Hand crews digging and securing firelines and
mopping up wildfires in Oregon face a number of risks from the
natural environment. Apart from fire and smoke, the most common risks from
nature here may be allergic rashes from the widespread poison oak. Stings by
bees and wasps, often irritated by wildfire smoke, are surprisingly common as
well. By contrast, even though it is not unusual to see snakes in rural areas, snakebites
are rare. However, one bite did occur this year, to a firefighter battling the Horse Prairie Fire in Douglas County, south of Roseburg.
mopping up wildfires in Oregon face a number of risks from the
natural environment. Apart from fire and smoke, the most common risks from
nature here may be allergic rashes from the widespread poison oak. Stings by
bees and wasps, often irritated by wildfire smoke, are surprisingly common as
well. By contrast, even though it is not unusual to see snakes in rural areas, snakebites
are rare. However, one bite did occur this year, to a firefighter battling the Horse Prairie Fire in Douglas County, south of Roseburg.
Oregon is home to 15 species of snake but only one is
venomous – the Northern Pacific rattlesnake. Growing to 3 feet in length (rarely
to 4 feet), this creature is an important part of the ecosystem, eating mice,
rats, squirrels, rabbits, lizards and even other snakes.
venomous – the Northern Pacific rattlesnake. Growing to 3 feet in length (rarely
to 4 feet), this creature is an important part of the ecosystem, eating mice,
rats, squirrels, rabbits, lizards and even other snakes.
Rattlesnakes generally avoid people if they can. Most bites
occur when someone steps on a snake cowering in the undergrowth, or when
someone reaches a hand into where one is hiding. After a wildfire, the warmth
of hot spots at night, such as inside burned out stump holes or beneath burned
logs, can be attractive hiding places for these cold-blooded reptiles.
Unfortunately, those are the very places hand crews seek out during mop up operations
as they attempt to put out any woody debris that is hot to the touch. The firefighter at the Horse Prairie Fire who got bitten by a snake was immediately taken for treatment. Fortunately, no venom was injected and
the firefighter was able to return to duty the next day.
occur when someone steps on a snake cowering in the undergrowth, or when
someone reaches a hand into where one is hiding. After a wildfire, the warmth
of hot spots at night, such as inside burned out stump holes or beneath burned
logs, can be attractive hiding places for these cold-blooded reptiles.
Unfortunately, those are the very places hand crews seek out during mop up operations
as they attempt to put out any woody debris that is hot to the touch. The firefighter at the Horse Prairie Fire who got bitten by a snake was immediately taken for treatment. Fortunately, no venom was injected and
the firefighter was able to return to duty the next day.
As frightened as people can be of rattlesnakes, they have
more reason to fear us. From pioneer times on, settlers and their descendants
have usually killed rattlesnakes on sight. As a result, the
Northern Pacific rattlesnake has been all but exterminated in densely populated
areas, such as the Willamette Valley.
more reason to fear us. From pioneer times on, settlers and their descendants
have usually killed rattlesnakes on sight. As a result, the
Northern Pacific rattlesnake has been all but exterminated in densely populated
areas, such as the Willamette Valley.
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