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Show BEN LOMOND BEACON. ByLynnA rave Many people have heard of Claustrophobia" (the fear of closed places) and of Acrophobia (the fear of heights), but probably the most common of all the countless phobias which exist in the United States July 3, 1979, Page 3 abound in area mountains today is: the moet repulsive Ophidaophobia" fear of (the fanatical . Eden that the Devil could use to for this evil purpose tempt Adam and Eve. Some believe too one of Gods curses on the serpent was that it lost its feet and had to evermore move upon its of all creatures. snakes). Such behavior stems from a snakes bizarre slimy appearance and from its slithering sly form of locomotion. Snakes are considered by many to be Snakes somewhat also have a ' bad of reputation in the Bible. Some Christian Churches- - believe that a snake was the only creature in the Garden of rattlesnake has, giving it a distinctive , , jrzry" ' second bluffers and lastly warriors. A Rattlesnake who shakes his Rattle is letting you know hes there and wants to avoid human contact. Experts agree that Rattlers only strike as a last resort like for example if their escape route is blocked or you are between them and their den. As far as being . performed the stunt to set a world record. He never got bit and thus surprised people showing snakes are not that aggressive. Recent weather has been very hot and dry and so Rattlers in the Ogden area have begun to move down into the lower foothills. Parents should be careful about where they let their children play near foothill areas. Uncleared areas are definite taboos. Tall grass and rocky terrain near local recreational areas can also hide the reptiles this time of year. Just be careful where you step. It isnt wise either to walk in uncleared areas near the foothills at night unless you wear protective clothing. But, how many Rattlers have you ever saw in your lifetime? Or how many times do you remember reading a specific instance of someone being biten in the Ogden area? Probably not many times. Irregardless, Utah Obviously the best way to In Utah there are 32 dif- avoid being bitten is to avoid ferent snakes. Common all Rattlesnakes. And that over Utah are: Mormon simple advice is easier to Racers, Striped Whip-snake- s, follow than one might think Garter Snakes and for Rattlesnakes are hard to all of which find even when one is looking Snakes Gopher are harmless. Excluding for them. Rattlers dont lie in Southern Utah (which has a , wait on a trail waiting for a couple of its own), there are person to come along to bite. five species and seven sub- When you are hiking, far species of Rattlesnakes more see you than you see found in Utah. By far the them. They are just content moBt dominant is the Great to let you pass. Basin Rattlesnake. Most snakes There are 15 known protect species of Rattlers in the themselves from humans by to hide, stay world. A Rattier is defined as trying any Pit Viper possessing a motionless or quietly crawl rattle. The Pit Viper Family away. Rattlers are not includes all 15 Rattlers as agressive creatures, they well as the Poisonous Copperheads and Cottonmouths. Today Rattlers are found all over North America and even up into Southern Canada. Only two states: Delaware and Maine are thought to have completely especially Rattlers; then perhaps you should consider moving to one of the following four countries which have no known snakes of any kind in them (Except in the Zoos): Ireland, Hawaii, Bermuda and New Zealand are all snake free countries. . A FRONTAL View of a diamondbocked rattlesnake. . i wilt of- - exterminated Rattlers. In Utah Rattlers are found just about everywhere, but mainly in the lower A MIGHTY big mouth for a huge snake. This large snake over a dozen is a python and one snake to avoid. Luckily H's in Hogle Zoo. elevations below 8,000 feet, though some have been found higher. Rattlers are found in the lower Uintahs, but not in the High Uintahs (where the climate is too cold). They live best in warm feet long First aid for snakebite Snakebite, especially from poisonous snakes is rare and what treatment you use soon you can depends on how reach a doctor. The following is a suggested procedure: 1) Try to determine if the snake was poisonous one or not. Kill and take the snake with you, if you can. 2) Keep calm since victims can suffer from hysteria and shock unassociated with the venom itself. Do not make a dash for help, but a normal walk for one hour is not harmful. Violent exercise will circulate the venom more rapidly. A victim should get to a doctor within six hours. 3) If you can reach a doctor in a couple of hours, do not cut the bite and try to suck the poison out since you cant drain it all out anyway. Also, bacteria from the wild Avoid snakebite ! Much Is always written and said about what to do IF YOU ARE BITTEN by a snake, but little la ever said about precautions to avoid being bitten In the first place. ' Here's a list of 10 realistic things that can be done to greatly avoid any possibility of being bitten by a snake: 1. Remember that snakes are first cowards, second bluffers and lastly warriors. If you meet a snake, pasue; be perfectly still and think through the consequences of any actions. Given a chance, most snakes will retreat from human encounter, unless you are between them and their den. 1 Remember that snakes usually avoid direct sunlight Thus, beware of them in shady sad dark places. 