How do I contact OC Snake Removal and what are your hours?
Main line – 949.933.1868
Email – OCSNAKEREMOVAL@YAHOO.COM
Hours – 24 hrs a day – 7 days a week.
What should I do if I encounter a snake?
Most importantly, stay calm and give the snake plenty of distance. Do not approach the snake, and do not attempt to trap or corner it. Calmly walk away from the snake in order to help it not feel threatened. Snakes don’t want to come in contact with people or their pets just as much as people don’t want to come in contact with them. Get a detailed description of the snake and attempt to see the direction the snake traveled last for a better chance of locating it once help arrives.
How do I know if a snake is venomous?
Most importantly, education! If you reside in an area where snakes are present, its highly encourage to study snakes native to your area. This includes knowing their physical description, color, size, behavior etc… Furthermore, if you are not familiar with the species of snakes you may encounter do not attempt to remove or handle them. Many snake bites occur this way every year.
Different species of rattlesnakes vary in size, markings and temperament depending on their variety and locality. The guidelines below are not always an automatic tell in determining whether a snake is venomous or non venomous. Some non venomous snakes have a similar physical description and will mimic the behavior of venomous snakes as a defense mechanism. Below are some basic guidelines to follow when distinguishing a venomous snake from a non venomous snake.
Head Shape – Broad and triangular
Tail – Has a rattle (not always present) that makes a distinct sound. It is usually rounded at the end with a button like appearance. Rattlesnakes may not have the ability to rattle if they have lost their rattle, if they are a neonate or if their rattle is wet. Do not rely on a rattle to determine whether or not a snake is venomous.
Eyes – Vertical with elliptical pupils
Body – Heavy or wide looking in appearance
Pattern – Often a diamond pattern is present, but not always.
Color – Dependent upon species and locality
Scales – Keeled and large
Are baby rattlesnakes more dangerous than adults?
One of the most common things you will hear people say about rattlesnakes is that a baby rattlesnake is more dangerous than an adult rattlesnake. There are many variables to consider, some of which include venom toxicity, venom yield, temperaments, species and locations as to the danger of various rattlesnakes. Things such as the striking distance of large snakes to small snakes also play a role. Larger snakes can obviously strike further than smaller snakes. On the other hand, baby rattlesnakes do not have the ability to make a loud rattling sound that an adult can make.
During several studies the venom of a baby rattlesnake in some species has been found to be more potent than that of an adult rattlesnake. Venom composition does change as a rattlesnake matures.
Although the venom of a baby rattlesnake may be more potent and their control is poor this does not mean a baby rattlesnake is more dangerous. An adult rattlesnake possess a much larger quantity of venom and longer fangs. This means that an adult rattlesnake can actually release MORE venom Deeper into your flesh. In the clinical experience at Loma Linda University Medical Center, large rattlesnakes caused more serious injuries than baby rattlesnakes.
What is the rattle on a rattlesnake made of?
The rattle is composed of a series of nested hollow beads made up of keratin. These beads are actually modified scales from the tip of the tail used to make a loud vibrating sound known as the snake’s defense mechanism. Keratin is also the key structural component of a person’s hair and nails.
What is the striking distance of a rattlesnake?
Rattlesnakes can strike up to one third to one half of their overall length, in some cases further.
Can you tell the age of a rattlesnake by the number of rattles on its tail?
Rattlesnakes gain a rattle every time they shed their skin. Since rattlesnakes shed more than once a year and because rattle segments often break off, there is no correlation between the number of rattles and a snake’s exact age.
What attracts snakes to my property?
What attracts snakes to particular properties depends on the time of year and other various factors. They may be attracted to such things as food source, mate, shade, basking area, hydration, debris or a cover to hide under. Or, a snake may simply be crossing your path while exploring new territory.
What should I do if I’m bitten by a rattlesnake?
Disclaimer – We are not doctors and cannot tell you exactly what to do if bitten. The below information is a rule of thumb for what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake.
DO stay as calm as possible
DO call 911 and get immediate medical attention
DO keep bite below the heart
DO immobilize the affected area
DO remove any jewelry that may restrict swelling
DO NOT take aspirin or ibuprofen
DO NOT apply a tourniquet
DO NOT cut the bite area
DO NOT ice the bite area
DO NOT attempt to suck out the venom
DO NOT Drink alcohol
What is the insect called that makes a sound similar to a rattlesnake?
The insect is called a Cicada (si-kah-da). People often hear a rattle like sound in the landscape surrounding their homes and assume it is that of a rattlesnake. It can be a rattlesnake, but it may also be the sound of a Cicada.
I keep seeing snake on my property, what can I do to eliminate them?
Keeping snakes off your property can be a difficult task. The most effective way is to create a physical barrier such as our specifically designed snake proof fencing. If snake proof fencing is not something that suits your property, making the landscape less desirable to snakes will help. Here are a few tips in doing so, eliminate their food source, clean up all debris on the ground that may be providing cover, keep landscape nicely trimmed and seal irrigation drips.
Do you kill the snakes you remove?
