Rattlesnake Sightings on Utah Trail "Rattlesnake Gulch" Delayed Due to Never-Ending Winter

Rattlesnake sightings on Utah's renowned Rattlesnake Gulch Trail have been stalled by the never-ending winter.

Rattlesnake Gulch Trail

Hikers in Millcreek Canyon may encounter snakes, even if they are not rattlesnakes, as the route name "Rattlesnake Gulch" suggests.

A woman walking her dog had just come across a snake when they were following the trail on Sunday night. Kim Beck later learned that it wasn't a rattlesnake.

The woman's problem was that her dog doesn't know to stay away from snakes, hence the dog's leash.

Late Rattlesnake Sightings and the Never-Ending Winter

Beck, the owner of Top Dog Snake Finders, has noticed an increase in reports of rattlesnakes near residences and on hiking routes. She claimed that recently, someone had called her to report a large snake on the Pipeline Trail's second right branch in Millcreek Canyon.

Call volume is increasing later in the year than normal.

Because of the prolonged winter this year, according to Beck, rattlesnake sightings are a little later this year.

Beck responds to neighborhoods, paths, and homes with her tools and bucket to reposition rattlesnakes. When animal control organizations receive reports of rattlesnakes, she claimed to also collaborate with them.

The snake will be taken away by Beck, taken to a comparable area that would be safe for it, far from people, and then simply released.

Rattlesnakes on the Trail

Rattlesnakes, according to Beck, can be moved up to a half-mile or mile from their original location. She said that because rattlesnakes are territorial, the reptiles need to be close to their den, water, and food sources. if they move much farther the snake will perish.

She is adept at finding rattlesnakes and can remove and relocate them, but she also advises people to educate themselves about them, especially if they plan to go trekking.

Rattlesnakes can be encountered in woodpiles and the gaps surrounding boulders, and they may bite if a person reaches in, according to Beck. As such, she urges hikers to be cautious near landscaping rocks and wood heaps in the vicinity of homes and yards.

Beck also advised hikers to be mindful of their surroundings and to keep an eye on their hands and feet.

Rattlesnakes, according to Sonoma County Regional Parks, can't control their body temperatures, so after a chilly night, they seek for sunny areas to warm themselves. Keep an eye out when strolling in the colder hours of the day since a barren, sunny trail or open area is the ideal place to sunbathe.

Rattlesnakes have to find shaded areas out of the sun to avoid overheating, like along or under logs, boulders, thick vegetation, woodpiles, or even the foundations of structures.

Rattlesnakes are most active in the early hours of the day and from sunset to night, however, they can be seen at any time. They use their particular facial organs to sense body heat when hunting mice and other rodents at night.

Safety for Hikers

Beck, who runs the Top Dog Snake Finders company, advised dog owners to enroll their puppies in a K9 rattlesnake aversion school.

A training program for dogs that uses live snakes in an enclosed container to train them to avoid them is also offered nearby in Salt Lake City, according to Dog Friendly SLC.

When going on walks, Beck advised dog owners to keep their canines on leashes, especially on paths like Rattlesnake Gulch, which are well-known as snake hangouts.

The head of the snake is more triangular and the tail has a rattle, according to Beck, who was explaining how to identify a rattlesnake. She claimed that similarly-looking non-venomous bull snakes have straight heads and will shake their tails like rattlesnakes.

She claimed that because rattlesnakes are a protected species, killing them is prohibited. Therefore, it is not advisable to approach them, hurl pebbles at them, or attempt to trap them.

Rattlesnakes won't track humans down to attack them, according to Beck; in fact, most will try to flee. They enter "fight or flight" mode, she claimed, KSL TV reports.