Things You'll Need:
- Book or website identifying poisonous snakes
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Step 1
Find a book or website that identifies the different types of venomous snakes. Learn to identify by sight any poisonous snakes that are native to the region in which you plan to hike.
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Step 2
Wear long pants and heavy boots when you hike. It is especially important to do this if you plan to hike off-trail and may be passing through any tall grass or brush.
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Step 3
Watch where you put your hands and feet in any areas where snakes could be found. Check the area carefully before you sit down, and especially check an area before choosing a spot to unroll your sleeping bag and/or pitch a tent.
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Step 4
Avoid stacks of old boards, piles of rocks or brush in wooded areas. These places are all very appealing to snakes, and you might find anything from 1 lone snake to a whole nest of them hidden inside.
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Step 5
Do not handle any dead snakes you may see, especially those of the poisonous variety. They may not be quite as dead as they seem, and they may have enough venom left to give you a nasty bite.
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Step 6
Avoid any live snakes you may see. You should not attempt to kill them, and never try to capture them. Live and let live, as far apart as possible; this is the best rule to follow with snakes.
