Rattlesnakes percolating from dry Clairemont canyons

A few hours ago, Shannon M. of West Clairemont alerted neighbors via NextDoor.com that one of his Mt. Acadia neighbors had found two different rattlesnakes in his back yard within the past 24 hours. A Bay Park resident also shared that she found one in her driveway last Sunday. Last week on Mt. Armet and Mt. Hukee in West Clairemont, a very large rattlesnake was caught by Animal Control.

Bay Park, Tecolote Canyon sightings

In April, my neighbor Paul saw a huge rattlesnake, that he guesstimated to be 15 feet in length, in a neighbor's front yard in Bay Park. Last month, I saw a snake that appeared to be taking a leisurely nap in a bush near my home. In March, I saw what appeared to be a rattlesnake in Tecolote Canyon where I walk my dogs sometimes.

With the drought, more snakes will be making their way out of canyons and open spaces to nearby homes. Because of this, it's important to keep a close eye on pets. Many disappear due to coyotes and snakes coming up from the canyons. A few years ago, my neighbor Sarah was devastated when she lost her cat to the canyon.

Canyons everywhere — North Park, Mira Mesa, Serra Mesa

Besides Tecolote Canyon and Marian Bear Park in Clairemont, there are several other canyon and open spaces in different areas of San Diego including North Park, Mira Mesa, Hillcrest, Balboa Park, University City, Mission Village, Golden Hill, Serra Mesa and other areas in the county.

The neighbor who shared the sighting on NextDoor.com also shared some information on rattlesnakes from the San Diego Natural History Museum. The key points to remember are as follows:

Leave it alone

The most important tip is to leave the snake alone. Only experts can tell by looking if a snake is venomous or not. The majority of snake bites occur when someone tries to capture it. All snakes will bite if they feel threatened. Call the fire department to remove any snakes in or around your home.

Keeping snakes out of your yard

Any substance that might repel snakes is dangerous to children and animals. Anyone that tries to sell you a snake deterrent is just selling you "snake oil." The best deterrent is to keep sheds, woodpiles, tarps, and underbrush cleaned out.