Dry Weather Means Rise In Rattlesnake Sightings In Foothills

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — With rattlesnake sightings and reports on the rise, it's a good time to find out how to give you and your pets a fighting chance.

Rattlesnake wrangler Tyler Young and his grandfather, Bob, with Placer Snake Removal are keeping very busy this summer.

"Almost a call a day some weeks. Sometimes multiple calls a day."

Calls from people like Shonda Weaver in Loomis.

"Just trying to get used to it, because we came from the Bay Area. We didn't have many snakes there."

Shonda has been here a month and already has met two scaly and noisy neighbors.

The dry conditions have the foothills buzzing this summer as snakes look for food and water closer to urban areas.

This guy was also looking for shade, but it was a bit too close to Shonda's kids, so he had to go.

It's not just people that need to be on the lookout for snakes—dogs and cats, too. We've talked to several veterinarians and they say rattlesnake bites are on the rise.

Folsom vet Heidi Tijsseling says she's seen a spike in rattlesnake bites this summer to both cats and dogs.

She says there is a great way to protect your pet with a rattlesnake vaccine.

"The rattlesnake vaccine really does help to lessen the extent of tissue damage that the animal will see from the envenomation."

Dog owner Ken Sevier says he has been keeping an eye on the trails, not knowing what his curious friend could get into.

"I think he's smart enough not ot jump into the face of one, but who knows?"

You should always stay on the trail if you're hiking and don't let your pet wander away from you.

Also, be careful walking through your door. Snakes like to hang out near the steps of your house.

And if you're swimming in a lake or a river, don't grab for branches or sticks, because rattlesnakes can swim.