SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In the spring and summer, you might spot a rattlesnake sunning in itself on a rock or a hiking trail.
However, snakes tend to disappear from sight when the temperature drops.
Where do rattlers go in California when the weather gets cold?
The Sacramento Bee asked the experts to find out:
- What happens to rattlesnakes when it goes cold?
Rattlesnakes are most active from April to October, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
“Rattlesnakes are sensitive to ambient temperature and adjust their behavior accordingly,” the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said on its website.
During the spring and summer, the snakes are “most active at dawn, dusk, and night to avoid overheating,” the state wildlife agency explained.
When the temperature consistently drops below 60 degrees in the fall and winter, rattlesnakes enter a dormancy period known as brumation, according to wildlife control company Critter Control.
“They don’t really actually sleep,” explained Michael Starkey, founder and executive director of Save the Snakes, a nonprofit snake conservation organization based in Sacramento. “The temperature gets so low that their metabolism gets really slow.”
The venomous snakes are surviving by conserving calories, he explained.
“They’re basically just waiting it out until it gets warmer,” Starkey said.
A snake in brumation can still move, he added, although its movements might be slower and its behavior less predictable than usual.
Rattlers “typically aren’t going to be moving long distances,” Starkey said, but they might venture into a sunny spot to catch some rays. “We call this opportunistic basking.”
- Where do snakes go when the temperature drops?
Rattlesnakes can live in rural and urban areas, including on riverbanks, in parks and at golf courses, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. They may also turn up around homes and yards.
Rattlesnakes require rocky, open areas for basking and hiding with a nearby water source. They can swim and even climb trees.
In warmer weather, you may see a rattler basking in the sun to raise its body temperature.
During the colder months, rattlesnakes may gather and establish themselves in dens, according to the department.
“They’re looking for large rocks, rodent burrows, fallen trees, tree stumps, wherever there are large crevices or cracks where they can keep them safe during the winter,” Starkey said.
The snakes may also look for shelter under or around man-made structures, seeking out cracks in foundations under houses as well as rock piles, woodpiles, brush areas and large boulders.
“If you’ve seen snakes before in and around your property, they could be hanging out for the winter,” Starkey said.
- Can you still get bitten by a snake in winter?
“A cold snake is a completely different animal than a warm snake,” Starkey said, so you should “give them plenty of space and let them move on their own.”
“Even a cold snake can bite,” he explained. “They’re just going to be a lot slower.”
If you find a rattlesnake in brumation, you should call a pest removal professional or your local animal control agency to relocate it “somewhere appropriate (like) down a deep hole where (it) won’t be exposed to the cold,” Starkey said.
- How to identify rattlesnakes
Seven different species of rattlesnake can be found across California.
The most common is the western rattlesnake, which can be found from sea level to elevations of 7,000 feet, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Rattlesnakes can be recognized by the distinct sound their rattles make.
The venomous snakes can, however, lose their rattles or simply decide not to use them.
You can also identify rattlers by their gray or light brown exteriors and triangular-shaped heads. They usually range from 2 to 4 feet in length and can camouflage themselves to match their surroundings.
“Snakes are really secretive,” Starkey told The Bee previously. “They don’t want to encounter people.”
- How to avoid getting bitten by a rattler
“Rattlesnakes are generally not aggressive and will avoid people,” the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said. “They usually retreat if given safe space to move and not provoked or threatened.”
The snakes will rattle if they sense prey and try to escape — and you should let them get away.
A rattlesnake can strike as far as two-thirds of its body length, according to Sonoma County Regional Parks.
If you encounter one, stay at least 10 steps away.
- What to do if you get bit
Most bites occur between April and October when snakes and humans are most active outdoors, according to Fish and Wildlife.
If you are bitten by a rattlesnake, the department says to stay calm but act quickly. Remove items that may constrict swelling such as watches, rings and shoes.
Victims should be transported to the nearest hospital. Tourniquets and ice packs should not be applied, the department says.
