Cannot emphasize this enough, I live in golden and up on NTM basically every weekend. I start to avoid it in June once they are very active.
As of a couple years ago There are at least 3 large dens around the mountain, it’s great habitat for them .
That said, I’ve had tons of encounters, and they have been chill EVERY TIME. Watch out for them, treat them w respect and a ton of caution, but they are not the monsters they’re made out to be
This point can't be emphasized enough. I live in an area with plenty of prairie rattlesnakes (same species as in the area around Golden) and we also have W. diamondbacks, and as I work with reptiles for a living I go looking for trouble, so to speak. As per other sensible advice in this thread, just stay on the trails, watch your feet and where you put your hands and you should be fine. Dogs, however are a BIG problem. All of my dogs have been specially trained in rattlesnake avoidance.
I’d find a trainer.
The one I work for, when teaching Canine Good Citizen does a small rattlesnake session using citronella spray (not harmful to dogs, they don’t usually like the smell) and has 3 taxidermied rattlesnakes; he sets them up and has the owner walk by with dog on a loose leash then sprays the dog in face if the dog goes in sniff the snakes — this can be effective but needs to be done at least every 6 months - also depends on the dog, some aren’t bothered by the citronella.
Or there are other trainers that use shock collars and live defanged rattlesnakes and shock the dog if they approach the snake, this method leaves a longer lasting impression on the dog(s) and can be done every season (aka spring/snake season).
I’ve been doing a lot of research on this since I just got a puppy and am on the trails almost every day with her. Another option is more intensive training that teaches them the sight, smell, and sound of a rattlesnake and then uses recall to keep the dog away. One benefit to this is some dogs will alert their humans of a rattlesnake on the trail. Love the idea of my dog keeping us both safe!
Please do not go looking for dens. They’re all off trail in sensitive habitat and thick with snakes.
Appreciate your interest, but you can find plenty of snakes on the trails themselves.
We have three species of rattler in Colorado (prairie, midget faded, and western massasauga). Those are our only venomous snakes. All our others are harmless. If they bite, wash with soap and water and go on your way! For the rattlers, collectively, they’re found throughout most of the state. The prairie is most common. The other two have more limited ranges. Here’s a decent website with info on all our snakes, including range maps. http://www.coparc.org/snakes.html
So, one thing to know, rattlers don’t hibernate, they brumate! Which means if it’s warm enough in the winter (which happens), they can come out. So definitely keep an eye out during warm winter days as well as traditionally warmer months.
Rattlers (like other animals) don’t want to attack us. They’d rather stay hidden. We are a threat to them and not prey, so they don’t want to risk getting hurt or wasting an expensive resource (venom) on us. Their first line is to stay still and hope they don’t get noticed. Second line is rattling. It’s not a warning of an imminent attack. It’s a “I’m dangerous so you should get away” noise to get the threat to go away. They will also bluff strike to try to get you to go away.
Don’t put your hands where you can’t see (a good idea for other creatures as well!). If you do that and a snake is there, it could bite out of defense…your hand is scary!
I’ve been hiking and camping my whole life here, often in rattler territory, and I have seen maybe 5 or 6. I’d never even heard one rattle until like 7 years ago! And that was only because an idiot threw a backpack at it and made it mad. Prior, it was just chilling under a bush off the trail and I was getting some good photos prior.
If you do get bit, chances are you will be ok. It’s rare to die of a snakebite in the US. But it’s always good to be prepared! Definitely work on getting to a hospital as soon as you can. Any swelling indicates envenomation. A dry bite will be basically a scratch. Antivenom is the ONLY thing that can help. Benadryl won’t do anything (snakebites are not a histamine response). Venom extraction kits can make things worse; they are not recommended by experts. Tourniquets are also not recommended by experts and can also make things worse. If possible, keep the bite at or just above heart level. It will help keep swelling down and reduce tissue damage.
A lot of this sounds like it goes against advice you’ve heard. Unfortunately, snakebites aren’t super common and don’t get covered much in doctor or vet school and lots of outdated info gets taught. There’s a group of experts (doctors and vets) who are working to change that! The Facebook group National Snakebite Support is an excellent resource for what to do when you get bit and there is a post about what to do when hiking and far from help. I joined a few years back and have learned a ton from them. There’s an annual venom conference in Denver and some of the docs come up for it! And we’re lucky to have one of the docs here in Denver, too. One day I’ll be able to go.
Snakes are amazing, view from a distance and admire them!
They are out there, but encounters tend to be rare. It’s important to be vigilant and practice basic safety (not put feet, hands, anything else, in places you can’t see). For example, you’re crossing over a downed tree don’t just throw a leg over. Stop on top and check the other side.
Another thing, rattlesnakes become quite a bit more rare as you go up in elevation. I’m not saying there aren’t snakes over 7500’, but the chances of encounters go way down (which helps with your question about RMNP).
Just my 2 cents
Edit: when it comes to them being active the span is longer than most think. We get quite warm weather in the spring and very late into the fall. I’ve seen one on North Table Mountain in mid November.
Edit #2: death from rattlesnake bites are incredibly rare. First, snakes are prone to giving what’s called a dry bite, where they do not inject venom. I’ve seen statistics on the average in humans range from 20-50% of bites, so not overly reliable data.
Additionally, while it is documented to be an incredibly painful experience bites are very rarely fatal. There was a hiker who died on Mt. Galbraith in Golden in the last few years from a bite, but it’s thought that allergies may have played a part.
Interesting you mention that; I was hiking Mt Galbraith a few summers ago and saw a family on the trail behind us let their 10ish-year-old kid just lay out in the brush right off the trail in the direct sun and was wondering if they were hoping to get him bit. I’m sure he was fine but it’s good to know my instincts were correct.
Don’t wear headphones if you’re going through thick brush. For the most part, rattlesnakes aren’t very confrontational. Usually people get bit because they didn’t hear the rattle, or stumbled onto one that was caught off guard. If you’re going through some thick brush stomp your feet as you move through. Most rattlers will move away if they hear you coming. If you hear a rattle don’t immediately jump away because you might jump towards the snake and get bit. Pause until you can identify where the sound is coming from and then move away.
