Bite Marks

What to do when the rattler strikes. 

Spring is when the snakes come out—or rather, slither out, from their cold, stygian dens, creeping downslope in search of insects, small rodents, and other unsuspecting ophidian treats. None of these cold-blooded belly-crawlers want trouble with humans, particularly Montana’s only poisonous snake, the prairie rattler—that rattle is there for a reason. But they’re on the move this time of year, increasing the chances of an encounter. Luckily, a bite is seldom fatal—if you respond properly, that is. Here’s what to do if you feel a pair of fangs in your foreleg.