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OK, hope I'm not abusing the forum and asking dumb questions, but can't seem to find straightforward answers to straightforward questions on the web or in the books. We're going to be overnighting out there. Are rattlers (or other critters,for that matter) going to be attracted to the tent (read body heat) at night? I guess I'm still trying to get over the thought of one of these guys making his home under the tent overnight and me rolling over him. For sure the tent is good and sealed, so I'm not worried about entry. Or should I be worried (please say I don't need to worry!).

You have to seriously threaten a rattlesnake to even get him to strike at you,such as step on one..I'd worry about the dreaded 2 legged snake before i'd worry about a rattlesnake..they are beautiful part of the Arizona eco-system. I look forward to the occasional encounter with a rattlesnake

wetbeaverlover wrote:You have to seriously threaten a rattlesnake to even get him to strike at you,such as step on one.

Hehehe. My friend actually did once. Didnt even see it there. The great snakecharmer MikeinFHAZ!

In response to wedge's reply: I have slept tentless in AZ for 20 years and never been bothered while sleeping by any creature, vertebrate or invertebrate except a mosquito. Of course, I hang my food bag some distance away. A snake can tell that your heat signature does not look like that of a ground squirrel or rabbit. If you see a snake, watch with a sense of awe and wonder for awhile; if you must, a gentle nudge with a LONG stick will do the job nicely. And do watch your step, especially when stepping over logs, rocks, or other obstructions. Also, be careful picking up rocks or logs; critters underneath might react unpredictably if surprised. And of course, shake out your boots in the AM (I have never found a scorpion inside, but it is an EZ precaution).

Wild creatures have a keen sense of JDLR (Just Don't Look Right). Your tent/sleeping bag JDLR to them.

What you really need to be afraid of are killer jackalopes. And hungry lawyers.

I seem to remember a McGuyver episode years ago where a rattler went into the sleeping bag of a girl on the ground without a tent. Luckily our hero determined : that the reptile was just seeking warmth. I think he set a fire so that the heat would draw the snake out of the bag. Can't remeber how he started the fire but being McGuyver he would not have had matches or a lighter so he propably had to polish the end of a coke can to focus the suns rays on a piece of sticky tape.... anyway the snake came out of the bag and McGuyver saved the day.

I've been backpacking in the desert off and on for 35 years, and before that we car camped. The only times I've ever put up a tent is if it is raining, or extremely windy and cold. In cool weather the reptiles all go to ground early. In the late spring and during the summer they may be out and about at night--they are only out at night when it's warm. If you are wearing shorts and a t-shirt at night and it feels balmy, then they may be out. It is not uncommon to see them near a creek--they like moisture. I have hiked and traveled for years with other tentless people, and none of them has had a snake problem in their sleeping bag! I suppose it could happen.

People who aren't from here worry about snakes. You always meet them, at work, etc. The non-hikers and the people who are new to the Southwest find out you're a hiker. The first thing that comes out of their mouths is, "Aren't you afraid of snakes!?" People who live and hike here all the time are more concerned about having enough water and electrolyte replacement during their hike. Or not getting sunburned (in my case). Wearing sunscreen and a hat, not wearing a tank top (also in my case--I never wear a tank top while hiking, although many others do, and a lot of them get sunburned!) Protection from the heat and sun and other issues are on people's minds, not snakes. We keep an eye out, sure, don't want to step on one, but we don't actually worry about them. Most of the people who get bitten by rattlesnakes it's because they were playing with them. More people have heat exhaustion and heat stroke every year than get bitten by rattlesnakes, by a long shot.

I must smell good to snakes or something. We have lived here for less than 2 years and have seen 4 rattlesnakes. Withing walking stick distance. I don't understand how so many people live here so long and only see one or 2 rattlers. Personally I wouldn't mind seeing less. Every time I come up on one they rattle at me and I'm sure my heart is about to burst through my chest.

in light of your response, I have a theory: most of us residents that have lived here since forever dont even think about the presence of buzzworms, ive probably stepped on several and walked past hundreds. If it werent for Erik, I would never have seen or heard that one on the Haunted Canyon trail. Since you dont seem to like them things, maybe you look harder than I do.