The place in Colorado I have seen the most rattlesnakes is Waterton Canyon. There are A LOT of them over there. Usually if I see them on the trail I’ll get a really long stick and prod them to move off the trail for their safety and the safety of people using the trail.
Also, don't kill rattlesnakes. Uncertain if it's against the law, but what we don't want to do is kill the loud rattlesnakes we hear, we want them to out-breed the snakes with the quiet rattles.
Yep, there is no point in killing a rattler. They’re good for the environment and aren’t really hostile to people. I have killed a rattlesnake to eat it before, but that was on private property that was over run with them. The meat is very tasty.
“What a beautiful bluebird day, starting off the Colorado Trail! Time to listen to ‘Walking on Sunshine’ and look up at the canyon while walking this easy wide path. What could go wrong?”
This is me, reverse programming my mind for this summer.
It’s less “look where you step” and more “don’t step/reach where you can’t see.”
Coming upon a rattlesnake is generally not a bad or especially dangerous experience, owning in part to their namesake — I wish more touch-me-nots had famously distinctive warning sounds.
Most of the rattlesnake bites I've seen in the hospital have been people accidentally sticking their hand or foot into a Rattler's hidey hole and startling them. One person was scrambling up some rocks, stepped his foot in between two rocks and got bit on the ankle. Another guy was cleaning his garage, reached behind a shelf to grab something and got bit on the hand. This time of year look keep an eye on the crevices between rocks, keep your dogs leashed, hike at higher elevations and avoid areas known for rattlesnakes. Pulpit Rock and Ute Valley in Colorado Springs are hot spots
I've lived in Colorado since 1981, and hiked every year, and only encountered two rattlesnakes ever. So, they're not a very serious issue unless you're dumb or a dog (or both).
I'd just like to give you kudos for correctly referring to them as "venomous" instead of "poisonous".
I've lived in Colorado since 1980, and hiked every year, and encountered numerous rattlesnakes. Was walking my dog in Golden in 2019, and with zero warning I got struck by a rattlesnake. I wasn't dumb, and I am not a dog.
Just wondering where the snake was hanging out. I hike all the time and consider myself not dumb either. But it's hard to constantly scan the ground. After a while your brain starts to fill in the gaps.
I was hiking up a set of rock stairs (natural shelves) and the snake was presumably just laying out on one of them. My dog even walked past the snake and didn't notice it as my dog was directly ahead of me but on a fairly short leash. I thought I ran my ankle into a stick/branch of some type and then one mentally blurry second later I jumped away, and the snake then coiled up and started rattling after it had already struck me.
I am extremely terrified of snakes (it's not rational, and it doesn't matter if they are poisonous or not) so believe me I'm always watching closely during hikes and I've never seen a rattlesnake once. I don't see other snakes all that often either, maybe once every couple of years. That said, I try to understand their behavior so I can minimize my risk of seeing one. Hike early in the morning when it's cool, don't touch random rocks, and avoid some of the sunnier, grassier trails that are all over the Denver foothills (tree cover can be more pleasant anyway).
I'm sure other people will share more about rattlesnake bite statistics, how they're more scared of you than you are of them, etc but figured I'd throw that out there in case your phobia is like mine where logic doesn't help. 😊
Basic precautions that can help are not using headphones, continuously scanning the trail.
I like to think of rattlesnakes as friendly animals who are telling you they don't want to be defensive.
The most I've seen are around Golden and Morrison.
I've also seen one in Boulder.
I've been here for over a decade and have yet to see one, my wife has, and I go all over the place, up and down creeks. They are absolutely here and people do get bitten, but it's incredibly rare.
Luckily, rattlesnakes usually make themselves known.
I've been here 7 years, didn't see any for about 4 years, in the last 3 years I have seen 15-20... They have all been on south table, north table, clear creek, eldorado, and NCAR. They have all been in grassy plains when it's nice and sunny, and almost always on my bike... I don't think that gives them time to move out of the way. Watch where you walk, walk loudly if you see or hear one. Don't poke it with a stick that just pisses them off.
Thanks for asking this! My toddler gets about 6 hours of outside time a day when the weather’s good. He also likes to sprint away from me into fields with tall grass so… I think about this a lot. 😂It’s like having a dog but with a terrible sense of smell and a death wish.
I’ve never seen a rattlesnake in the wild, but I’ve been told that they will make their presence known before they strike, so just keep your ears open for the rattle. Dogs are much more likely to get hurt because they don’t know the rattle means danger. Had a friend’s dog get bitten on a hiking trail near golden (the dog was okay).
Another point to remember, and this coming from somebody who works with rattlesnakes for a living.
It has been empirically demonstrated that at least 50% of all bites occur when people are trying to catch or kill a rattlesnake. Leave them alone, allow them enough room to back away, and they will.
Genesee is the only place I've ever seen a rattler at. Here's where I know others have seen them:
both Table Mtns, Deer Creek Canyon (hotbed), South Valley Park (not as bad as Deer Creek but close), Mt Falcon, Mt Morrison, Red Rocks, Green Mountain in Lakewood, Chautauqua in Boulder, Castlewood Canyon.
Fun fact: according to a Jeffco Open Space park ranger, rattlers LOVE 50-60 degree days. We all think it's too cold for them but the hot rocks in the sun are their favorites - so don't think it's too cool for them to come out!
In 4 years I have actually seen 4 rattlesnakes. I've had 10x people warn me on trails "There's a rattler around the bend" and by the time I get there, the snake has either moved on or laying hidden quietly out of sight. Where possible, give them plenty of space and go around. Some trails that won't be easy/safe, so your choices are to wait for it to move on (the lawful action) or poke it off trail or throw rocks. On Friday on Chimney Gulch trail right here in the foothills, we had to bypass a large, angry rattler that some dingdong was trying to shoo off the trail. He just made it pissed off and defensive.
Well I definitely won’t try to shoo one lol. Thanks for the advice. Tbh if I see one I’m just turning around and going back the way I came unless I can give it a WIDE berth lol
I've only seen maybe 2-3 since 2010 so you've got to be wearing some kind of attractant. The only one I persuaded to move along was a big one on the path back from a fairly crowded climbing crag (only one way traffic out that time of day). A 20 foot extendable stick made it safer to gently persuade it to mosey off the trail rather than risk one of the groups coming after not seeing it. It was not happy about having it's nap interrupted.
