How venomous is a prairie rattlesnake?
The prairie rattlesnake is a medium-sized snake so their venom glands are small and can contain only moderate amounts of venom. When it bites the prairie rattlesnake can inject from 20 to 55% of its venom stock in a single bite.
How do you identify a prairie rattlesnake?
Generally, prairie rattlesnakes are usually lightly colored in hues of brown. Patches of dark brown are often distributed in a dorsal pattern. A color band may be seen at the back of the eye. The prairie rattlesnake group carries the distinctive triangle-shaped head and pit sensory organs on either side of the head.
Where are rattlesnakes found in Kansas?
SPECIES DESCRIPTION The Timber Rattlesnake is found along heavily vegetated, rocky outcrops on partially forested hillsides. It is restricted to the eastern third of Kansas and ranges no farther west than the Flint Hills.
Where are Prairie rattlesnakes found?
As its name implies, the prairie rattlesnake’s range is centered in the middle of the United States, from Canada south to Texas and from Idaho east to Iowa. Growing around 35-45 inches in length, the snake is usually a greenish gray, olive green or greenish brown, though some individuals are light brown or yellow.
What do you do if you see a prairie rattlesnake?
Stay calm • Call Dispatch via radio or 911 • Wash the bite area gently with soap and water if available • Remove watches, rings, etc., which may constrict swelling • Immobilize the affected area • Keep the bite below the heart if possible • Transport safely to the nearest medical facility immediately.
What do you do if you encounter a prairie rattlesnake?
Give the snakes a break. Don’t kill or harass snakes. Some species are fully protected by law and need our help. Keep an eye out for snakes on the roads.
Are Prairie rattlesnakes aggressive?
Prairie rattlesnakes may be dangerous, but they are not aggressive and will not attack humans unless provoked.
How do I get rid of prairie rattlesnakes?
How to Get Rid of Rattlesnakes. Use a snake repellent such as Snake Out around your yard and perimeter to ward off Rattlesnakes and deter them from the area. You could also try to use a Solutions Human Live Trap with live or dead rodents to use as bait.
What do you do if a prairie rattlesnake bites you?
First aid for snake bites
- Call 911 immediately.
- Note the time of the bite.
- Keep calm and still as movement can cause the venom to travel more quickly through the body.
- Remove constricting clothing or jewelry because the area surrounding the bite will likely swell.
- Don’t allow the victim to walk.
What kind of snakes live in the Kansas prairies?
Great Plains Rat Snake. Smaller and more slender than the western rat snake, this snake is the same species as the corn snake, but wears a camouflage color pattern more suitable to Kansas soils. This resident of Kansas prairies feeds on rodents.
How often are prairie rattlesnakes harvested in Kansas?
The typical harvest of Prairie Rattlesnakes during the round-ups was 300-400 specimens per year. This harvest is small with respect to considerable mortality this species experiences annually on Kansas highways alone. However, it is unknown what effects the take has on local populations that are repeatedly harvested each year.
Where are prairie rattlesnakes in the Great Plains?
Prairie Rattlesnake. They range from border to border in the western half of the Great Plains states and into the Rocky Mountain states from Montana to New Mexico. The only exception is some of the higher elevations of Colorado and Wyoming, extending a short ways into Canada and Mexico as well.
How does a prairie rattlesnake kill its prey?
They often inject 20-50% of their stored venom which is many times the amount needed to kill their prey. The venom immobilizes and kills the prey by acting as a hemotoxin affecting the blood and lymphatic systems causing pain and swelling. The snake coils and strikes up to half the snakes body length.