“We don’t have an exact number of snakes reported recently, but a database like that helps us get a better idea.” “It’s really beneficial for us to collect data on different sightings,” said Faith Heaton Jolley, public information officer for Utah’s Department of Wildlife Resources. This app allows you to submit photos, find data on where species are located, and identify the species slithering around in front of you. If at enough of a distance, you can take out your phone to document the snake using the app iNaturalist. Always travel with a friend or let someone know where you’ll be and how long you’ll be there, and dress in shoes that cover the whole foot, as most non-provoked snake bites are given to extremities that end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. When hiking, avoid sticking any body part into a crevice, as those are areas that snakes tend to frequent. Leaving the reptile alone is usually enough to avoid a bite, and make sure that children and pets follow suit. Many of these are a result of attempting to handle or illegally kill the snake, according to Utah’s Department of Wildlife Resources. Though only about six people a year die of snake bites nationally, about 6,000 to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes annually, according to the U.S. Even if a snake is not venomous, it can still react to agitation through biting, which can still cause lasting damage to skin and tissue. Wild Aware Utah advises that if you can’t tell if the snake is venomous from a distance, leave it alone and treat it as if it were. Most venomous snakes are found in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper woodlands, sand dunes, rocky hillsides, grasslands and mountain forests. Venomous snakes have shorter nostrils, triangle-shaped heads, and slitted pupils. These are known as pit vipers because of the pit located between their nostrils and eyes. Of the 31 species of snakes found in Utah, seven are venomous. When it comes to snake preparedness, knowledge and caution are the key components to enjoying their presence without intruding on their space. One of Messmer’s main concerns is that people who have never encountered snakes before are now seeing them slither up their back porches. World Snake Day is perfect time to ditch prejudices, learn about snakes.Apart from today, if you think the weather’s been the driest you’ve seen in your life, you’re right.Baby, it’s dry outside: How the drought is affecting Utah.Farmers may see more of them in irrigation areas, and homeowners should look out for snakes in wood and trash piles, which can act as shelters from the sun. Snakes don’t need as much water as humans, but still do need some moisture, and often seek it in areas that are being actively watered. More snake sightings are typical for the summer season and in times of elevated drought, according to Wild Aware Utah, an informational website partnering with the USU Extension, Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City and the Utah Department of Natural Resources. George: the Great Basin rattlesnake and Mojave sidewinder. Though most venomous snakes stay in mountainous areas or sagebrush, two types of venomous snakes have been sighted in areas around St. Of the calls that Messmer has received, mostly nonvenomous snakes have been straying into the valley. One deadly incident last year was with a person who was out recreating on trails, and these are all sightings in parks.” “All of them occurred in early June, while other incidences of snake sightings and bites were in later June in previous years. “We’re getting calls earlier this year than ever,” said Terry Messmer, Utah State University Extension wildlife specialist. This is nothing new for Utahns, but an increased frequency of snakes in the Salt Lake Valley and elsewhere for the summer means that caution and preparedness is necessary, according to reptile experts. As a scorching drought sweeps through Utah, more critters are making their way into public parks and backyards.
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