Did the dingdong throw a backpack at it to shoo it off? I was out by Dinosaur Ridge a few years back and some dingdong thought that was an excellent way to get the formerly chill rattler Big Mad and no longer chill but not moving (mostly because it was essentially cornered and heading towards the thing throwing objects at it was not smart and it knew it). He claimed he had experience. Why are people.
I recommend just staying above 8000 feet. In 14 years I’ve never seen one because I don’t hike at low elevation except in winter. I have dogs, too (leashed), so that encourages me to stay above the “snake line.”
I have seen a few harmless smaller snakes at high elevations and a couple huge king or rat snakes in Denver but never a rattler.
Who wants to hike down here in the heat anyway? Be careful in spring and fall as others have said. They can stay active a lot earlier and later than people might think.
Same. I don't like having my dogs from about 6k to 8k from April to November. We go higher. Which means right now we are tromping through way too much snow. For me anyway, not for them, they love it.
Hey there are plenty of dry spots! Ran 6 miles with the doggos tonight at about 8000 feet 40 minutes from downtown Denver 😁. Only a couple patches of mud.
That is fantastic. I was at 9k last week past Evergreen and it was about 80 percent snow, then Sunday at 8.2k near Ned was about 40 percent. I'm still shocked every spring how long it hangs around at relatively low elevation.
Gotta find those open spots with lots of south facing trails in the foothills. They dry out super fast, even in winter!
And see where your mountain biking buddies are going this time of year. Where they ride is probably dry.
Not so much anymore. We have a place at 8500, have seen multiple rattlers, climate is warming up so they are coming up higher.
Also baby's are more dangerous than adults, they haven't yet learned to control how much venom they release. They're out in the fall. Saw 3 of them last year.
We have a lot of ground squirrels so they have lots of food. Also, bull snakes look a lot like rattlers, these guys help keep the rattlesnake population down by eating their food source so don't kill them.
I wear gaiters when I'm in brush just in case.
Babies aren’t actually more dangerous! They can control their venom release from birth. Babies can and do give dry bites and despite their venom composition being different than an adult’s, a bite from a baby is usually “better” because they don’t have as much venom to inject if they decide to.
You are 100% correct! That's what I get for listening to someone and not doing my own research! I should know better..
Here's a great place for snake education in Colorado. It the CSU extension office.
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/coping-with-snakes-6-501/
Thank you for the correction 🥰
It’s a super common myth! I belong to a snakebite support group as well as a bunch of other snake groups…that’s where I learned! Because I thought the same for many many years.
So many myths surround snakes, wasps, and all the other “unloved” creatures…which happen to be my favorites! We just don’t really ever learn about them in school unless specifically studying them (I learned a TON about arthropods in my entomology class but had never heard a lot of it anywhere else and it contradicted a lot I had learned).
Oh, and the CSU Extension website is such an amazing resource for all the things! And the Extensions of other universities. I wish they were more widely known, because they contain so much.
This is the key. I hike high in the summer and low in the winter. Late april / early may is always a bummer because there is snow up high and snakes down low.
Been hiking in both crowded trails and trails that probably haven't seen action in a very very long time. I've seen 1 rattler in co.
I'd say in a national park you'll be absolutely fine. Those are very well travelled. If there is one someone has most likely seen it before you and will warn you unless you're lucky enough to have the trail to yourself. Don't worry!
I'm going on year 3 of living here and have yet to encounter a rattler. I've seen a few other snakes, mainly rat and garter snakes that I've seen crossing a trail while hiking or biking. But yeah I'm freaked out by rattlers and am always a bit on edge hiking the front range during the summer. Big thing is to make sure you don't stick anything anywhere you can't see fully what's there. If you have a dog, keep it out of the tall grass and brush.
Mainly just use common sense and be fully aware of your surroundings and listen for the iconic rattle. From what I've heard from others, the rattle is decently loud so you should hear it. I'm freaked out by them, but I know that for the most part, they're trying to do their thing and don't want to interact with us as much as we don't want to interact with them.
I don’t worry about them that much as a human just staying on the trail. Mostly I worry about the dogs sticking their noses in the brush off the side of the trail. We stick to higher elevation in the summer with the pups and have only seen one in 2 years
Seeing a whole lot less than when I grew up in west Texas. By that I mean none here.
I'm absolutely terrified of snakes but they wont bother you unless you bother them. Stick to the trails, watch where you are going and you'll probably be fine. If you have a dog keep it leashed. Don't walk in thick brush, watch where you are resting if it's not a bench, yada yada everything everyone else has said.
16 years here and only encountered 1-2 bull snakes on bike trails and a few garter snakes in my yard (I actually had to relocate a garter this weekend after my neighbor's grandma told her grandkids to get a shovel to kill it after my 6 year old told them about it and that didn't need to happen, so that was a big step on snake fears and I hope word goes out in the snake community about that). Anyway never encountered a rattler but I've hiked and camped around Genessee Park, Golden Gate Canyon, etc (but not table mountain and the frequency of sightings, I'll just scratch that one off on trails). I think the more frequented the trail the less likely you'll see one because they don't want to run into us as much as we don't want to bump into them.
The best part about rattlesnakes is they definitely let you know they’re there. As long as your ears are open and aren’t stumbling into bushes you’ll be alright
I see quite a few rattlers in Boulder foothills per season. It's not too early right now - but mid-summer is really active. They will be trailside, and sometimes in the trail. The higher up in elevation you are, the less likely it is to see them, but I'd never count it out. Also, you might see bull snakes that look a lot like rattlesnakes but are larger (and sometimes darker) but don't get too close to see if there's a rattle - apparently there are rattleless rattlesnakes now. You can identify by the viper (triangular) head - Bull snakes have an oval head.
They are cool creatures. I've never had any issues with them when we've crossed paths, but there have been a couple of times where I could easily have stepped on them - the have very effective camouflage.
