As the weather warms up, more hikers are heading out on the trails with their dogs. But they’re not the only ones making tracks in the wilderness.
“When the air gets a minimum temperature at night close to 50 and starts consistently being in that temperature, that’s when snakes break surface and regulate their temperature under items such as rocks and boards,” said John Lauermann, a Field Herpetologist.
Southern Pacific rattlesnakes are the most prevalent snakes in the Santa Clarita area, yet many misconceptions about them persist.
“Rattlesnakes have a bad reputation; they are aggressive,” said Lauermann. “They are not aggressive; they are defensive and will hold their ground.”
Dog owners can gain some peace of mind with rattlesnake aversion classes, such as this one offered by Natural Solutions. Trainers teach dogs to recognize a rattlesnake by smell, sound, and sight—and most importantly, to stay far away.
“The main thing I want them to take away is that dogs can be, no matter what their personality type, taught to respect and give rattlesnakes the distance that they need,” said Erick Briggs, a dog trainer at Natural Solutions.
“Secondly, I want people to take away that these mystical beasts launch themselves 10 feet. They’re pretty easy to avoid if you’re paying attention,” said Briggs.
“Well, we have two dogs, and we live up in the antelope valley right next to the desert,” said Audrey Burgdorfer, a local pet owner looking to educate herself on rattlesnake safety.
“It’s good to have some snake awareness,” said Burgdorfer.
Experts say if you’re out exploring this spring, stay alert—and if you come across a rattlesnake, don’t panic. Just give it space and move on.
