Posted by Ophidiophobia, a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood, on Jul 12, 2012 at 6:40 pm

OK. I'm freaking out.

I didn't think rattle snakes were here in Santa Clara County.

Posted by snakes, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jul 12, 2012 at 8:43 pm

my friend decides to lay the 48% increase statistic on me whilst walking around in sandals at the horse pasture...

Posted by PatrickD, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Jul 13, 2012 at 12:16 am

I almost stepped on one last year while hiking in Foothills park. It coiled, but thankfully decided to slither off instead of biting.

Posted by Gunn Mom, a resident of the Ventura neighborhood, on Jul 13, 2012 at 12:32 am

Remember rattlers have a notable triangle shaped head unlike harmless gopher snake.

Good pics at Web Link

Posted by daniel, a resident of the Embarcadero Oaks/Leland neighborhood, on Jul 13, 2012 at 9:44 am

The article claims that a Palo Alto woman was once beaten in her backyard by a rattlesnake. I'd be very curious to know in what part of Palo Alto it happened. It would made sense if it happened in the Palo Alto Hills, or near the Dish, but in Palo Alto itself? Doesn't make much sense.

Posted by robitnoops, a resident of the Greenmeadow neighborhood, on Jul 13, 2012 at 4:18 pm

I would be interested in seeing any snake that has beaten a person.

Posted by resident, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jul 14, 2012 at 1:26 am

Palo Alto has creeks running through which are critter corridors. I know someone credible who says he was jogging early one morning some years ago on Arastradero and saw a mountain lion heading up the street. I was at the Jr. Museum when some kids brought in a bobcat skull they found under a bush at the children's library. Our area isn't hermetically sealed. And we do have plenty of RATS and ground squirrels and other tasty rattlesnake fare EVERYWHERE.

Question: does getting a gopher snake deter rattlesnakes from moving in? We have a friend in mountain view whose wife keeps asking him to remove the gopher snakes that move in. I'm wondering if we set one loose here if it would eat the rats.... and maybe deter rattlers?

Posted by Dan, a resident of another community, on Apr 2, 2013 at 6:03 pm

Came across a three foot rattler sunning itself in Ed Levin Park today. Heard several more rattles off the trail during my hike. It's only April 2nd and they are already out inn force. Unfortunately some idiot killed one on a hang-gliding trail. remember to wear boots when hiking in the East Bay.