It’s that time of the year! The weather has been perfect for rattlesnakes and other critters to start coming out. We found this little rattler in our quarantine dog kennel area. They are dangerous and can hurt you or your pet. Please use caution while going out for a walk or going on a hike. They blend in so well will our desert landscape. I reccomend looking into snake avoidance training and the rattlesnake vaccine for your dogs.

 

Arleen Gracia,  Nancy J. Brua Animal Care Center

Additional information from the Sierra Vista Police, Fire, and EMS

The staff at the Nancy J Brua Animal Care Center found this little rattlesnake at the shelter today and relocated it. #SVPolice and #SVFireandMedical remind residents that rattlesnakes are now out and about as the weather warms up. Please use caution when accessing items that have been stored for a period of time and while enjoying the outdoors.

If you do encounter a rattlesnake, do not attempt to handle it yourself but remember the snake is likely just as afraid of you as you are of it, and it doesn’t want to bite you. It’s a great idea to enroll your dog in snake avoidance training to ensure they know how to behave safely in this situation too!

And if a bite does occur, here are some do’s and don’ts from the AZ Game and Fish Department.

What to do if a rattlesnake bite occurs:
• Remain calm and reassure the victim.
• Remove all jewelry, watches, etc. from affected area.
• Immobilize extremity and keep at level below the heart.
• Decrease total body activity as is feasible.
• Call 911 and move victim to medical facility without delay.

What NOT to do if a rattlesnake bite occurs:
• Do NOT apply ice to bite area.
• Do NOT use incision of any kind.
• Do NOT use a constriction band or tourniquet.
• Do NOT administer alcohol or drugs