Having grown up in Lycoming County and spending most of the years of my life roaming its hills and streams, it has been a natural progression to be an avid lover of nature and to enjoy the outdoor sporting opportunities that this wonderful area provides. Through the years, my respect and admiration for all the wonders of nature has continued to grow — except perhaps the rattlesnake!

Yes, I am well aware of the interaction of all species and that each and every creature has a purpose in the balance of our natural world, but rattlesnakes do not fulfill a purpose that other, much more pleasant reptiles cannot fulfill. At least, this is my opinion, which you may or may not share.

While timber rattlers prefer to be left alone and, if they sense your presence, would rather move out of your way and be left undisturbed, they can occasionally be somewhat aggressive. It is said that when they are shedding their skin, and their eyes become glazed over in the process, they can be more aggressive. With their reduced visibility, they might tend to lash out or strike at things that their limited vision does not allow them to identify properly. And there are times when, if you come upon them suddenly and they are surprised by your presence, they may strike out of a sense of self-defense. This is natural on their part, but it can have very unpleasant results for you or your pet.

So what can you do? The first step is to educate yourself about our timber rattlers. In 2017, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced that they were taking the timber rattlesnake off the endangered list because their numbers had finally increased to a level where they no longer needed to be listed as endangered in Pennsylvania. For you, that means there is an increased chance of encountering one when hiking, hunting, or fishing. But, if you leave them alone, they will tend to leave you alone.

Legally, there is a rather complex procedure in place if you want to take a rattlesnake and wish to comply with the laws. First, you will need a current fishing license and must obtain a valid annual permit to hunt, take, catch, kill, or possess a timber rattlesnake (or copperhead, for that matter). With the proper license and permit, you can take one per year during the season, but there is more to the regulation, and if you are serious about the proper procedures, you need to refer to the current edition of the Pennsylvania Fishing Summary handbook where reptile seasons, limits and regulations are covered.

In support of leaving rattlesnakes alone, an unnamed Fish and Boat Commission Law Enforcement Officer told me, “You should leave rattlesnakes alone since they are what keep the “Flatlanders” at home in the city!”

But what if you do have an encounter that ends up with you being bitten by this venomous snake? I came across an article that described what happened to a man in Texas recently. After being bitten, the man went straight to a neighbor’s home, and they put ice on the site. They arrived at the hospital within an hour of the bite. By the time they got there, his arm was beginning to swell to the shoulder, and his throat was getting tight. The first thing the emergency room did was give him Benadryl. The swelling in his arm and throat started going down right away. The anti-venom medicine had to be prepared and was not ready for a couple of hours. He received two doses of the anti-venom and spent the night in the hospital, but was able to come home healthy the next day.

A nurse suggested that people who spend time in the outdoors should carry an emergency kit that includes children’s chewable Benadryl — it won’t spill or break. It is given according to body weight so that it can also be used for adults; just give a larger dose. She said if you chew it and hold it in your mouth, it will absorb just as fast as or faster through the membranes of the mouth than from the stomach — which just might save a life!

I am not a medical practitioner, but this does seem to make sense. I recommend that you contact your family Doctor and discuss this with them. If they agree, it would be great peace of mind to include children’s chewable Benadryl in your emergency kit — just in case!