Utah hikers, whether fresh greenies or seasoned veterans, are likely to encounter snakes in their hiking and climbing around the state. Snakes, though not as dangerous as people may think, are unavoidable in the great outdoors.
"If you want to completely avoid snakes, you should just go to Liberty Park," said George Oliver, a snake expert, and wildlife biologist with the state. "There are probably not any snakes there, at least not of the legless variety."
Although snakes are commonly associated with the devil himself, experts say snakes are not out to get people.
"They don't want to bite you," said Laura Hines, a Utah State Native Aquatics biologist. "They want to save their venom for prey."
Of the five most common snakes found in northern and central Utah, only two have venomous fangs: the prairie rattlesnake and the western rattlesnake. Even if they bite, fatalities in this area of Utah are extremely rare.
Bites themselves are infrequent. Oliver cited one bite from last summer and could not remember a recorded rattlesnake bite before that.
Rattlesnakes blend easily into their desert environment. They lie coiled under logs or rocks waiting for prey to pass. Oliver remembers pointing out a rattlesnake to a friend. It was knotted on the ground only a few feet away and the friend could not see it. Unsuspecting passers-by may startle a snake into striking.
"The reason they bite people is usually out of defense," said Oliver. "They're dangerous because they're camouflaged and lie-and-wait predators."
Rattlesnakes occasionally attack humans as prey. They see in infrared, meaning that they see the heat leaving the animals around them. Upon sensing the heat of a human, they may attack, mistaking a hand for a mouse or other small animal.
"You should never reach up over a ledge," said Oliver. "You should never be putting your hands toward the ground (unless) you're sure you know what you're looking at."
Oliver also recommended wearing long pants and shoes rather than shorts and sandals when in the outdoors.
Another piece of advice for snake encounters: Don't touch them, dead or alive. Oliver once went to pick up a roadkill rattler whose "guts were smeared across the road." He reached his hand down in the direction of the "dead" snake, and it bit him.
One rattlesnake that can do serious damage is the Mojave snake, found in southwestern Utah near St. George. This species has a bite that may kill.
"(If bit by a Mojave) and you have any last words to say, you better say them immediately, because you are almost certainly going to die," said Oliver.
Besides rattlesnakes, outdoorsy Utahns can expect to see gopher snakes, striped whip snakes, garter snakes and racer snakes. These assist in maintaining a healthy environment, eating rodents and other creatures that can disturb crops and yards alike.
"Venomous snakes are definitely in the minority, especially in Utah," said Utah Natural Heritage zoologist Ben Sutter. "(People) shouldn't jump to the conclusion that all snakes are harmful. They're very helpful to the environment."
Oliver emphasized the importance of teaching children safety, while not instilling fear into them.
"I think it's a real shame to plant so much fear in the mind of a child that the person as an adult can't enjoy nature," Oliver said.
E-mail: amarshall@desnews.com