No, none of the snakes we remove will be killed. If permitted by the California Department of Fish and Game all snakes removed will be re-released. If a snake is sick and cannot be re-released it is adopted or donated to an educational facility.
Do snake repellents work?
In my experience, snake repellents have yielded poor results and been a waste of time and money. If you want to keep snakes off your property the very best deterrent is a physical barrier such as snake proof fencing.
How many snake bites occur in the United States each year?
It is estimated that more than 8,000 snake bites occur each year in the United States. Many of these bites are preventable with basic awareness and prevention steps.
How many months of the year are snakes active?
Snakes can be active all year if the weather is warm but are most active during the months of March to September.
Snake Myths!
There are numerous myths regarding snakes. Below are a FEW humorous and often told snake myths.
Rattlesnakes always rattle prior to striking.
This is not true. often times a rattlesnake will strike prior to rattling or coiling. When present in rattlesnake habitat you must always be on guard. Some of the best field herpers and Herpetologists have been bitten by rattlesnakes that did not show warning signs or went unseen.
Horse hair rope deters snakes. Snakes will not crawl over horse hair rope because it is prickly and rough.
The habitat snakes live in is far more harsh than horse hair rope. The belly of a snake is designed to travel over rough terrain. Horse hair rope does not deter snakes. This an old Hollywood Western film myth.
Snakes swallow their offspring to protect them.
This is not true. If a snake swallowed their offspring they would die. This myth more than likely came from people witnessing a larger snake eating a smaller snake.
Rattlesnakes are evolving and now able to mate with non venomous snakes. Once they mate and produce offspring, their offspring resemble a non venomous snake but possess the venom of a rattlesnake.
This is scientifically impossible. This myth stems from poor snake identification. Some people automatically assume any snake that slightly resembles a rattlesnake is venomous.
Coachwhip snakes use their tails to whip people, leaving deep lacerated whip marks.
If you have picked up a Coachwhip chances are it bit you or whipped its tail around in attempt to flee. However a Coachwhip has never left “deep lacerated whip marks” on a person or any tail marks worth mentioning.
I had a rattlesnake in my yard that was 10.5 feet long.
Rattlesnakes do not reach that length, ever. The AVERAGE size of a rattlesnake in the Southern California area is roughly 2.5 to 3.5 feet in length.
If you kill a rattlesnake, its mate will find you and kill you.
The brain of a snake does not have the capacity to hold such a thought. Often snakes are seen together during breeding season. When one of the snakes gets killed and the other does not it may stick around in a bush outside your home until it feels safe to retract. It is not waiting outside your door to kill you. This is one of the more comical myths.
The hoop snake myth.
The hoop snake is a myth that has been around for decades. What happens is “the snake grasps its tail in its jaws and rolls after you like a hula hoop! Once the snake is close enough it releases its tail from its mouth and lands in striking position, ready to attack!” Negative people, this does not happen and there has never been any proof of it.
All snakes are slimy.
Wrong, Snakes are not slimy.
Snake are poisonous.
Snakes INJECT toxins when biting, therefore snakes are venomous. Poison is ingested or inhaled and Venom is injected.
Baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than adult rattlesnakes because they cannot control their venom and their venom is more potent than an adult rattlesnakes.
One of the most common things you will hear people say about rattlesnakes is that a baby rattlesnake is more dangerous than an adult rattlesnake. There are many variables to consider, some of which include venom toxicity, venom yield, temperaments, species and locations as to the danger of various rattlesnakes. Things such as the striking distance of large snakes to small snakes also play a role. Larger snakes can obviously strike further than smaller snakes. On the other hand, baby rattlesnakes do not have the ability to make a loud rattling sound that an adult can make.
During several studies the venom of a baby rattlesnake in some species has been found to be more potent than that of an adult rattlesnake. Venom composition does change as a rattlesnake matures.
Although the venom of a baby rattlesnake may be more potent and their control is poor this does not mean a baby rattlesnake is more dangerous. An adult rattlesnake possesses a much larger quantity of venom and longer fangs. This means that an adult rattlesnake can actually release MORE venom deeper into your flesh. In the clinical experience at Loma Linda University Medical Center, large rattlesnakes caused more serious injuries than baby rattlesnakes
What cities and counties does OC Snake Removal service?
Snake Fence in San Deigo County. Lincoln Acres, Leucadia, Lemon grove, Lakeside, La Mesa, La Jolla, Julian, Jamul, Jacumba, Imperial Beach, Fallbrook, Warner Springs, Vista, Valley Center, Spring Valley, Santa Ysabel, San Yisdro, San Onofre, San Marcos, San Lusi Rey, San Diego, Escondido, Encinitas, El Cajon, Dulzura, Descanso, Del Mar, Coronado, Chula Vista, Carlsbad, Poway, Rainbow, Ramona, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, Cardiff by the Sea, Pauma Valley, Camp Pendleton, Campo, Boulevard, Borrego Springs, Bonsall, Bonita, Alpine, Oceanside, Pala, Palomar Mountain, Pala, Mt. Laguna, Fairbanks Ranch, The Crosby, Hacienda Santa Fe, The Summit, Del Rayo, The Bridges, Rancho La Cima, The River Estates, Cielo.