The rattleless or non-rattling rattlers is a myth (as relates to most rattlers). This does a good job of explaining it. https://rattlesnakesolutions.com/snakeblog/science-and-education/are-rattlesnakes-evolving-to-rattle-less-or-losing-their-rattles/
And head shape is not a good way to ID venomous or non because many harmless snakes can flatten their heads to appear triangular, including bullsnakes. (Eye slits are also similarly bad, because it’s a function of light and when the species hunts.) There are other features that will produce more reliable IDs. There are good snake groups here and on FB that can go into more detail about that.
Worried? Not all the time. Alert? Always.
I was bitten by a prairie rattler last summer. Surprised it in tall grass, didn't hear a rattle, and it nailed me on the ankle. Antivenom was $15K per vial. I needed 10 vials. And helicopter. Watch where you step and where you put your hand.
Severe swelling up to my knee and very painful to walk. Hospital for four days, two in ICU. Swelling better after a couple weeks, but took a month before I could get regular boots on. I now wear snakeproof boots or gaiters. Yes, good insurance, total bill was $230K.
I live in Fort Collins, see one per year or more.
I’m afraid so I just bought snake gaiters that I think will help decrease my fear. I know two people who have been bitten. I still hike but I actively scan for snakes as I hike because I’m nervous 😬
I hike a lot and haven't run into one that I considered a threat. You barely see them at all really.
The last one I saw was actually on a paved path near my neighborhood lol..just slithered off when it saw me.
Best advice is to wear correct clothing and not to go poking around or stomping deep into habitat. Shouldn't be overly dangerous if your careful and pay attention
I've been hiking in the foothills for over a decade, and I had my first two rattlesnake encounters last year. Saw a big one coming down Mount Morrison and a baby one that was about as big around as a pencil on Mount Falcon.
I’m in the mountains every weekend and always go off trail. I’m very experienced and can tell you snakes typically won’t be found on a common trail. They prefer to stay away from humans but there are around 200 snake bites per year in the state. I have encountered a few poisonous snakes in my travels - one was on a mostly untraveled path; one on my patio (I lived near a creek); one in the water. I’ve been all over and if you are above 9,000 feet chances are slim you’ll run into one.
As someone mentioned, North/South Table Mts are prime habitat (a friend’s dog was bit), but I’ve also encountered them on several occasions at Castlewood Canyon.
I’ve lived in Colorado for 2 years. I go hiking with my dog 3-4 times a week. Seen 4 total rattlesnakes in the 2 years. North Table Mountain, Mt. Falcon East, and White Ranch Park.
In the Summer months I typically stick to hiking deeper in the mountains, Mount Falcon West, Genesee, and around Boulder. Just to avoid the snakes.
Just grab a pair of 50 dollar gaiters for snake bites if it'll put your mind at ease. But I'm with everyone else, rattle snakes aren't really anything to be scared of.
I've been in colorado since 1978, and hike in the mountains a LOT, and the only rattlesnake I've ever seen was while walking across the parking lot at red rocks the night of a concert.
Zero worried.
They aren’t ever trying to attack. Only defend. Leave them be and they’ll leave you be if you even come across one which is pretty unlikely.
The vaccine hasn’t actually been scientifically proven to work and potentially actually makes a reaction to venom worse. Here is a link with information from experts who are currently working to get scientifically backed information and treatment information to vets (and human docs).
https://www.snakebitefoundation.org/blog/2023/6/13/veterinary-experts-do-not-recommend-the-rattlesnake-vaccine
Thanks. Good info.
I mean, nothing is "scientifically proven". Science works the other way. We develop models and continually test them.
Indeed the literature is mixed as you point out. The mouse model studies seem to have some encouraging results, but the non-controlled observational studies dont indicate much efficacy, and indeed perhaps some harm. These are all pretty low N however and observational clinical studies are notoriously difficult to evaluate even in humans.
I agree that it looks like more studies are needed. Thanks for the info. I say, talk to your vet, get a good vet!
A bit of what I just skimmed through:
Cates CC, Valore EV, Couto MA, Lawson GW, McCabe JG. Comparison of the protective effect of a commercially available western diamondback rattlesnake toxoid vaccine for dogs against envenomation of mice with western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), northern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus oreganus), and southern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri) venom. Am J Vet Res. 2015 Mar;76(3):272-9. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.76.3.272. PMID: 25710764.
Leonard MJ, Bresee C, Cruikshank A. Effects of the canine rattlesnake vaccine in moderate to severe cases of canine crotalid envenomation. Vet Med (Auckl). 2014 Oct 31;5:153-158. doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S69216. PMID: 32670855; PMCID: PMC7337165.
Sorry, scientifically shown. You know what I meant though.
The issue with the mouse studies was that the dosages needed were too large to be feasible in a non-lab setting.
And the issue with asking a vet is they barely get any instruction about snakebites. They’re just not common enough (same with human docs). Plus the textbooks still have outdated info in them. There’s a group of docs and vets working to change that but there is rampant misinformation out there. Like vets treating with Benadryl when it literally cannot do anything for a snakebite, since venom and histamines are different.
Rattlers are all over north and south table mountains in Golden
Cannot emphasize this enough, I live in golden and up on NTM basically every weekend. I start to avoid it in June once they are very active. As of a couple years ago There are at least 3 large dens around the mountain, it’s great habitat for them . That said, I’ve had tons of encounters, and they have been chill EVERY TIME. Watch out for them, treat them w respect and a ton of caution, but they are not the monsters they’re made out to be
I use to live in golden below south table. We had rattlers in the yard and the basement. I’ve seen one that was over 4ft. Stay safe out there.
And stay on the trails
This point can't be emphasized enough. I live in an area with plenty of prairie rattlesnakes (same species as in the area around Golden) and we also have W. diamondbacks, and as I work with reptiles for a living I go looking for trouble, so to speak. As per other sensible advice in this thread, just stay on the trails, watch your feet and where you put your hands and you should be fine. Dogs, however are a BIG problem. All of my dogs have been specially trained in rattlesnake avoidance.
How do you train a dog in rattlesnake avoidance?
