So, who do you think won?
Rattlesnake Bites: How To Avoid Them & How To Treat Them
California typically receives about 300 reports of rattlesnake bites each year. Officials warned that "even baby rattlesnakes possess dangerous venom as soon as they hatch."
A rattlesnake bite can produce painful swelling, bruising, tissue destruction, bleeding problems and, in rare cases, can be fatal, poison control officials said.
"If you are bitten by a rattlesnake, immediate medical attention is critical," Cyrus Rangan, assistant medical director for the California Poison Control System, said. "Severe or even life-threatening symptoms may occur within minutes after the bite, or in other cases may begin after couple of hours. In either event, your best bet is to get to a hospital as soon as you can."
Here are some tips to avoid a rattlesnake bite:
Wear boots and long pants when hiking.
Stay on trails when hiking, away from underbrush and tall weeds.
Do not touch or disturb a snake, even if it appears dead.
Carefully inspect logs or rocks before sitting on them.
Never hike alone in remote areas. Always have someone with you who can assist in an emergency.
Teach children to respect snakes and to leave them alone.
If a rattlesnake does bite you, you should get immediate medical attention. Officials also said "do not apply ice, do not use a tourniquet or constricting band, do not try to suck out the venom, and do not use any device to cut or slice the bite site
CALABASAS, CA – What would you do for love? Male rattlesnakes have to duke it out to vie for the heart of their special snake. This ritual, which commonly occurs during the summer mating season, was caught on video in the Cheeseboro Canyon, according to the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area.
When male snakes are competing for females, they'll wrestle each other to prove their dominance and strength, in what is sometimes confused for a mating dance, Ranger Ana Beatriz wrote on Facebook. The female is usually nearby, watching the match unfold, she said.
Rattlesnakes live throughout California and are found in a variety of habitats, from coastal to desert, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). They may also turn up around homes and yards in brush areas and under wood piles, the department said.
Rattlesnakes are generally not aggressive, and will likely retreat if they're given room or they're not deliberately provoked or threatened, the CDFW said. Most rattlesnake bikes occur when the animal is handled or accidentally touched by someone walking or climbing