Warmer temperatures are pushing more snakes onto Montana's trails just as families, dogs, and hikers are heading back outside — and local experts say a few simple habits can keep most encounters from turning dangerous. Jeremy Allestad of Montana Reptile Rescue and Clark Aasom, recreation manager at First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park near Ulm, shared guidance this week on what to watch for as snake activity picks up across the region.

The most important lesson, according to both experts, is awareness of where you're stepping and reaching. Rattlesnakes — the only venomous species hikers are likely to encounter in the Helena area — tend to sun themselves on rocky outcroppings and warm trail surfaces, particularly in the morning hours. The trails around Mount Helena, the Scratchgravel Hills, and the canyon areas north of town all provide the rocky, open terrain that rattlesnakes favor.

Allestad, who runs Montana Reptile Rescue, noted that most snake bites occur when people try to handle or kill a snake rather than simply giving it space. Keeping dogs on leash on rocky trails is also strongly recommended — dogs are curious and low to the ground, putting them at higher risk than their owners. If a bite does occur, the guidance is consistent: stay calm, immobilize the affected limb, and get to an emergency room as quickly as possible. Do not apply tourniquets or attempt to suck out venom.

First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park near Ulm — about 25 miles northwest of Helena — is one of the area's premier hiking destinations and sits in prime rattlesnake habitat. Aasom said the park sees increased snake activity each spring as temperatures climb and recommended that visitors stick to established trails and watch where they sit down for breaks.