Just when you thought it was safe to go hiking and camping in the woods, along comes a report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks saying that timber rattlesnakes are making a comeback in Kansas and, guess where the second most sightings have been in the entire state this year? Franklin County! That’s right there have been 71 confirmed sightings in Franklin County this year. So, you’ll just go over to Clinton Lake to camp? Douglas County has the most sightings of the timber rattler this year at 105. Well, we’ll just run over to a lake in Miami County, no problem. Be alert, they have the 4th most sightings of the snake so far. Why all the sightings here? It makes sense, because northeast Kansas has a larger population and more people means more possible encounters, especially in rural area.
Kansas wildlife officials say you shouldn’t fear snakes as they avoid humans as much as possible and encounters with venomous snakes in the wild are very rare. You’re more likely to be bitten by a spider, a dog, or stung by a bee, wasp, or hornet than you are to be bitten by a venomous snake. You’re nine times more likely to be struck by lightning. If you do encounter a snake, leave it alone, unless it’s inside your house, of course…
