How to React to a Rattlesnake

A friendly frolic in the desert, or even a romp in your own backyard, can turn deadly if you run across a rattlesnake and don’t react in the proper manner. Rattlesnakes attack when they feel threatened, so you want to do everything you can to make sure he knows you want nothing to do with him. This can be done in a few simple steps that explain how to react to a rattlesnake.

Things You'll Need

• Quick wits
• Slow movements

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Instructions

• 1

  Stop immediately when you see or hear a rattlesnake. No matter if you are midstride, running for a bus or in the middle of your daily walk, do not take another step once you see the snake or hear his rattle.

• 2

  Gauge your distance from the snake. If you are far enough away that the snake did not see you and he is not rattling his warning or has his head poised ready to strike, turn around and run. If you are close to the snake and he looks ready to attack, proceed to the next step.

• 3

  Stay still like a statue. After your immediate halt, stay absolutely still. Then slowly begin to back away from the snake in tiny, barely discernable steps.

• 4

  Continue to slowly back away until you are far enough away that he can no longer hit you if he strikes, then you get to turn around and run. Rattlesnakes are not going to go slithering after you at top speed through the desert, but they can strike a distance of half their body lengths. Stay slow, fluid and gentle in your movements until you are at least half his body length away.