Rattlesnakes for neighbors

An old-timer was heading into its den for the winter out in the Camp Polk area, along with about 20 or so of his brethren. He was in excellent condition from eating as many Belding ground squirrels, sagebrush voles, white-footed mice and other noxious rodents as possible.

That could be the end of the story, but unfortunately, it isn't. Some of his kind out near Squaw Creek Canyon Estates have stirred the pot by wandering around in people's backyards, resting on decks, and otherwise getting noticed.

People got to remembering young Jacob Gurnet, who in a moment of curiosity, went to pick up a "pretty stick" that turned out to be a rattlesnake, and Jacob got nailed. He lived through it and has a wonderful tale to tell for the rest of his life. The other day a report came in from a young lady in the same area who reportedly saw three "small snakes" that she thought were rattlesnakes. And a Sisters man had to bring a dog into the vet after it was bitten in its own yard.

That's enough to start the snake hysteria that prompted one of the residents to send me an email, stating his concern for the safety of the children and pets, and the apparent risk of being bitten by a rattlesnake:

"If there is a den nearby, I would like to see it pinpointed and have the snakes relocated down in the canyon, or some other appropriate snake habitat. Is that something I could do myself, or someone from ODFW, or a private contractor?"

That, Oh Best Beloved, is a job that, if possible, would take several years, and in the long run would be a waste of time and money. One would have to locate the den(s); capture every snake preparing to go down for the winter; and then find a site where there are no snakes, with plentiful prey for when they wake up. Otherwise, they'll be back where they were first located, because they like the rodents.

Rattlesnakes are by far one of the most helpful animals on this grand old earth at eliminating rodents, which helps keep the diseases they carry at bay.

My good friend, herpetologist Al St. John, author of "Reptiles of the Northwest," knows rattlesnakes. Does he ever: as a teenager he was bitten by a rattlesnake over in the Valley near his home in McMinneville. Like Jacob, he was curious.

This is the advice Al shares with people who think rattlesnakes pose a threat to safety and welfare:

• Don't leave pieces of plywood or other debris lying around the yard. There is nothing a snake enjoys more than a nice warm place under a piece of roofing, plywood or other flat object where it can be safe and digest a ground squirrel or two.

• Turn on the porch light at night before you venture forth, and see if one of your reptilian neighbors is passing through.

• Teach children about rattlesnakes. Show them pictures of our local rattlesnake and harmless gopher snake. We have only one venomous snake to contend with: the Northern Pacific Rattlesnake.

Here's what Al has to say about snakes for neighbors, and I'm with him all he way: "There seems to be a lot of folks (out in) Squaw Creek Canyon development who want to be 'close to nature.' They build their house at the south base of a rocky slope, ending up with a rattlesnake den nearly in their backyard. Then they complain when nature gets TOO close in the form of a rattler buzzing a warning at them on their patio. The snake is merely saying, 'Back off. This territory has been in my family since the Pleistocene era!'"

And just to put things in perspective; according to information I can dig up from Google; in 2009, over 37,000 people were killed in automobile accidents, and mosquito-born diseases killed over three million. Rattlesnakes killed five.