Summer is here, and with it comes the much anticipated opportunity to play outside.
Hikers blaze trails and campers pitch tents with a spring-time frenzy, but the excitement of the great outdoors should be tempered with caution. Rattlesnakes are, to a large extent, unpredictable, said Bill Andelt, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension wildlife specialist. However, they do tend to hold certain traits and habits. To keep summer activities such as hiking, bike riding and camping safe and enjoyable, Andelt recommends becoming familiar with the habits of rattlesnakes and following some rattlesnake safety guidelines. Rattlesnakes most often bite when they feel threatened or when they are startled.