Rattlesnakes were not necessarily on the educational agenda during the Mad Creek History and Geology Hike, but a tour group on an outing with environmental education nonprofit Yampatika had a surprise encounter on Friday.

So, Yampatika Adult and Community Programs Manager Hailey Shoptaugh is reminding the community that venomous prairie rattlesnakes can be found in the Yampa Valley.

“We hoped to remind folks that we are entering an active season for our local rattlesnakes as they emerge from their dens and seek out mates and warm, sunny spots,” Shoptaugh said. “The key is to be aware of your surroundings and to know when you’re in their habitat.”

Shoptaugh, who earned a master’s degree in biology, also wanted to remind that “rattlesnakes are not the monsters they are often made out to be.”

On Friday, Shoptaugh walked within 2 feet of a rattlesnake during the educational hike offered by Yampatika and Tread Pioneers Museum. Fortunately, the snake did not strike.

“They are defensive animals and are reluctant to take action,” Shoptaugh said. “Usually, they’re a lot of bark and not a lot of bite.”

The Yampatika biologist said Mad Creek Trail is an area where rattlesnakes are common, but the crew at Yampatika had not seen a rattlesnake on previous tours.

“We had been warned by another hiker that there was a rattlesnake much farther up on the trail, but we weren’t sure of its exact location,” Shoptaugh recounted. “Knowing that rattlesnakes are generally docile and do us a great favor by announcing their location, we decided to proceed with caution. Thanks to its incredible camouflage, it wasn’t until the telltale rattle started up that the group realized we had found our snake.”

A large rattlesnake den or rookery is located in Routt County in the greater Mad Creek region and serves as a university research site. Citizens can learn more about Project RattleCam at Rattlecam.org.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials, rattlesnakes have an elaborate defensive strategy and seek to avoid the need for a venomous bite if possible. Most of the time, rattlesnakes will not strike at people unless they feel threatened or are deliberately provoked.

“While attacks on people are rare and usually not fatal for a healthy adult, bites are very painful and should always be taken seriously,” according to CPW. “Bites can have an increased effect on children and pets due to their smaller size.”

CPW explains that rattlesnakes shelter in winter dens and resume activity in the spring, migrating several kilometers in search of food. Rattlesnakes often warm themselves in the sun, and hunt, migrate and den in the same areas year after year. Rattlesnakes are not built for speed, waiting in the same locations for hours or days for prey to come by. Rattlesnakes will usually stand their ground when threatened and use camouflage to blend in.

If a snake coils up, or makes a rattle noise, people are too close and should move away slowly, according to CPW. Snakes are often seen during the spring and fall when cool temperatures require them to bask in the sun on warm surfaces such as pavement, rocks near trails or roads. The snakes usually hunt in the late afternoon and evening once they have warmed up.

Shoptaugh said the snake’s defensive action on Friday “is a testament to their temperament and reluctance to bite humans.”

“I stepped off trail, giving the snake plenty of room, and rejoined the group before heading back downhill, letting other uphill hikers know its exact location on the trail,” Shoptaugh said. “It ended up being a great learning experience for folks who had only heard rattlesnake horror stories.”

“Ultimately, when we’re recreating on the national forests and other public lands, we are in wildlife’s homes, not the other way around,” Shoptaugh said. “As far as our local wild animals go, rattlesnakes are quite polite by giving plenty of warning before taking action.”

Pets and humans being bit by rattlesnakes in the Yampa Valley is rare but has happened such as a dog bite in 2017 in Hayden and a 20-year-old female bit on the foot while wearing flip-flops in 2018 south of Milner.

Although not particularly in search of rattlesnakes, Yampatika offers a variety of guided tours this summer including new, free paddle-with-a-naturalist outings at Bear Lake on June 28 and at Stagecoach Reservoir Aug. 1 and 22. Also new this year is a Pika and Petal Patrol on Saturdays and some Thursdays July 12-Aug. 2 starting from Thunderhead Lift parking area at Steamboat Resort.

Yampatika offers regular educational outings on such topics as wildflowers, the Yampa River, mineral springs, wildlife, plants, geology and medical herbs. While most of the tours are free, several longer outings cost $30 and require pre-registration. More information is available at Yampatika.org/summer_guided_tours.