As the summer rages in the west and hikers flock in, Wild Aware Utah warns travelers to stay away from snakes on trails, keep their hands away from caves and narrow shaded spaces, and wear suitable sneakers to avoid biting their feet.
All these techniques are suitable for people. But dogs are not so far-sighted and usually approach strange sounds for further investigation. So how can dog owners stop their canines from investigating the strange rattles in the bushes?
Snake aversion training for dogs is one way to keep dogs away from sliding reptiles. These courses usually take about 3 to 4 hours, allowing a group of dogs to recognize a rattlesnake without a bite mark, and let them observe the rattlesnake’s sight, smell, and sound. This helps train the dog’s nose to recognize the smell of rattlesnakes.
Once determined, the dog will learn to stay as far away from it as possible while still keeping its eyes on the snake in the event of sudden movement. This will also alert the owner to potential dangers, so both can get out of the way.
“They are very nose-driven,” said Mike Parmley, a rattlesnake aversion trainer at the Rattlesnake Alert. “So, basically, we teach them to recognize that smell because they can smell it at a long distance. We teach them that if they recognize that smell, please keep a considerable distance.”
Parmley has held trainings in Salt Lake City throughout the summer and will soon be open in August for dog owners to register their dogs for training. Other private companies, such as WOOF! Center and Scales and Tails, also sponsor dog training in different parts of Utah.
Wild Aware Utah, an information site in collaboration with the USU Extension of the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake, Utah, stated that as the drought in Utah progresses, these courses are especially important, attracting more snakes from their homes in the mountains to have more food and water. Suburban development. City and Utah Department of Natural Resources.
“When we are in a drought, the behavior of animals tends to be different,” said Terry Messmer, a wildlife promotion expert in the Department of Wildland Resources at Utah State University. “They go to buy green food. They will look for higher places with better watering, because these areas will attract suitable prey. Last year in Logan, we encountered people encountering rattlesnakes in the local park.”
One of the main concerns of Wild Aware Utah is that people and cubs who have never encountered snakes will now see them in unfamiliar areas. This problem is emerging across the country, especially in the panic after seeing the zebra cobra slide across the suburbs of North Carolina. This may cause panic about the sound of the rattle, which should not be a response. Instead, encourage Utahans to locate the rattlesnake before moving, so as not to accidentally approach and risk being bitten.
If you find a ferocious snake in your backyard or local park, please notify the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources office near you. If the encounter occurs outside of working hours, please call your local police station or county sheriff’s office.
Post time: Jul-05-2021