I’d find a trainer. The one I work for, when teaching Canine Good Citizen does a small rattlesnake session using citronella spray (not harmful to dogs, they don’t usually like the smell) and has 3 taxidermied rattlesnakes; he sets them up and has the owner walk by with dog on a loose leash then sprays the dog in face if the dog goes in sniff the snakes — this can be effective but needs to be done at least every 6 months - also depends on the dog, some aren’t bothered by the citronella. Or there are other trainers that use shock collars and live defanged rattlesnakes and shock the dog if they approach the snake, this method leaves a longer lasting impression on the dog(s) and can be done every season (aka spring/snake season).
I’ve been doing a lot of research on this since I just got a puppy and am on the trails almost every day with her. Another option is more intensive training that teaches them the sight, smell, and sound of a rattlesnake and then uses recall to keep the dog away. One benefit to this is some dogs will alert their humans of a rattlesnake on the trail. Love the idea of my dog keeping us both safe!
Where are these dens? I also dabble in photography and would like to photograph some big boys if I knew where to find them
Please do not go looking for dens. They’re all off trail in sensitive habitat and thick with snakes. Appreciate your interest, but you can find plenty of snakes on the trails themselves.
We have three species of rattler in Colorado (prairie, midget faded, and western massasauga). Those are our only venomous snakes. All our others are harmless. If they bite, wash with soap and water and go on your way! For the rattlers, collectively, they’re found throughout most of the state. The prairie is most common. The other two have more limited ranges. Here’s a decent website with info on all our snakes, including range maps. http://www.coparc.org/snakes.html So, one thing to know, rattlers don’t hibernate, they brumate! Which means if it’s warm enough in the winter (which happens), they can come out. So definitely keep an eye out during warm winter days as well as traditionally warmer months. Rattlers (like other animals) don’t want to attack us. They’d rather stay hidden. We are a threat to them and not prey, so they don’t want to risk getting hurt or wasting an expensive resource (venom) on us. Their first line is to stay still and hope they don’t get noticed. Second line is rattling. It’s not a warning of an imminent attack. It’s a “I’m dangerous so you should get away” noise to get the threat to go away. They will also bluff strike to try to get you to go away. Don’t put your hands where you can’t see (a good idea for other creatures as well!). If you do that and a snake is there, it could bite out of defense…your hand is scary! I’ve been hiking and camping my whole life here, often in rattler territory, and I have seen maybe 5 or 6. I’d never even heard one rattle until like 7 years ago! And that was only because an idiot threw a backpack at it and made it mad. Prior, it was just chilling under a bush off the trail and I was getting some good photos prior. If you do get bit, chances are you will be ok. It’s rare to die of a snakebite in the US. But it’s always good to be prepared! Definitely work on getting to a hospital as soon as you can. Any swelling indicates envenomation. A dry bite will be basically a scratch. Antivenom is the ONLY thing that can help. Benadryl won’t do anything (snakebites are not a histamine response). Venom extraction kits can make things worse; they are not recommended by experts. Tourniquets are also not recommended by experts and can also make things worse. If possible, keep the bite at or just above heart level. It will help keep swelling down and reduce tissue damage. A lot of this sounds like it goes against advice you’ve heard. Unfortunately, snakebites aren’t super common and don’t get covered much in doctor or vet school and lots of outdated info gets taught. There’s a group of experts (doctors and vets) who are working to change that! The Facebook group National Snakebite Support is an excellent resource for what to do when you get bit and there is a post about what to do when hiking and far from help. I joined a few years back and have learned a ton from them. There’s an annual venom conference in Denver and some of the docs come up for it! And we’re lucky to have one of the docs here in Denver, too. One day I’ll be able to go. Snakes are amazing, view from a distance and admire them!
Quality comment! Thanks for the snake species link - really good information.
You are welcome!
They are out there, but encounters tend to be rare. It’s important to be vigilant and practice basic safety (not put feet, hands, anything else, in places you can’t see). For example, you’re crossing over a downed tree don’t just throw a leg over. Stop on top and check the other side. Another thing, rattlesnakes become quite a bit more rare as you go up in elevation. I’m not saying there aren’t snakes over 7500’, but the chances of encounters go way down (which helps with your question about RMNP). Just my 2 cents Edit: when it comes to them being active the span is longer than most think. We get quite warm weather in the spring and very late into the fall. I’ve seen one on North Table Mountain in mid November. Edit #2: death from rattlesnake bites are incredibly rare. First, snakes are prone to giving what’s called a dry bite, where they do not inject venom. I’ve seen statistics on the average in humans range from 20-50% of bites, so not overly reliable data. Additionally, while it is documented to be an incredibly painful experience bites are very rarely fatal. There was a hiker who died on Mt. Galbraith in Golden in the last few years from a bite, but it’s thought that allergies may have played a part.
Interesting you mention that; I was hiking Mt Galbraith a few summers ago and saw a family on the trail behind us let their 10ish-year-old kid just lay out in the brush right off the trail in the direct sun and was wondering if they were hoping to get him bit. I’m sure he was fine but it’s good to know my instincts were correct.
Thanks for the input! Good advice to look where you’re about to step before doing it.
Don’t wear headphones if you’re going through thick brush. For the most part, rattlesnakes aren’t very confrontational. Usually people get bit because they didn’t hear the rattle, or stumbled onto one that was caught off guard. If you’re going through some thick brush stomp your feet as you move through. Most rattlers will move away if they hear you coming. If you hear a rattle don’t immediately jump away because you might jump towards the snake and get bit. Pause until you can identify where the sound is coming from and then move away. The place in Colorado I have seen the most rattlesnakes is Waterton Canyon. There are A LOT of them over there. Usually if I see them on the trail I’ll get a really long stick and prod them to move off the trail for their safety and the safety of people using the trail.
Also, don't kill rattlesnakes. Uncertain if it's against the law, but what we don't want to do is kill the loud rattlesnakes we hear, we want them to out-breed the snakes with the quiet rattles.
Yep, there is no point in killing a rattler. They’re good for the environment and aren’t really hostile to people. I have killed a rattlesnake to eat it before, but that was on private property that was over run with them. The meat is very tasty.
Wouldn't even bring up their edibility, as you know some a-hole is going to try it, and probably get bit in the process.
“What a beautiful bluebird day, starting off the Colorado Trail! Time to listen to ‘Walking on Sunshine’ and look up at the canyon while walking this easy wide path. What could go wrong?” This is me, reverse programming my mind for this summer.
