Occasionally, during the warmest hours of particularly hot days, they'll nestle under rocks or shrubs to keep from getting too warm. They'll usually be under a rock or in a hole during cool hours of the evening and morning, where they can soak up the warmth from the earth or rocks. Wear tall hiking boots, at least 8 inches high, and socks and looser pants. However, they can be uncomfortable to wear. Many people are bitten by rattlesnakes because they aren't aware of their surroundings.
Common snakebites occur because someone stepped over or on a rattlesnake, or sat on or near one.
Those walking outside should keep their eyes open and watch where they walk or sit. Keep dogs on a leash and control them. Dogs will rile up a snake, almost guaranteeing that the snake will strike either the dog or the person holding the dog. If bitten by a rattlesnake, the old recommendations of putting a tourniquet or ice on a snakebite, or cutting into the wound, are out of date. DO NOT follow these recommendations.