If you get out into the desert at all, it's important to be aware of your surroundings. Hikers, golfers, desert bikers, and desert dog walkers all know that rattlesnakes are about. We have critters in the Phoenix area that aren't found in other parts of the country, by virtue of the fact that Phoenix is located in the Sonoran Desert. I constantly advocate education--if we understand desert creatures, we can live with them without being in constant fear. I received an email today about rattlesnakes and their venom.

Most people assume that if they've been bitten by a rattlesnake, they've been envenomed. People have been known to suffer shock, queasiness, and even fainting simply as a result of fear when they've been bitten. The fact is, adult rattlesnakes have a fair amount of control over the release of their venom and many defensive bites are dry bites, delivering no venom at all. In many cases when venom is injected, it's only a very small amount. It is, of course, important to seek medical care, and most victims will be held in the hospital for a few hours to see whether symptoms develop. It's a myth that baby rattlesnakes are more venomous than adults, but they do have less control over their venom release and so are more likely than an adult to accidentally deliver a dose of venom. In any case, I think it's important for folks to understand about the dry bites -- it helps keep bite victims from panicking, and may prevent some of the random killing of rattlesnakes.

Thanks for that information--that's very good to know!