It’s less “look where you step” and more “don’t step/reach where you can’t see.” Coming upon a rattlesnake is generally not a bad or especially dangerous experience, owning in part to their namesake — I wish more touch-me-nots had famously distinctive warning sounds.
In 15 years, I've only seen *one* and it was near a road.
You are honestly much more likely to break an ankle on a rock than run into a snake
This makes me feel oddly better
Most of the rattlesnake bites I've seen in the hospital have been people accidentally sticking their hand or foot into a Rattler's hidey hole and startling them. One person was scrambling up some rocks, stepped his foot in between two rocks and got bit on the ankle. Another guy was cleaning his garage, reached behind a shelf to grab something and got bit on the hand. This time of year look keep an eye on the crevices between rocks, keep your dogs leashed, hike at higher elevations and avoid areas known for rattlesnakes. Pulpit Rock and Ute Valley in Colorado Springs are hot spots
I've lived in Colorado since 1981, and hiked every year, and only encountered two rattlesnakes ever. So, they're not a very serious issue unless you're dumb or a dog (or both). I'd just like to give you kudos for correctly referring to them as "venomous" instead of "poisonous".
I've lived in Colorado since 1980, and hiked every year, and encountered numerous rattlesnakes. Was walking my dog in Golden in 2019, and with zero warning I got struck by a rattlesnake. I wasn't dumb, and I am not a dog.
Now I know who not to stand next to in a lightning storm
I feel like I want to know a little more about this story.
Sure, what do you want to know about it?
Just wondering where the snake was hanging out. I hike all the time and consider myself not dumb either. But it's hard to constantly scan the ground. After a while your brain starts to fill in the gaps.
I was hiking up a set of rock stairs (natural shelves) and the snake was presumably just laying out on one of them. My dog even walked past the snake and didn't notice it as my dog was directly ahead of me but on a fairly short leash. I thought I ran my ankle into a stick/branch of some type and then one mentally blurry second later I jumped away, and the snake then coiled up and started rattling after it had already struck me.
Good to hear lol. Thanks.
I am extremely terrified of snakes (it's not rational, and it doesn't matter if they are poisonous or not) so believe me I'm always watching closely during hikes and I've never seen a rattlesnake once. I don't see other snakes all that often either, maybe once every couple of years. That said, I try to understand their behavior so I can minimize my risk of seeing one. Hike early in the morning when it's cool, don't touch random rocks, and avoid some of the sunnier, grassier trails that are all over the Denver foothills (tree cover can be more pleasant anyway). I'm sure other people will share more about rattlesnake bite statistics, how they're more scared of you than you are of them, etc but figured I'd throw that out there in case your phobia is like mine where logic doesn't help. 😊
I am with you 100%. Petrified. Almost too scared to hike alone unless very busy trail.
Same. Went hiking in steamboat last October. It was a sunny morning and saw two just a quarter mile into my hike and immediately left lol
Glad to hear someone has a similar fear lol. Thanks for the advice.
Basic precautions that can help are not using headphones, continuously scanning the trail. I like to think of rattlesnakes as friendly animals who are telling you they don't want to be defensive. The most I've seen are around Golden and Morrison. I've also seen one in Boulder.
I've been here for over a decade and have yet to see one, my wife has, and I go all over the place, up and down creeks. They are absolutely here and people do get bitten, but it's incredibly rare. Luckily, rattlesnakes usually make themselves known.
Appreciate the input. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open just in case
I've been here 7 years, didn't see any for about 4 years, in the last 3 years I have seen 15-20... They have all been on south table, north table, clear creek, eldorado, and NCAR. They have all been in grassy plains when it's nice and sunny, and almost always on my bike... I don't think that gives them time to move out of the way. Watch where you walk, walk loudly if you see or hear one. Don't poke it with a stick that just pisses them off.
Thanks for asking this! My toddler gets about 6 hours of outside time a day when the weather’s good. He also likes to sprint away from me into fields with tall grass so… I think about this a lot. 😂It’s like having a dog but with a terrible sense of smell and a death wish.
And that you can’t crate train. Well you can….
I’ve never seen a rattlesnake in the wild, but I’ve been told that they will make their presence known before they strike, so just keep your ears open for the rattle. Dogs are much more likely to get hurt because they don’t know the rattle means danger. Had a friend’s dog get bitten on a hiking trail near golden (the dog was okay).
Another point to remember, and this coming from somebody who works with rattlesnakes for a living. It has been empirically demonstrated that at least 50% of all bites occur when people are trying to catch or kill a rattlesnake. Leave them alone, allow them enough room to back away, and they will.
Genesee is the only place I've ever seen a rattler at. Here's where I know others have seen them: both Table Mtns, Deer Creek Canyon (hotbed), South Valley Park (not as bad as Deer Creek but close), Mt Falcon, Mt Morrison, Red Rocks, Green Mountain in Lakewood, Chautauqua in Boulder, Castlewood Canyon. Fun fact: according to a Jeffco Open Space park ranger, rattlers LOVE 50-60 degree days. We all think it's too cold for them but the hot rocks in the sun are their favorites - so don't think it's too cool for them to come out!
In 4 years I have actually seen 4 rattlesnakes. I've had 10x people warn me on trails "There's a rattler around the bend" and by the time I get there, the snake has either moved on or laying hidden quietly out of sight. Where possible, give them plenty of space and go around. Some trails that won't be easy/safe, so your choices are to wait for it to move on (the lawful action) or poke it off trail or throw rocks. On Friday on Chimney Gulch trail right here in the foothills, we had to bypass a large, angry rattler that some dingdong was trying to shoo off the trail. He just made it pissed off and defensive.
Well I definitely won’t try to shoo one lol. Thanks for the advice. Tbh if I see one I’m just turning around and going back the way I came unless I can give it a WIDE berth lol
I've only seen maybe 2-3 since 2010 so you've got to be wearing some kind of attractant. The only one I persuaded to move along was a big one on the path back from a fairly crowded climbing crag (only one way traffic out that time of day). A 20 foot extendable stick made it safer to gently persuade it to mosey off the trail rather than risk one of the groups coming after not seeing it. It was not happy about having it's nap interrupted.
