Colorado’s wet spring could mean more rattlesnake bites this summer

A relatively wet spring in Colorado could mean a more severe than usual snake-bite season but at least half of bites are preventable one expert mentioned Preponderance snake bites in Colorado happen between May and October after which cold temperatures push rattlesnakes to curl up and reduce their activity announced Dr Kennon Heard a professor of curative toxicology and pharmacology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine A evaluation involving researchers at CU Boulder and Stanford University located that relatively wet weather increased the number of snake bites at least in California They attributed it to an increase in populations of mice and other small rodents that snakes eat which don t do as well in drought conditions About half of snake bites in Colorado originate with someone trying to handle a snake either to move it off a trail or to play with it Heard explained Other bites aren t as preventable but people can reduce the liability by watching where they walk and not reaching somewhere they can t see such as under a bush he explained Snakes don t look to bite people but strike if they feel threatened Rattlesnake venom messes with the body s systems to create and dissolve clots causing blood to leak out into the surrounding tissue Heard commented In the short term that causes swelling and pain and without prompt therapy muscles can die from lack of oxygen and nutrients he explained You re essentially stepping on the brake and on the gas for blood-clotting at the same time he noted Related Articles Metallica Red Cross collaboration sets Colorado record for blood donation American foods are changing but July still revolves around the grill Rooftop pool bar coming to RiNo s Penrose apartment complex Colorado man dies after being struck by lightning on Florida beach Colorado weather Record-breaking heat forecast across Front Range Eastern Plains In specific cases the snake won t release much venom but people have no way of knowing that in the aftermath of a bite Heard revealed The majority central step someone can take is to get to an emergency room rapidly Ideally rescuers would come and move the person so they wouldn t have to walk and danger spreading the venom through the body but that isn t invariably feasible on trails he mentioned Snake-bite kits aren t effective and attempts to cut the wound or suck out the venom can worsen the injury Heard reported The best first aid device for a snake bite is a cellphone to call for help he reported Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get physical condition news sent straight to your inbox