Beware, the rattlesnakes are out, and will bite if they feel threatened.
We received a note from the mother of a boy who was bitten on Saturday by a rattlesnake in the Northgate area of Walnut Creek.
Here’s what she had to say:
My son was bit last night in the Northgate area in someone’s courtyard. He is 15 and they opened the gate to walk to the front door and the rattlesnake struck. He was transported to John Muir Hospital and received anti-venin, and so far is responding well.
I would like people to be aware that snakes can be anywhere and to be cautious.
We’re happy to hear he’s responding well and will recover.
If you see a rattlesnake, give it distance, and if it bites you, call 911 and remain calm.
photo: Claycord file photo
Total corn snake …
@Booya totally a rattlesnake, the rattles are a dead giveaway
I usually see a few every year but have not seen one this year.
But I know they are here.
Not a time to have your face in an Eyephone when you walk around.
No time to make jokes. This is terrible. I am so glad your son managed to be ok so far. WE have tons of those little buggers around here and so far I have not see one but I think when you least expect it is when it is too late. So thank you very much for the heads up.
Wrong!
Thank you. He is doing better. However there is more swelling and he may need a second round of antivenin.
Is there any way to prevent snakes entering on property? Would a mesh fence work?
If you see a rattlesnake buy some wild king snakes.
Or buy a roadrunner… or a mongoose.
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
Although some sub-species of mongooses are resistant to snake venom, their import into most countries is illegal because of the seriously damaging effect they have on native, ground-dwelling fauna. Roadrunners would be great though!
“Wildtype California kingsnakes are technically illegal to sell without special permits in their home state of California. These increased restrictions are due to a law that prohibits trafficking native California species within state lines.” From Wikipedia.
Unless a species occurs naturally within an area, I would be careful introducing it for the devastating effect it could have on other of the native fauna population. The Western fence lizard, the Red-legged frog, and other native occurring species could be put in even further jeopardy than they already are.
I was only joking..
It would be ridiculous to try to use any critter like that.
Completely ineffective… they’d run or slither away.
If Rattlers were really a problem ( like they are in Texas & Arizona) there are systems available to keep them out with 1/4″ metal screen fencing and rock or heavy gravel piled around the base.
Some use electric fencing or electrically charged matting as well.
Google it.
Snake glue traps are available but they kill most anything that enters.
They say the animal can be released with veggie oil, but that is assuming it isn’t already dead by the time you find it. I would not use those.
Gittyup California King snakes live in this area naturally. I get them in my backyard on occasion. Lets see do I want to be technical or do I want rattlesnakes in my backyard or at my doorstep. When my kids were still in school one of their friends kept a King Snake in a cage. They used to go in the hills above Northgate and catch rattlesnakes to feed the King Snake.
I found one a few years ago in my driveway(!). It was a young one, only about 8 inches long. It shook its little rattle as I got closer; I used a snow shovel to gently scoop it up and released it into a field behind my home. I don’t kill wild animals and I’m glad it got a new home. These snakes never used to be so prevalent in our area; it seems unwary travelers/campers have accidentally brought them back from the central valleys and the mountains and now they’re here to stay.
Good on you! They are an important predator keeping the rodent population in check.
They’ve been plentiful around here as long as I can remember, and that’s a long time.
We found one in our Walnut orchards on Concord Blvd. in the 1950s, so they aren’t exactly new to the area.
I’ve seen gopher snakes shake their tales like a rattlesnake too…. must be an instinctive thing, but if they are in dry brush or leaves they can fool you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_aSzUNy1nk
What a relief to hear that the young man is responding well to anti-venom!
My viewings of California rattlesnakes in the wild (mostly up in Trinity and Siskiyou counties) have been of the type with a more diamondback scale pattern than the one shown in the photograph. So having just viewed rattlesnake pictures using a Googlesearch, now I have a question:
Is this what’s called the Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake (or alternately the California Speckled Rattlesnake?) underneath some of the online photos?
