

I have encountered dozens over the yrs with only a few that were cranky and took a false poke.
My elk hunting partner (deaf as a stump) has had the misfortune of stepping on two without a strike attempt.
Sure got his heart rate going though!

[stan]

Haha are you serious, I don't think hunting is for you

[Fisher-Dude]

I've seen them, never really had a problem.

Only one that was miserable was a small 12 incher that I was trying to shoo off the road with a stick before he got run over. Little bugger was striking at me with amazing rapidity.

[LuckyHorseshoe]

http://www.bcreptiles.ca/snakes/n_pacificrattle.htm

http://www.chigiy.com/the_gardeners_anonymous_b/2011/05/12-things-i-learned-after-being-bitten-by-a-rattlesnake.html



a couple of links I found interesting

https://wildsafebc.com/rattlesnake/

from this one above
Rattlesnake bites are very rare in British Columbia and are almost never fatal. Most snake bites are due to people deliberately trying to handle or harm rattlesnakes. The most important thing to remember is to get the victim to the hospital.
If you are bitten:
1. Stay calm and remove yourself from the area. Move slowly or be carried.
2. Remove any constrictive clothing or jewelry, which otherwise would act as a tourniquet and concentrate the venom and prevent fresh blood from entering the area (which is not desirable).
3. Go to the nearest hospital. Phone ahead if possible, or phone 911. Preferably, have someone else drive you.
4. Mark swelling with lines and times every 10 minutes or so. This will help doctors assess the severity of the bite.
5.If necessary, you may clean the bite area to prevent further infection.
6. Do not:
· Apply a tourniquet
· Make an incision
· Attempt to suck out the venom
· Ice the wound
· Kill the snake
· Bring the snake to the hospital. Snakes are protected by law and doctors do not need to identify a snake to treat snakebite in BC.




Dont don't kill the snake!!!!! A snake bites me and that's the first thing that's gonna happen!!

[plumberjustin]

Seen lots of rattlers in the ok falls/Oliver area while bass fishing. Wear good boots/thick pants and don't reach into any blind area without poking with a stick first.

[Brez]

Been a while since I was there but saw quite a few for the number of days hunting near OK Falls. They tended to lay on or near the trails in the evenings but I had no issues - except one who slithered into some rocks on the edge of the trail and then coiled up. That was quite cool weather though and they looked sluggish at that time. Cool critters though

[Jagermeister]

I grew up in the South Okanagan and was never bitten. An acquaintance was once, had to get a snake venom shot. East side of Oliver is probably where you would find most, off the road to Baldy, Twin Lakes and the Similkameen around Keremeos. Just don't step over logs and large rocks. Step up onto and look down before stepping down. They tend to frequent dry areas but I have found them in wet areas as well.

[Ohwildwon]

I wear an anti rattle snake cage, you can buy them on amazon...

They also sell them at the pro shop @ osoyoos golf club..

[Singleshotneeded]

I'll be hunting in the okanagan this fall what can i wear to protect me? Do carhart pants work? What about an anti venom shot is there such a thing?

Been here since '93...saw one...it's dead.

[.308SLAYER]

In my experience 9 times out of 10 they will let you know that they are there listen for that rattle...I don't worry about them anymore

[IronNoggin]

Dont don't kill the snake!!!!! A snake bites me and that's the first thing that's gonna happen!!

aYup! ;-)

http://gallery.fishbc.com/albums/Ironnoggin/Diamondback_Mount.jpg

Cheers,
Nog

[Budman]

Ran across 3 of them when we were hunting sheep . One was in the shade , the others were on the rocks sunning themselves. They will let you know if your too close to them.

[Fisher-Dude]

You'll want to think twice about the bad advice given by a couple of posters on this thread.



Rattlesnakes in BC are considered 'threatened' under federal legislation and are 'Blue listed' provincially. So remember, this snake is protected and it is illegal to harm, kill, or capture a rattlesnake in BC.

https://wildsafebc.com/rattlesnake/

[IronNoggin]

You'll want to think twice about the bad advice given by a couple of posters on this thread.

Guess it's a good thing that one I had mounted was killed in a Western US State, at a time when they were considered "vermin" and totally legal to execute. ;)

Cheers,
Nog

[Ourea]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO5Piidf_ww

Back of OK Falls.
Note how docile she is.
Like 308slayer said, you have little to worry about when it comes to rattlesnakes.

[139grainsofhell]

More snakes out there than deer!!!

[steel_ram]

I stepped over one while running on the trail an the West side of Skaha lake. It didn't even flinch. I wasn't really paying attention and thought it was just a stick until it was too late. Was cool to watch after the fact. Glad I didn't step on it.

[Onemoremile]

Awesome thanks for the info

[358mag]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO5Piidf_ww

Back of OK Falls.
Note how docile she is.
Like 308slayer said, you have little to worry about when it comes to rattlesnakes.
Just make sure you zip up the door on your tent everytime !!!!

[BChunter]

Lots of Ticks though in the OKanogan. They are in the grass and trees and shrubs. Check each night and remove them with tweezers, including the head. Wear OFF spray, same as mosquitos! Check your dogs too!

[Getbent]

Good numbers around the Thompson River between Ashcroft and Wallichin. See them often while fishing. Been followed by an aggressive one that made me abandon my shady nap area. Never been struck at though. A bite would hamper your day...
used to run into them all the time on the ginseng farms at Wallachin while moving irrigation pipe. Bull snakes used to keep them down. Cool reptiles though.

[kagia]

used to run into them all the time on the ginseng farms at Wallachin while moving irrigation pipe. Bull snakes used to keep them down. Cool reptiles though.
We actually don't have bull snakes here. We have Great Basin gopher snakes. They're similar, but a different sub-species. They do feed on the rattlers and are also protected under the Species At Risk Act.

[kagia]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO5Piidf_ww

Back of OK Falls.
Note how docile she is.
Like 308slayer said, you have little to worry about when it comes to rattlesnakes.
Nice one! Good on you for not running it over.

I spend an embarrassing amount of time shooing snakes off the road when I'm in the back country.