RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) – Rattle, Rattle! No one wants to hear this while walking trails or in their yard.

“Don’t run and, don’t go get a closer look!!” Jake Molieri said. Jake is a snake wrangler in name and business. I met him at All Stage Canine with owner Miranda Viani. She was helping Jake with his ‘display’.

“All my snakes have ‘muzzles’ on them. It does not harm them and comes off easily,” he told me.

“Why the interest in snakes, specifically rattlesnakes?” I asked.

“My mom moved us to El Dorado Hills. Wildlife was everywhere! I became interested in wildlife. I went on to Cal Poly and got my degree in Wildlife Conservation. I have been rescuing snakes and crawly things from people ever since. I own several rattlesnakes, reptiles and exotic parrots. I take them to schools to help children understand the snake wants away from you more than you do. Rattlesnakes are born alive, not in an egg and with no rattles. It takes one or two sheds to grow a working rattle. The state considers reptiles as, not kidding, Fish!! I have to have a fishing license to own them.”

“If you see a snake and can, safely take a picture, text it to me, (925) 366-0607; I can help you identify it. I then come and take the snake to a safe place and release it. Beware of your garage in the summers. Snakes like cool and dark places. If you see one there, open your garage and leave for about 15 minutes, it will move away from the light and heat. They help clean up rodents that chew on wires in your house and on the wood too.  Lastly, IF you are bit, don’t move around. Sit, call 911, don’t get out your knife and slit the spot to suck out the venom. That is for the movies. The less you move the less the venom will circulate. Less than 5 people die from snake bites a year. Also, if you should get bit on the fingers, immediately take off all rings. Your fingers will swell.

“About tourniquets. If you put it on too tight you will lose the circulation to that area under the tie. Just call 911 and quickly get to the ER for relief. Also, you might have been bitten by a gopher snake or king snake, just don’t panic, you’ll circulate your blood faster,” he finished telling me. It was really fascinating. Yes, I held the rattlesnake for a breath only. Rattle, Rattle.