3. Avoid VaHting at night in snake infested areas. 4. Remember that snakes are most active in modmate temperatures. TV.ir optimum temperature range is SO to 90 degrees F. Hot dry weather is a prime time to see Utah rattlers. 5. Excepting the High Uintahs in Utah (where it is very cool), snakes can be found at high altitudes above 1,000 feet. S. Keep in mind that snakes can climb trees and fences. 7. Always walk on clear paths; avoid tall brush or grass and if you must go off a trail, wear protective clothing. I. Remember that snakes can swim when nee res ary and that they can bite you in the water. . Always avoid sleeping on open ground In snake areas. 10.- - Never make a campsite around caves, rockpBee or isolated rubbish piles. II. Never gather firewood after dark. 11. Avoid moving around on rocky ledSM or on rock piles. U. Never hike alone. 14. Always step on top of a log or rock before you cm it and look before you leap1 is a good slogan in Infested areas. 11 Always look around you before you sX down in the wild. 14. Never crawl under a fence In grass or brush. IT. Do not go out of your way to kia a snake. Never tease or play games with rattlers. 14. Never handfe any freshly kiSed snakes. . Consider carrying a stick with you In known snake areas to prod the grand ahead of you wtth. Always use the slkk to lap fee ground ahead of you if your not m an open hh 13. Nmrpank la any sSuatioa. If you are very afraid of snshee,boavy work boots, won laatde heavy pants wfl slop rattler bitee fteas breatieg yew stia. i mouth can infect the bite and can venom enter the bloodstream through a sore or cut in the mouth. 4) Never use a tourniquet because it keeps most of the venom in a single area while reducing the blood supply in that area. A tourniquet could save you in extreme circumstances, but would require the loss of your arm or leg. MEDICAL TREATMENT Rattlesnake antlvenon has been around for more than SO years. It has reduced snakebite death to two persons in 10 million bites. This substance is made from the blood of immunised horses. But, almost one third of the population is allergic to it. A . Mississippi Pathologist, Dr. Van Philpot is currently on the verge of isolating what substance makes snakes immune to their own poison. By the early 1900's his Cure could be on the market. Some Indians and a few doctors have either been bitten by rattlers so many times or have injected compounds venoms into that they are immune to rattlesnake venom. from them-selve- s; Because of antibodies, such persons can give transfusions to snakebite victims. TREATMENT If you can't reach a doctor soon, anntv a loose band between the heart and the bite. Next, Incise the two fan marks no of an deeper than inch and 1 1 the wound bleed. out Suction poison preferably with a suction cp, if one is not available, use the mouth and spit the In an hour up to of the venom can be removed, but little after con-stridi- one-eigh- th that r , give a victim ssdattvee, aspirin or Do not or uaa a there is no way to reach a doctor la six THE RATTLES can easily be seen on this rattlesnake, a captive Facts about snakes noted Origin of Snakes' reptiles are thought to have had their origins in the shallow seas and swamp forests of 300 million years ago in the Palezoic era. They are related to the extinct dinosaurs, All except reptiles survived the changes in climate, floods, volcanoes and ice ages. Today there are 3,000 different snakes in the world. Rattlers are a rather modern dry country. Their best varietiesof of snakes believed to have developed in the Mexican group 80 is temperature range then moved north and south. degrees to 90 degrees F. In Highlands and Lifespan hot weather they very Ten years represents a long life for a Rattler. A few have usually go underground and hunt for food by night. Below lived twenty years. Reproduction 55 degrees they become Female Rattlers mate at age 2 or 3 and bear live young in inactive and at a shade temperature of 46 degrees or numbers of about a dozen. Not all snakes bear live young. Some lay eggs. below, they seek hibernation Movement underground. Some Black Mamba Snakes have been clocked at near 20 Some places in Northern miles per hour for distances of several dozen yards, but they Utah seem to be more attractive to Rattlers than do are by far the fastest of snakes. Rattlers are heavy bodies others. Because of the rock however and can only move at three miles per hour at top . formations on the East side speed and just for very short distances. Snakes do not travel of Bear Lake, Rattlers are in a straight line, they move in a sort of S formation and thus cover per cent more distance than if they could go quite pervalent there. But, in a straight line. on all fiber sides of the lake, Striking they are very rare. All snakes can bite even if they are not coiled for all they Blacksmith Fork Canyon need to do is open their mouths. Rattlers can strike at a speed (near Hardware Ranch) and of 8 feet per second. In contrast, a man can throw his fist at 18 the Camp Kiesel area also feet