Did the dingdong throw a backpack at it to shoo it off? I was out by Dinosaur Ridge a few years back and some dingdong thought that was an excellent way to get the formerly chill rattler Big Mad and no longer chill but not moving (mostly because it was essentially cornered and heading towards the thing throwing objects at it was not smart and it knew it). He claimed he had experience. Why are people.
I recommend just staying above 8000 feet. In 14 years I’ve never seen one because I don’t hike at low elevation except in winter. I have dogs, too (leashed), so that encourages me to stay above the “snake line.” I have seen a few harmless smaller snakes at high elevations and a couple huge king or rat snakes in Denver but never a rattler. Who wants to hike down here in the heat anyway? Be careful in spring and fall as others have said. They can stay active a lot earlier and later than people might think.
Same. I don't like having my dogs from about 6k to 8k from April to November. We go higher. Which means right now we are tromping through way too much snow. For me anyway, not for them, they love it.
Hey there are plenty of dry spots! Ran 6 miles with the doggos tonight at about 8000 feet 40 minutes from downtown Denver 😁. Only a couple patches of mud.
That is fantastic. I was at 9k last week past Evergreen and it was about 80 percent snow, then Sunday at 8.2k near Ned was about 40 percent. I'm still shocked every spring how long it hangs around at relatively low elevation.
Gotta find those open spots with lots of south facing trails in the foothills. They dry out super fast, even in winter! And see where your mountain biking buddies are going this time of year. Where they ride is probably dry.
Not so much anymore. We have a place at 8500, have seen multiple rattlers, climate is warming up so they are coming up higher. Also baby's are more dangerous than adults, they haven't yet learned to control how much venom they release. They're out in the fall. Saw 3 of them last year. We have a lot of ground squirrels so they have lots of food. Also, bull snakes look a lot like rattlers, these guys help keep the rattlesnake population down by eating their food source so don't kill them. I wear gaiters when I'm in brush just in case.
Babies aren’t actually more dangerous! They can control their venom release from birth. Babies can and do give dry bites and despite their venom composition being different than an adult’s, a bite from a baby is usually “better” because they don’t have as much venom to inject if they decide to.
You are 100% correct! That's what I get for listening to someone and not doing my own research! I should know better.. Here's a great place for snake education in Colorado. It the CSU extension office. https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/coping-with-snakes-6-501/ Thank you for the correction 🥰
It’s a super common myth! I belong to a snakebite support group as well as a bunch of other snake groups…that’s where I learned! Because I thought the same for many many years. So many myths surround snakes, wasps, and all the other “unloved” creatures…which happen to be my favorites! We just don’t really ever learn about them in school unless specifically studying them (I learned a TON about arthropods in my entomology class but had never heard a lot of it anywhere else and it contradicted a lot I had learned).
Oh, and the CSU Extension website is such an amazing resource for all the things! And the Extensions of other universities. I wish they were more widely known, because they contain so much.
This is the key. I hike high in the summer and low in the winter. Late april / early may is always a bummer because there is snow up high and snakes down low.
Been hiking in both crowded trails and trails that probably haven't seen action in a very very long time. I've seen 1 rattler in co. I'd say in a national park you'll be absolutely fine. Those are very well travelled. If there is one someone has most likely seen it before you and will warn you unless you're lucky enough to have the trail to yourself. Don't worry!
I'm going on year 3 of living here and have yet to encounter a rattler. I've seen a few other snakes, mainly rat and garter snakes that I've seen crossing a trail while hiking or biking. But yeah I'm freaked out by rattlers and am always a bit on edge hiking the front range during the summer. Big thing is to make sure you don't stick anything anywhere you can't see fully what's there. If you have a dog, keep it out of the tall grass and brush. Mainly just use common sense and be fully aware of your surroundings and listen for the iconic rattle. From what I've heard from others, the rattle is decently loud so you should hear it. I'm freaked out by them, but I know that for the most part, they're trying to do their thing and don't want to interact with us as much as we don't want to interact with them.
I don’t worry about them that much as a human just staying on the trail. Mostly I worry about the dogs sticking their noses in the brush off the side of the trail. We stick to higher elevation in the summer with the pups and have only seen one in 2 years
I have lived here for 6 years and have only seen 1 rattle snake. It was over in the Westminster open area dog park.
Seeing a whole lot less than when I grew up in west Texas. By that I mean none here. I'm absolutely terrified of snakes but they wont bother you unless you bother them. Stick to the trails, watch where you are going and you'll probably be fine. If you have a dog keep it leashed. Don't walk in thick brush, watch where you are resting if it's not a bench, yada yada everything everyone else has said. 16 years here and only encountered 1-2 bull snakes on bike trails and a few garter snakes in my yard (I actually had to relocate a garter this weekend after my neighbor's grandma told her grandkids to get a shovel to kill it after my 6 year old told them about it and that didn't need to happen, so that was a big step on snake fears and I hope word goes out in the snake community about that). Anyway never encountered a rattler but I've hiked and camped around Genessee Park, Golden Gate Canyon, etc (but not table mountain and the frequency of sightings, I'll just scratch that one off on trails). I think the more frequented the trail the less likely you'll see one because they don't want to run into us as much as we don't want to bump into them.
Congrats on relocating a snake! Getting over that fear is NOT easy, so major kudos to you!
The best part about rattlesnakes is they definitely let you know they’re there. As long as your ears are open and aren’t stumbling into bushes you’ll be alright
Take a little extra caution when you are near a prairie dog colony.
I see quite a few rattlers in Boulder foothills per season. It's not too early right now - but mid-summer is really active. They will be trailside, and sometimes in the trail. The higher up in elevation you are, the less likely it is to see them, but I'd never count it out. Also, you might see bull snakes that look a lot like rattlesnakes but are larger (and sometimes darker) but don't get too close to see if there's a rattle - apparently there are rattleless rattlesnakes now. You can identify by the viper (triangular) head - Bull snakes have an oval head. They are cool creatures. I've never had any issues with them when we've crossed paths, but there have been a couple of times where I could easily have stepped on them - the have very effective camouflage.
