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Brentwood Press - DiscoveryBayPress_05.02.08 - Index

MAY 2, 2008 RECREATION THEPRESS.NET | 23A
Outside from page 22A
head is smaller, rounded and tapered,
and its tail is pointed.
Should you fi nd a snake commandeering
your picnic area or campsite,
keep your cool and get the creature’s
ID fi rst. If it’s a rattlesnake, don’t chase
it off. It might return. And don’t try
to kill it. You’re putting yourself in
danger – and breaking the law. Notify
park staffers; they have the expertise to
remove it.
Be especially wary of a coiled rattlesnake.
It’s ready to rock and roll, and
can strike in a heartbeat at a distance
of at least half its length. (Rattlesnakes
can measure over 60 inches long.) And
don’t assume an uncoiled rattler is giving
you a pass. Its striking distance is its
full length, and it can cover that ground
in a big hurry.
What if you suddenly join that rare
class of humans who run afoul of the
rattler’s fangs? Again, don’t panic. Send
someone for help and sit down, keeping
the bitten area below heart level. If
you’re on a solo hike, you should walk
– not run – back to civilization. The
puncture marks of a rattlesnake bite
will feel like they’re burning. No burning
sensation suggests that a different
snake has bitten you, or that the rattler
(as often happens) didn’t inject any
venom.
There are two misconceptions
about rattler bites. The fi rst is that a
Like to
snakebite kit will save you. Wrong. If
you own a snakebite kit, toss it into
the garbage immediately. Applying
tourniquets, cutting around the puncture
marks and sucking out the venom
– these can cause more harm (such as
nasty infections) than the venom itself.
A rattler will rarely inject a human with
a large enough dose of venom to cause
death. It’s a skilled hunter. It knows it
can’t swallow you, so it doesn’t waste
precious venom warding you off.
This relates to our second misconception,
that a young rattlesnake packs
more potent venom than its elder. It
doesn’t. But it can be more dangerous
precisely because it’s young. Lacking
expertise as a hunter, the young rattler
will prolong the injection of venom
into its victim. A small rattler looks less
menacing than a large one, but don’t be
fooled. Don’t get cute and try to pick it
up. If it sinks its fangs into you, it could
give you a full dose.
And don’t let these dire scenarios
deter you from getting out onto the
trail. I’ve run across rattlesnakes in my
wanderings, and they’ve all left me alone.
That’s because I left them alone. Armed
with knowledge, proceeding with caution,
relax and enjoy your hike. You’re
out there for the scenery, right? You’re
out there to look for things. Well, now
you have one more thing to look for.
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Wrestle?
2ND ANNUAL BRENTWOOD FOLK-STYLE
WRESTLING TOURNAMENT
Saturday, May 31st
Edna Hill Middle School • 140 Birch Street
Medals to Top 3 Wrestlers
per Weight Group
• Four levels of competition: 4th & 5th grades,
6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade
• Sign up as an individual or team
• Only $10 per wrestler
(with pre-registration)
Weigh-ins 7am-8:30am • Start time 9:30am
Breakfast, lunch & snacks will be available on site.
For more information and to register call
Coach Yurkovich at 925-628-8447 or
email hyurkovich@brentwood.k12.ca.us
Please Register Early
Registration is $12 on the day of the meet.