Each year, 1,300 Americans get bitten by snakes. As a mountain biker, the odds for you to encounter dangerous snakes along the trails you ride in are high. You need to be prepared when you experience dealing with threats of snake bites as you enjoy your ride.

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Knowing what to do when you come across a snake on the trail can keep you away from imminent danger. Here are ideas from snake experts and bikers alike to stay away from snake bite risks:

1. Stop and let the snake get away.

Most snakes want to get away from the scene when you show up in their habitat. When the snake hisses or in the case of a rattlesnake, rattles its tail, the message it is sending to people or animals it comes across is “leave me alone.” Let it slither away.

2. Don’t be hostile to the reptile.

Do not offend snakes unnecessarily. The last thing you want to do is try to kill the snake. When you do that, it will most likely hold its ground and attack to retaliate.

3. Get the snake off the trail.

To do this without putting yourself in danger, use a long stick to remove the snake out of the trail but do it only if the creature isn’t facing you. If the snake is facing in your direction, it will be wise to wait and let it slither off the trail.

4. Get away from the snake around the tail.

If you are not too near the snake, you could dismount and try walking your bike around the reptile, staying behind its back.

5. Produce a stomping sound.

Research shows that snakes are sensitive to sound-induced vibrations rather than sound pressure. Throwing a pebble towards the snake or lifting your front wheel off the ground and bringing it down to produce a stomping sound will most likely drive the snake away.

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Things to consider

1. Trail location

One of the most common dangerous snakes to humans is the rattlesnake which is prevalent across most of the United States. States such as California and Arizona — states that happen to have a lot of great mountain bike trails — have the most snakebite injuries from rattlesnakes. So if you’re riding in one of these states, take extra caution.

2. How sunny the day is

Snakes are cold-blooded creatures, and no, I don’t mean that as an insult; they literally need the sun’s warmth to digest their food. So snakes will do something called “sunning” themselves under the sun, preferably on a rock or a wide and spacious area where they can soak up enough sun. Unfortunately, a nice rocky or spacious area usually means the nice open bike trail that you are currently zooming down. If it’s overcast, it’s far less likely for a snake to want to be out in the open where they are vulnerable. If it’s sunny out, be alert if you start to approach something you think is a stick on the trail.

3. How busy the trail is

As I mentioned earlier, snakes are sensitive to sound-induced vibrations, so if you are on a well-trafficked trail, the likeliness of a snake feeling safe enough to expose itself on a busy trail is very low. Some silver linings to having to dismount when you have to give a fellow biker the right-of-way.

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