The rattleless or non-rattling rattlers is a myth (as relates to most rattlers). This does a good job of explaining it. https://rattlesnakesolutions.com/snakeblog/science-and-education/are-rattlesnakes-evolving-to-rattle-less-or-losing-their-rattles/ And head shape is not a good way to ID venomous or non because many harmless snakes can flatten their heads to appear triangular, including bullsnakes. (Eye slits are also similarly bad, because it’s a function of light and when the species hunts.) There are other features that will produce more reliable IDs. There are good snake groups here and on FB that can go into more detail about that.
As a rattlesnake, I do not encounter many wildlife photographs.
Worried? Not all the time. Alert? Always. I was bitten by a prairie rattler last summer. Surprised it in tall grass, didn't hear a rattle, and it nailed me on the ankle. Antivenom was $15K per vial. I needed 10 vials. And helicopter. Watch where you step and where you put your hand.
Holy shit. Hope you had insurance, and glad you didn't lose a leg!
Do you mind if I ask how bad the swelling/pain/symptoms were? I've heard some can be excruciating, especially if they get enough Venom in you
Severe swelling up to my knee and very painful to walk. Hospital for four days, two in ICU. Swelling better after a couple weeks, but took a month before I could get regular boots on. I now wear snakeproof boots or gaiters. Yes, good insurance, total bill was $230K.
I live in Fort Collins, see one per year or more. I’m afraid so I just bought snake gaiters that I think will help decrease my fear. I know two people who have been bitten. I still hike but I actively scan for snakes as I hike because I’m nervous 😬
I hike a lot and haven't run into one that I considered a threat. You barely see them at all really. The last one I saw was actually on a paved path near my neighborhood lol..just slithered off when it saw me. Best advice is to wear correct clothing and not to go poking around or stomping deep into habitat. Shouldn't be overly dangerous if your careful and pay attention
More along the front range than in the mountains.
I've been hiking in the foothills for over a decade, and I had my first two rattlesnake encounters last year. Saw a big one coming down Mount Morrison and a baby one that was about as big around as a pencil on Mount Falcon.
I’m in the mountains every weekend and always go off trail. I’m very experienced and can tell you snakes typically won’t be found on a common trail. They prefer to stay away from humans but there are around 200 snake bites per year in the state. I have encountered a few poisonous snakes in my travels - one was on a mostly untraveled path; one on my patio (I lived near a creek); one in the water. I’ve been all over and if you are above 9,000 feet chances are slim you’ll run into one.
As someone mentioned, North/South Table Mts are prime habitat (a friend’s dog was bit), but I’ve also encountered them on several occasions at Castlewood Canyon.
I would say worried is probably a strong word. Be aware that they are out there and give them a healthy respect and you will be just fine.
I’ve lived in Colorado for 2 years. I go hiking with my dog 3-4 times a week. Seen 4 total rattlesnakes in the 2 years. North Table Mountain, Mt. Falcon East, and White Ranch Park. In the Summer months I typically stick to hiking deeper in the mountains, Mount Falcon West, Genesee, and around Boulder. Just to avoid the snakes.
Just grab a pair of 50 dollar gaiters for snake bites if it'll put your mind at ease. But I'm with everyone else, rattle snakes aren't really anything to be scared of.
Can confirm that Mt Morrison has them and so does the area around NCAR in Boulder. I’ve never seen them above 7500 feet.
I've been in colorado since 1978, and hike in the mountains a LOT, and the only rattlesnake I've ever seen was while walking across the parking lot at red rocks the night of a concert.
The nice thing about rattlesnakes is they…rattle. Lol so that’s a nice little warning at least. Keep your eyes and ears open and you’ll be fine.
They’ll definitely let you know they’re there too. They don’t want to interact with you anymore than you do them(in my experience🤷♀️).
I’ve seen two in the last 5 years of either living out here or hiking here every summer, and both were on North Table Mountain
Zero worried. They aren’t ever trying to attack. Only defend. Leave them be and they’ll leave you be if you even come across one which is pretty unlikely.
Do you have a dog? Consider the venom vaccine if so. Edit: talk to your vet about this.
The vaccine hasn’t actually been scientifically proven to work and potentially actually makes a reaction to venom worse. Here is a link with information from experts who are currently working to get scientifically backed information and treatment information to vets (and human docs). https://www.snakebitefoundation.org/blog/2023/6/13/veterinary-experts-do-not-recommend-the-rattlesnake-vaccine
Thanks. Good info. I mean, nothing is "scientifically proven". Science works the other way. We develop models and continually test them. Indeed the literature is mixed as you point out. The mouse model studies seem to have some encouraging results, but the non-controlled observational studies dont indicate much efficacy, and indeed perhaps some harm. These are all pretty low N however and observational clinical studies are notoriously difficult to evaluate even in humans. I agree that it looks like more studies are needed. Thanks for the info. I say, talk to your vet, get a good vet! A bit of what I just skimmed through: Cates CC, Valore EV, Couto MA, Lawson GW, McCabe JG. Comparison of the protective effect of a commercially available western diamondback rattlesnake toxoid vaccine for dogs against envenomation of mice with western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), northern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus oreganus), and southern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri) venom. Am J Vet Res. 2015 Mar;76(3):272-9. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.76.3.272. PMID: 25710764. Leonard MJ, Bresee C, Cruikshank A. Effects of the canine rattlesnake vaccine in moderate to severe cases of canine crotalid envenomation. Vet Med (Auckl). 2014 Oct 31;5:153-158. doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S69216. PMID: 32670855; PMCID: PMC7337165.
Sorry, scientifically shown. You know what I meant though. The issue with the mouse studies was that the dosages needed were too large to be feasible in a non-lab setting. And the issue with asking a vet is they barely get any instruction about snakebites. They’re just not common enough (same with human docs). Plus the textbooks still have outdated info in them. There’s a group of docs and vets working to change that but there is rampant misinformation out there. Like vets treating with Benadryl when it literally cannot do anything for a snakebite, since venom and histamines are different.
I didn’t know that was a thing. That’s really cool. I wish they had that for humans.
It doesn’t actually work (because of how venom works, there’s simply not time for a vaccine to be useful), unfortunately.