NORTHWEST FIRE INTRODUCES CHANGE IN SNAKE RESPONSE
Rattlesnakes are one of the more frequently encountered wild critters, especially during the warmer weather between March and October. In past years, Northwest firefighters have received up to dozens of snake calls a day during peak summer months. Some calls involved snakes trapped in enclosed yards and firefighters would catch the snake and release it a short distance away from the home. But even more frequently, the calls involved a snake spotted in a wash or open area that didn’t pose any real danger and was long gone by the time firefighters arrived.
This year, with economic conditions demanding ever more efficient use of resources, emergency dispatchers will be screening 9-1-1 calls regarding snakes to determine if the snake in question truly poses a hazard before dispatching firefighters to the scene.
Beginning March 1, 9-1-1 callers in the Northwest Fire District requesting assistance with snakes will be asked questions to determine whether the situation is an emergency. Callers will be asked if anyone has been bitten or injured, which would constitute an emergency. If no one has been injured, the caller will be asked about the location of the snake. If the snake is in an unfenced yard or open area, callers will be advised to keep children and pets away from the snake until the snake has moved away, If the snake is in the house, garage, in a yard or area enclosed by a wall, firefighters will be dispatched to move the snake to a nearby open area. Firefighters will also respond if the snake otherwise poses an immediate threat, such as being near a school or daycare entry or bus stop.
If Dispatchers determine there is no emergency situation but the caller still wants the snake removed from its location, the caller will be directed to contact a professional desert pest removal service.
Snakes are part of the desert; there is no way to guarantee that you won’t encounter one if you live here. However, like most wildlife, snakes are not looking to harm humans and would prefer to be left alone. Northwest Fire District has some suggestions to help you avoid them:
- Watch where you step. Rattlesnakes blend inwith their surrounding, so look where you put your foot down. Wear closed-toe shoes or boots outside and use a flashlight at night, especially as nights get warmer and rattlesnakes are more active. Keep walkways well lighted and clear of brush.
- Eliminate rodents, a favorite rattlesnake food,from around your house and yard.
- Remove what look like attractive residences for snakes. Instead of digging their own dens, rattlesnakes prefer move into existing structures. Woodpiles and junk piles should be eliminated, or moved away from the house. Fill in rodent holes and abandoned burrows.
- No wall is totally snake proof, but a solid four foot wall with a lip at the top angling outward can help discourage snakes. The bottom of the wall should be sunk into the ground and have no tunnels under it. Gates should fit snugly against the ground.
If you do encounter a snake, back slowly and deliberately away from it. Alert others in the area, restrain pets and keep an eye on the location of the snake until it moves out of the area. If the snake is in your yard and you want it removed, you can call your fire department (Northwest and some area fire departments remove snakes) or call a pest control service. No one without proper training should pick up a rattlesnake, even a dead one. Reflex bites are possible from a snake that has been dead several hours.
If, despite precautions, someone is bitten by a snake:
- Stay calm. Victims should avoid moving too much or becoming excited
- Remove constricting items such as jewelry and watches from affected area
- Immobilize a bitten extremity and keep below heart level
- Transport victim to closest health care facility without delay
- DO NOT use ice, tourniquets, electricity or drugs, or try to cut the skin
- For additional information, contact the Northwest Fire/Rescue Life Safety Office at 887-1010 Extension 5000.
- Remove constricting items such as jewelry and watches from affected area
- Immobilize a bitten extremity and keep below heart level
- Transport victim to closest health care facility without delay
- DO NOT use ice, tourniquets, electricity or drugs, or try to cut the skin