‘Snakes can swim!?’ Boater captures video of rattlesnake slithering across SLO County lake
Headed to the lake this summer? You might want to keep your eye out for snakes in the water.
On a recent trip to Lopez Lake Recreation Area outside of Arroyo Grande, Janet Harshbarger was enjoying her time on a boat when she spotted something in the water: a snake swimming on the surface.
“I was driving (the) boat and husband notice something swimming across the water,” Harshbarger told The Tribune. “We were just south of the marina in the ‘no wake’ zone. So we weren’t moving fast. We decided to circle it and see what kind of snake and sure enough, it was a rattlesnake.”
Harshbarger said her nephew, Mason Stoner, got the recreating reptile on video.
She then decided to post it to “warn friends about the snakes.”
“We hung out all day on rafts and paddleboards anyway,” she said. “Just kept our eyes open for additional swimming snakes.”
It’s a bit unusual for snakes to be swimming in the lake, a San Luis Obispo County Parks ranger said, but not entirely unheard of.
“It’s not really common, but it does happen,” Supervising Park Ranger Brian Wilder said. “I think it’s probably a little more prevalent this year just because of the way that the lake (water level) came up so quickly — a lot of times they get displaced from their burrows underground. So a lot of times they end up swimming to try to find a place to go.”
If you spot a rattlesnake in the water, don’t panic, Wilder said. Just leave it alone.
“It’s not their natural environment,” he said. “They’re looking to get to land and find another place to be safe. So I would definitely steer clear of any snakes in the water.”
The video — which Harshbarger shared on Facebook — shocked some who saw it.
“Snakes can swim!?!?!?” one person wrote. “This is a new fear!”
Another poster asked, “Why do rattlesnakes have to swim too?!?!”
How to avoid getting bitten by a rattlesnake
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, rattlesnakes typically avoid people. Because of this, bites are uncommon, but “can occur if a snake feels threatened.”
Most bites occur between April and October when snakes and humans are most active outdoors, Fish and Wildlife said.
On Saturday, a hiker near Montecito had to be airlifted to the hospital after a rattlesnake bit her on the foot.
Here are some tips to avoid negative interactions with rattlesnakes:
Stay alert when outdoors.
Wear sturdy boots and loose-fitting long pants in brushy areas.
Stay on well-used trails. Avoid tall grass, weeds and heavy underbrush.
Check rocks, stumps or logs before sitting down.
Shake out sleeping bags and tents before use.
Let others know where you are going, when you plan to return and carry a cell phone. Hike with a companion when possible.
Don’t grab “sticks” in the water. Rattlesnakes can swim.
Don’t let dogs off leash. Dogs are at increased risk when sniffing the ground near brushy areas.
Don’t try to touch or handle a snake, dead or alive. Dead rattlers may still inject venom shortly after death.
