Smooth scales or keeled scales, uniformly colored or blotched, crossbanded or striped, slithering reptiles almost always stop us in our tracks.
While a garden-variety snake might startle you, the rattlesnakes of the drylands east of the Cascades produce a legitimate pause at every slithering
sound or sight.
Of the eight snakes that live in the state, it’s the western rattlesnake that’s most often misnamed and feared. Our rattlers are not sidewinders, timber rattlers or diamondbacks.
Rattlesnakes are in sufficient numbers in some areas, such as the Methow Valley, that paying a little extra attention is not a bad idea.
The last time I hiked in Pipestone Canyon, southeast of Winthrop, I spent as much time looking down as I did up at the visually and geologically interesting hoodoos and canyon walls. (Hint: Go in the spring or fall). This is possibly the area that has the most-abundant rattler population in the state.
There’s even the Rattler Half-Marathon through the canyon in the spring.
Other likely rattler-viewing areas are Umtanum Creek, a tributary of the Yakima River, Fourth of July Creek Trail near Leavenworth in the Wenatchee National Forest, and Saddle Mountain near Richland.
I had already had enough rattlesnake experience when I came within a boot step of a large rattler during a wildflower identification class in Eastern Washington. I didn’t know that I could back up that slowly when the rattler raised up a little, flicked its forked tongue up and down and won the stare-off.
If you’re not too flustered, check for identification marks: broad triangular head that’s wider than its body, diamond-shape pattern along the middle of its back and jointed rattlers on the tail.
The snakes often hibernate together in large numbers and come out of their dens around April. After few days, they will slither to their summer grounds, rarely more than a mile from their dens.
Here are a few facts about Washington rattlesnakes:
•They are relatively calm and rarely rattle. The sound is caused by tail-twitching 20 to 100 times per second. A new rattle segment is added each time a snake sheds its skin, usually a few times a year.
A rattlesnake bite rarely produces enough venom to kill a human, and only about 20 percent of the bites produce venom.
A rattler can detect objects or movement about 40 feet away. It sees well in dim light.
Some people find a skinned, cleaned, rattlesnake sliced into steaks, rolled in cornmeal and salt, and fried is good to eat.
If it’s a 90-degree afternoon, the chances of seeing a rattlesnake actually drop because at snake level, the temperature is hotter, and snakes slither to the shade.
Rattlesnakes don’t have ears and rely on vibrations to create sound.
A mother rattler carries its eggs inside and has live births.
To eat a rodent or bird, the snake drops the bottom jaw out of its socket and swallows.
If you are bitten, stay calm. The venom takes several hours to be in full effect. Clean the wound with soap and water and get medical assistance.
Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.
Other Washington snakes
Common garter snake: Most frequently encountered snake after the Northwestern garter snake.
Western terrestrial garter snake: Despite its name, it spends a lot of time in water. It can be up to 40 inches long.
Northwestern garter snake: More slender than its cousins, about 2 feet long when mature.
Gopher snake: Also known as a bull snake, it measures 3 to 4 feet in length. It’s often mistaken for a rattlesnake because it hisses, coils and strikes, and can vibrate the tip of its tail. But it’s a constrictor and not venomous.
Night snake: This night snake looks similar to the gopher snake but is rarely seen.
Racer snake: In dry, open or brushy country, this extremely fast snake can sometimes be seen streaking across roads.
Rubber boa: Although it is in the same family as the boa constrictor, python and anaconda, our boa tops out at 30 inches. It’s fond of rotting stumps and logs in damp, wooded or large, grassy areas.
Source: Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
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