With temperatures spiking across the region, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is reminding residents that rattlesnakes are on the move. The snakes are more active in hot weather, and encounters are more likely when people are out on trails, in rocky terrain, or working in yards and fields where the animals seek cover.
Montana is home to 10 snake species, but only one is venomous: the rattlesnake. Chrissy Webb with FWP says that knowing you're in rattlesnake country — and adjusting your behavior accordingly — is the most effective protection. That means watching where you step and where you place your hands, especially around rocks, woodpiles, brush, and tall grass. Wearing closed-toed shoes on trails is a basic precaution that goes a long way.
If you encounter a rattlesnake, the guidance from FWP is simple: back away and give it room. Rattlesnakes strike defensively and have no interest in pursuing humans. Attempts to handle, kill, or relocate a snake dramatically increase the chance of a bite. If someone is bitten, the recommendation is to keep the affected limb below heart level, stay calm, and get to an emergency room as quickly as possible — calling ahead so staff can prepare antivenom. Ice, tourniquets, and attempts to suck out venom are outdated and harmful.