Snake season heats up locally

With warmer weather comes the return of rattlesnakes occurring in south Placer neighborhoods. Since mid-March, Tyler Young from Placer Snake Removal has heard from between 50 to 60 rattlesnakes on residents' properties in Grass Valley, Granite Bay, Loomis, Newcastle, and Penryn. Young has managed to capture 40 rattlesnakes so far this spring. Compared to previous years, Young told Gold Country Media this week, there has been a 50-percent increase in the number of snake removals he has had to do so far this year. "It's hard to know if that's just because more people are realizing that there's snake removal people out there or if it has something to do with weather conditions or both," Young said. Sierra Snake Removal owner Glen Stough in Rocklin has also seen an increase in rattlesnakes this spring. According to Slough, he has captured 50 snakes throughout south Placer and has received six to eight phone calls a day this past month from residents about a snake sighting. "It's too early for snakes to be aggressive this time of year," Stough told Gold Country Media last week. "Snakes depend on sunlight and food in order to survive." Sun City Lincoln Hills resident Dale Davis helps his neighborhood by capturing snakes free of charge, for Lincoln Hills residents. Davis said he has captured 10 snakes, just in Lincoln Hills, so far this year. According to Davis, the street with the most snakes in Lincoln Hills is Stone House Lane, followed by Walden View Lane, Winding Way, Snapdragon Lane and Belladonna Lane. The areas with the most rattlesnake occurrences are Grass Valley, Granite Bay, Loomis, Newcastle, and Penryn, according to Young. In addition, El Dorado Hills, Placerville and Folsom have reported snake sightings this spring and in years past. It is "too early" in the season to name specific neighborhoods in these regions, Young said. "Their (snakes) preferred temperature is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit," Young added. " Their dens are going to be near rock outcrops. If a property doesn't have rock outcrops, they can be found in solid objects that have been down for a while like old down trees, wood piles, sheet metal construction, debris, anything that provides solid cover." The warmer the weather gets, Young said, the more that snakes will be visible in open grass areas. Snake season typically ends around Halloween but can last until Thanksgiving, according to Young. How can residents prevent snakes from nesting on their property? "Remove the weeds and tall grass that you have on the property," Young said. "You want to start considering removing debris that's been sitting or any solid stuff, like construction material. Any excess stuff that just sits on the ground provides a solid cover for a snake coming down and looking for different places to hang out." The Sun City Lincoln Hills Community Association emailed snake advisory tips to residents on May 1. The association warned residents to "not reach for items near bushes, pipes, cisterns, deep grass or piles of leaves." "Do not pester or pick up a snake," the newsletter stated. "Snakes only defend themselves when they are cornered or feel threatened." Critter Creek Veterinary office manager Elliot Morrow reported that four patients have been brought to the veterinary hospital this spring for snake bites. "I recommend getting a rattlesnake vaccine (for your pets)," Morrow told Gold Country Media last week. According to Morrow, if a dog gets bitten by a rattlesnake, the vaccine buys more time for your dog to survive. However, if your dog is bitten by a rattlesnake, you must get your dog to your vet as soon as possible to avoid the risk of fatality. The vaccine is developed locally in Sacramento County, according to Morrow. "Do not let your dogs run into bushes," the Sun City of Lincoln Hills Association stated in their May 1 newsletter. "You may not be able to hear the rattle of a baby rattlesnake but your dog can. They can get their nose bit, and you may not know about it." Young also said that families can also look to enroll their dogs in rattlesnake aversion training each year. Get Rattled offers rattlesnake avoidance training for dogs. For more information, call 775-234-8844 or go online to GetRattled.Org. For Lincoln Hills residents, if you see a snake on your property, Dale Davis at 916-960-6999 will remove the snake free of charge. Other south Placer residents can contact Placer Snake Removal at 916-509-1087 or Sierra Snake Removal at 916-765-8623.