LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — There are five to six different rattlesnakes species that can be found in the Las Vegas Valley, and as temperatures heat up you’ll see more of them outside.
Area parks like Hidden Falls Park already have signs posted to warn folks to keep a close eye out on their pets and themselves.
It was in May of 2018 when 13 Action News we met a golden retriever named Lucky, who was bit by a rattlesnake.
“I told them to do everything possible and I didn’t care what price or anything like that,” says Ashley Heffernan, Lucky’s mom.
It was a major scare for Heffernan, and the same scenario could easily be a reality for others as Summer rolls in.
“Any of these little rocks right here underneath these bushes, they’ll just coil up in there so they are out of direct sunlight,” says Doug Nielsen of the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
Nielsen went with 13 Action News for a walk through a wildlife hotspot, Hidden Falls Park in Henderson, looking for prime rattlesnake hangouts.
“They’ll come out in the morning when the sun is first coming up and they’ll sit on these rocks and they’ll sun there.”
The park is a popular one for folks to walk or hike.
Nielsen says numerous walking trails or desert patches are perfect not only for those trying to get outdoors, but are a favorite for rattlesnakes too.
Nielsen’s biggest piece of advice is to stay aware, watch your step, and if you or your pet are bit to take action as soon as possible.
“The most important thing to do is get medical treatment, so you don’t try to chase it or get back at it, and you risk being bitten themselves or being bitten again.”