One suggestion is that ALL the homeowners in that neighborhood make sure that there are no mice, voles, gophers, ground squirrels, etc. in their yards because snakes are generally hunting for something to eat (or at least staying near a known food source). Also, they will seek damp, shady places to rest through hot days like this. And we all know they will protect themselves if startled or cornered. But we humans are part of Nature, too, and need to protect ourselves ….. including having a major-league exterminator deal with the rattlers in our neighborhoods, if necessary.
What a frightening experience for this family!
Hi. I’m the mother. It was in the eve., and no warning. It was a baby/ young one. After the strike, and he held his foot saying ouch, the friend behind him, heard the rattle, and saw it coiled up, ready to strike again….he said, run…. at that point my son heard the rattle too, and bolted. He was the second one through the gate, so obviously it was threatened and struck.
He is recovering well. Thankfully his kidney numbers went down. However over night and through the day the swelling has increased. If it increases 1 more cm, he will need a second round of antivenin.
Prayer is appreciated. Talk to your kids, and educate yourselves too on what to do in the event of a snake bite.
I would like to thank the fire dept,, and ambulance for their rapid response, and getting him to John Muir quickly.
Antler ~ The snakes around here are the Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes.
Ran into one at sibley east bay park
Thank you for the kindness of your responses, the mom and Dr. Jellyfinger.
There is quite a bit of helpful information on this website, including photos of rattlers by county in California, and tips if you discover them living in your area.
http://www.californiaherps.com/info/rattlesnakeinfo.html
Last spring my daughter found a baby rattlesnake in her livingroom/diningroom area. She has 3 little girls 2 1/2, 4 1/2, 6 1/2. Luckily she saw it when she got home and before the girls were in that area of the house. She has no idea how it got in.
Wow. That is truly scary. Little ones like that are not as lucky with bites. My son is 15, super healthy and they said, that gave him a much better chance. I’m so glad she saw that snake before anything could have happened. Thank you for sharing.
Whoa!! I’ve never found a snake in my house (thank goodness!), but once we had a tarantula sneak in. They can get through the smallest openings! AND I found a snake skin in my front yard’s weeds last year – that freaked me out good, I’ll tell you!!
Mom we are definitely praying for all of you!
Sending prayers that he will respond
To the antivenom. 🙏🙏
MovingOutofCA. Prayers out to your son. Here’s keeping positive thoughts that the second round of anti venom is not needed. Prayers out to you as well for peace in the process. He’s at the best place for round the clock care and monitoring. I live near Mt Diablo. My backyard is a fence away. We see at least one rattler each year. Snakes show up as early as April and as late as October. Two years ago our dog was bit. Anti venom saved her. Baby rattlers, so im told, dispense more venom than older rattlers. Also, the striking distance of a snake when coiled is the length of their bodies. Good the boys ran after that first strike and good your son got to the proper care ASAP. Positive thoughts out your way for continued improvement with each passing hour.
Thank you!!! He so far has not needed the second round of antivenin. Yay! Your words were very kind and brought me peace…..
I would like to thank everyone who took the time to post, share stories, links with good information and well wishes/Prayers for my son. He is doing much better and didn’t need the second dose of antivenin. He should be coming home today. John Muir has been wonderful!! The doctors and nurses have been great! I’m so thankful we live close to a hospital that has the antivenin. It was brought to my attention that not all hospitals carry it, and John Muir is one of the hospitals that people are transported to for antivenin.
Ps…. we are doing sweeps of “ our “ courtyard and backyard now. Also kids say the funniest things. He said, “ well this is my first snake bite”…. we all laughed and said, “ first??? there will be no more hopefully “. Hug your children tight every time they walk out the door ❤️
@MovingOutOfCA – I’m glad to see your son is doing well. He’ll be happy with the neat scars as he’s also getting to the age where he’s getting that desire to show off to girls!
Once you move out of California you’ll have neighbors who say things like “Oh cool!, California! It’s one giant beach with people break dancing all over the place.” Your son can then show off his snake bite scars.
“Chicks dig scars!: from a movie….
I feel so bad for your son, I’ve heard the bites are the worst! Poor guy & right at the start of his school year!
What a story he will have to tell, bless his heart!
He’s a warrior for sure!
Praying for him ❤