second. However, neither is easy to dodge close up. per to their more seem have than When coiled, Rattlers can strike out about three times their share of Rattlesnakes. On the way to Hardware Ranch, body length. Size it is not uncommon to nearly In the past centuries, they have run over some. Generally, In the past centuries, there have been stories of Rattlers 12 they like places that are feet long, but one of the biggest ever measured was seven man. and from away rocky feet three inches long and weighed but 15 pounds. Dr. Gifford Snyder, a Generally, Rattlers are only two to three feet long. In amateur prominent Anacondas have been found that are 37 feet long expert and plastic contrast, and weighing 200 pounds. But, today the really super big that has discovered surgeon, Rattlers migrate two times a snakes are gone because they are too easy prey for man to hunt year from their mountain Water dens in the Wasatch In the hot summer, snakes like to live near water if Foothills out to the Salt Flats west of Salt Lake. They possible. They can drink from a pond or stream or even get move through the Salt Lake some drops of dew off leaves. Some Pacific Coast Rattlers Sewer system in the spring were found to only consume their body weight in water each and head back again in the year. fall. If a similar migration Food happens in the Ogden area Is All snakes are meat eaters. A few eat insects, but only eat not known. Rattlers are also found on all the islands on plants by accident. Rattlers eat small mammals up to the size of rabbits, eat lizards, birds and sometimes small fish Great Salt Lake. and even other snakes. The big Anacondas have been known to swallow small cows Reports of them eating small children Biles are not substantiated, but the really big snakes like Nationwide, about 45,000 Anacondas are capable of swallowing a maximum of ISO people are bitten by snakes each year according to the pounds at a time. Such snakes are helpless for days after such .meals, cannot move and are highly vulnerable. Some National Health Insurance Institute. The highest age snakes have fasted up to three years in captivity. Vision group for snake bites is Snakes have fairly good vision, but are years old. But, only about 10 per cent of the 46,000 annual Rattlers cannot perceive much movement that is more than IS feet sway. bites are from venemous snakes and more than half of Hearing All snakes are thought to be deaf to airborne sounds. They thaee poisonous bites occur hi Just six states: Arkansas, are super sensitive to ground vibrations, however. Smefl Georgia, Louisiana, North A snake's tongue picks up odors very well and a Rattler's Canons and Texas. tongue also acts as a heat detector to help them find small Only about 3,23 people are rodents in dark tunnels. bitten annually by Rattlers in the VS. and ociy 11 or 11 ARTICLE TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK. actually fie from being bit 25-3- 5 Rat-tlesna- near-sighte- Rattlers exist in Northern Utah. They have been here a long time and will likely be here much longer. However, if youre still petrified of snakes, Avoid Fact. 0 are defensive creatures. They are first cowards, bites are caused by people . attempting to handle Rattlesnakes. belly. (Genesis 3:1-14- ). Later, (Numbers 21:6-9- ) God Contrary to what you may sent fiery serpents to punish have read earlier last month Israel, but soon a Brazen in an Ogden Editorial stating Serpent on a pole was used to 14 people having been bitten cure the people of snakebite by Rattlers so far this year in in instructions given to Utah Dr. James Glenn, a Rattlers are Moses by God. Snakes have researcher working with irritable, somewhat touchy and have sometimes even been a term venomous snakes at Salt to describe the Devil himself Lakes Veterans Hospital, poor vision while they shed their skin. (Revelation 12:9). says that the figure of 214 Several months ago, Peter The philosophy of some bites is not true. Glenn, lived for 50 days is curator of who also not the is Snyman fear, perhaps people but hatred. To such people, reptiles at Hogle Zoo, said straight in a ten foot long by snakes are nothing less than further that as of the third eight foot wide cage located in South Africa with 24 of the slimy demons and that week of June, only two world's deadliest snakes. He the only good snake is a rattlesnake bites have occurred in Utah this year. dead snake. Most of this fear and hate Annually, he says that the is focused on the Rattleaverage number of Rattler snake-reputed in legend bites is only six. Since 1900 to be Americas mythical when accurate record have since been kept, Glenn says only monster. Ever travelers first encountered two people have ever died in the Rattier four centuries Utah from Rattler bites in ago, an obsession of fright the wild and one of the two for this reptile has been no persons actually died from perpetrated that even today shock. Thus, Rattler bites Rattler mythology is hard are a lot rarer in Utah than to distinguish from Rattler most will believe. , DIAMOND SHAPED head is what this look and making it easy to remember. Far more people die each Bee and Scorpion year from ' Stings than from Rattier bites. An interesting fact is that 25 per cent of all Rattler in Hogle Zoo. |
