Snakes in Montana (Great Falls, Bozeman: live, move to, swimming)

[MHT]

Originally Posted by LOVE THE U.S.A.

Hi,
If you should be bitten by a rattler or any other poisonous snake what are the results to you . Fatal results , pain etc. THANK YOU

LOVE THE U.S.A.

Rattlesnake bites are rarely fatal. Most towns with medical facilities have anti-venom available. I lived north of Missoula for several years and was bitten by a rattler - my fault - didn't think about them being under the bale of hay I was lifting. Forgot to tip it towards me instead of lifting it up. That was 4 years ago.

[GiftShoppeGuy]

Originally Posted by MHT

Rattlesnake bites are rarely fatal. Most towns with medical facilities have anti-venom available. I lived north of Missoula for several years and was bitten by a rattler - my fault - didn't think about them being under the bale of hay I was lifting. Forgot to tip it towards me instead of lifting it up. That was 4 years ago.

I've been bit a few times in my life too, in both western and eastern Montana.
Rattle Snakes are just as populous in the west as they are the east.
There are more hiding places in the west than in the east....
Another thing that one might consider when dealing with the issues of "snakes" or any other wildlife in Montana, is that, they aren't particularly interested in being discovered by humans, or domestic stock of any kind.... so... unless you are really the "outdoorsy" type, living in western Montana may not produce too many snake sightings.....
Livestock, farming and building development will keep the snakes pushed farther into uninhabited areas.....

Snakes are definitely there... in just about every drainage primarily, from the Jocko (north) to the Clark Fork (east & west) to the Bitterroot (south) to the Blackfoot (north & east).

I've seen 'em in Darby up the west fork, in Lincoln, in Arlee, in Charlo, in Covallis, Lo Lo, Huson, Plains, Hot Springs, and even up Lake Koocanusa north to Eureka....

[YOU-CANT-EAT-SCENERY]

I have even seen a few rattlers around here in So Cal. Mostly just gopher snakes and king snakes though. I have a pet corn snake

[genielamp]

As far as stastistics on snake encounters, getting into a car and driving is a lot more dangerous. jm

[ExNYC]

This is an interesting thread to me. I'm a real 'city girl' from NY. To me, the wilderness is two or three trees together. :-D Not really. I'm intrigued to read about things like rattlesnakes (rattlers), bears and similar hazards. We live in Ashland, Oregon by way of Southern California and I feel like a real westerner now (my family thinks we've moved to Mars). After reading these posts, I realize I'm still a 'tenderfoot'. You guys are really cool.

[mthuntnow]

Actually, there are a few random rattlers (the only poisonous snake in Montana) in nearly every valley of Western Montana and in all of Eastern Montana. However, they are mostly only in small areas of any given valley in Western Montana. However, I have seen rattle snakes in Missoula, Bitteroot, and Mission valleys (in the driest areas) although most people consider these areas devoid of rattle snakes. The extreme western boarder, and the very north west of Montana are likely entirely void of rattle snakes. Mostly, the lions and bears are the concern.

[mthuntnow]

wow, giftshop, even above Libby eh? I didn't figure they were up there, but I don't really know that area

[GiftShoppeGuy]

Originally Posted by mthuntnow

wow, giftshop, even above Libby eh? I didn't figure they were up there, but I don't really know that area

Well Lincoln County is pretty big, and I think I've only actually seen 3, but I've heard many others.

Bit while launching off of the dam to go look at Warland (which is now, incidently, under 200 feet of water -- all you can still really see is the bridge anymore).... Somehow thought that it would be fun to get up close to the rocks, and climb for a good dive into the lake, and that's when the little huckster nailed me...... Got a shot for it in Libby, but was ill for over a week because of it.

[cas2006]

Originally Posted by grizzfan

West of the Continental Divide, except in very dry areas, there are no rattlesnakes. I believe the rattlesnake is the only poisonous one in the state and can be quite common East of the Divide.

Say, what? I'd be hard pressed to believe there are no rattlers west of the CD. What is it..a state law? There are plenty further west, i.e. Idaho, Wash and OR. They taste like chicken.

[montana_molly]

In the s.w. part where I'm from, the snakes are up on the benchland; not down in the valleys. I do know of someone whose lucrative business is to locate dens and destroy the snakes if they become a problem where you are living. He cements the opening of the den with a tube coming out and then caps it. When they come out into the piping, he gasses them (but he retrives the good snakes first). It is my understanding that a den will hold as many as 5,000 snakes. So if you're living in areas where the dens are, (and they do have travel patterns where they go back and forth); then there are plenty of them.

I live in the valley and have never seen one. There are mountain lions here and I've never seen one of those either. My son has seen three cross the roads. The grey wolf is soon to be taken off the endangered species here too, and I read where they will soon begin trophy hunting for them. They were just reintroduced here in the early 80's; so it didn't take long for their proliferation. Hmmm. (I'm wondering if there will be a bounty on them again one day, as there were in the 20's.

Yep, Montana's a great place to live. Actually, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.