It’s summertime, and you probably already enjoy swimming in your pool to escape the heat, but apparently, it would be wise to check for any snakes that may be hiding inside your pool noodles!

You have surely never thought of it, but if you are living in a climate or an area that is known to attract snakes, you better listen to this piece of advice. The warm climate and its diverse landscape have made Arizona the perfect reptile paradise.

Arizona’s Buckeye Police Department has issued a warning to residents about snakes hiding in pool noodles after local residents reported a rattlesnake which fell out of their pool noodles when they wanted to use them. Fortunately, no one was bitten, but they found young rattlesnakes living in the noodles too.

Therefore, Fire Department officials in Buckeye Arizona continued their research on the reported pool noodle snakes for more information, and they found that the snakes laying eggs were not rattlesnakes, but some other species that laid eggs in pool noodles left outdoors near bushes and fences.

Well, it looks like pool noodles are canceled for the summer. We recommend throwing them out and find some other alternative that doesn’t offer a home to venomous creatures.

Every year, there are about 150-160 reports of rattlesnake bites reported, according to Arizona County Poison and Drug Information Center.

Snakes live in various habitats including forests, swamps, grasslands, deserts and in both fresh and salt water. Some of these predators are active at night, others during the day, and they eat a wide variety of animals, including insects, rodents, birds’ eggs, and young birds.

Most snakes that you may encounter are not poisonous, and venomous snakes species found in the US include rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths/water moccasins, and coral snakes.

In case you come into contact with any snake, remember to stay calm, give it a wide berth, and move away and around them.

If you are unlucky to get bitten by a snake, Keith Boesen, director of the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center advises to not do anything on your own, but immediately go to a medical facility for examination and treatment with anti-venom if needed.

These are some of the signs or symptoms from a snake bite:

• Severe pain at the site of the bite
• A pair of puncture marks at the wound
• Redness and swelling around the bite
• Increased salivation and sweating
• Numbness or tingling around your face and/or limbs
• Nausea and vomiting
• Labored breathing
• Disturbed vision

When you are heading outdoors in areas where you might encounter snakes, wear appropriate footwear and clothing, and choose shoes or boots that cover and protect your feet, as well as long pants.

If you take your dog with you, keep them on a leash, not to stray from the trail path.

Even though you might not like it, once you step out of your home, you enter the home of various animals, including snakes. Yet, if you take caution, you can freely enjoy your time outdoors.

Sources:
www.yahoo.com
www.fs.fed.us