Page information on: (jump links below)

• Rattlesnakes
• Ticks
• Mountain Lions
• Coyotes
• Heat Stroke
• Fawn Season
• Pet Safety

Rattlesnakes

Rattlesnakes are more commonly seen during the summer months because their cold-blooded bodies require heat regulation. Rattlesnakes will bask in the sun or seek radiating heat from rocks, trails or asphalt during cooler parts of the day.

Safety Tips

• If you see a snake, stop and keep your distance. Never attempt to touch, catch, kill or scare it away. Give the snake space to back away. Snakes are an important part of the ecosystem as they help control rodent populations which can carry disease.
• Stay on marked trails. Rattlesnakes will often den in rocky areas and high brush.
• Always watch where you step and be sure to look for snakes in areas of high brush, under logs and when stepping over logs or fallen trees.
• Wear long pants and heavy boots that are four inches above the ankle.
• Tell a Ranger or park employee if you see a snake. Rangers will capture and relocate the snake to an area far from potential human interaction.
• In the rare case of a snake bite, do not panic. Remain calm and slowly move away from the snake. DO NOT apply a cold pack or tourniquet, cut the bite or attempt to suck out the venom. Call 9-1-1 or send someone for help.
• For more information, please visit California Department of Fish and Wildlife website. 

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To watch on Youtube, visit this link.

Ticks

Ticks are small arachnids found in wooded and grassy areas that can attach to animals and people to feed off their blood. Tick bites are extremely dangerous due to the possible transmission of Lyme disease and other tick borne illnesses, some of which can be fatal without treatment. Tick removal can be difficult because a tick’s head can still suck blood when the body is removed. More information on Lyme disease in Santa Clara County here. 

Safety Tips

• Stay on marked trails. Do not walk through high brush.
• Wear (or use) an EPA registered tick repellant.
• Check your body and clothing for ticks after a hike. Wear light color clothes when hiking so you can see the ticks easier.
• Shower soon after being outdoors. 
• Call or see your doctor if you develop a fever, rash, or cannot completely remove the tick and all its mouthparts. Do not burn, smother with petroleum jelly, or put alcohol on the tick. 
• Go to the hospital immediately if the tick bite causes fever, headache, confusion, weakness, numbness or difficulty breathing. 

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To watch on Youtube, visit this link. 

Mountain Lions

Mountain lions, also known as “pumas” or “cougars,” are a protected species in California. These large, powerful predators play an important role in the ecosystem. Their primary food source is deer, but they can also prey on smaller animals like raccoons, rabbits, and feral pig. More than half of California, including most of undeveloped Santa Clara County, is prime mountain lion habitat.

• Keep Me Wild: Mountain Lion Poster
• Keep Me Wild: Living in Mountain Lion Country Brochure

Safety Tips

Anyone encountering a mountain lion, should keep the following safety tips in mind:

• Do not approach a mountain lion, it may feel cornered if you approach it. 
• Do not remain in the area.
• Stand tall, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms or throwing objects.
• Pick up small children, without bending over.
• Back away slowly, giving the lion an opportunity to escape.
• Do not turn your back or run away, which might trigger a chase response. 
• Fight back, if attacked.
• REPORT ALL ENCOUNTERS OR ATTACKS IMMEDIATELY
• If a human is attacked by a mountain lion, call 9-1-1.
• If you see a mountain lion in the area, call 3-1-1, a non-emergency call center. 

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COYOTES

Coyotes are smart adaptable canines that have learned to live comfortably alongside people in residential neighborhoods. Wildlife experts agree that people have played a part in this phenomenon by being careless with food and garbage.

Coyotes play an important role in the ecosystem, helping to keep rodent populations under control. They are by nature fearful of humans.

Safety Tips

Follow these safety tips if a coyote approaches you:

• Do not run or turn your back.
• Be as big and as loud as possible.
• Wave your arms and throw objects.
• Face the coyote and back away slowly.
• Call 9-1-1 for aggressive coyote interaction such as snarling, biting, or charging. Call San José Rangers, at 408-794-6200, for sightings, vocalizations, or following at a distance. 

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Heat Stroke

Heat-related illness can begin with mild symptoms, such as headache or muscle cramps, and can quickly progress to confusion, dizziness, vomiting, and loss of consciousness. Heat stroke occurs when the body reaches a point where it can no longer cool itself down by sweating. This can result in organ failure and even death. Those most at risk are often the elderly and unhoused, groups that are similarly hard-hit by the novel coronavirus.

Safety Tips

• Avoid hiking in direct sunlight and choose trails with more shade. Each person reacts differently to heat based on age, medical conditions and even some medication. People who spend most of their time indoors start having heat-related issues when temperatures reach the high 70s. 
• Always hike with water and proper gear that will protect you from the sun. Wear a hat and sunglasses and apply sunblock/sunscreen.
• Signs of heat stroke include: High body temperature (103°F or higher); hot, red, dry, or damp skin; fast, strong pulse; headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; and/or losing consciousness (passing out)
• If you think you or someone else is suffering from heat stroke:
  • Call 911;
  • Move the person to a cooler place;
  • Lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath; and
  • Do not give the person anything to drink.

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To watch on Youtube, visit this link.

Fawn Season

Late spring and early summer is peak time for California’s deer herds to give birth to fawns. If you see baby deer in our parks or trails, do not attempt to rescue or interact with them even if you find one that appears to be abandoned. Adult female deer often leave their fawns alone, hidden in the grass or brush while they forage for food.

To report an injured, sick or abandoned fawn, contact a local Park Ranger at (408)794-6200 or the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

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Pet Safety

Pets are also susceptible to heat-related illness, warm weather hazards such as ticks and snakes.

Safety Tips:

• Bring water — not only for yourself, but also for your pet.
• Keep pets on a leash when hiking to avoid snake bites.
• Never leave your pets in a parked car on a hot day. The temperature within a car can quickly rise to dangerous levels.

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