Local Community Advertising
A large rattlesnake was spotted slithering just off of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail near Naramata on Thursday.
Cyclist Marshall Shelswell first saw the rattler as he was biking back from the tunnel towards the parking lot.
“It was right on the edge of the trail and about 30-feet from the parking lot,” said Shelswell.
“I had my dog with me so I scooped him up real quick.”
Shelswell says he’s come across a few rattlers over the years while biking the trail, but this one was by far the largest.
“It must have been nearly five feet long, the girth and the sound of the rattle was startling."
According to Wild Safe BC, rattlesnakes are generally shy and non-aggressive but are venomous.
If a rattlesnake does bite, the victim must stay calm, remove any constrictive clothing or jewelry near the bite to prevent the venom from concentrating in one area and go to the nearest hospital.
Do not apply a tourniquet, make an incision, attempt to suck the venom out or ice the wound.
To learn more about rattlesnakes, click here.
Local Community Advertising