The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of ... Rattlers

If you've been hiking local trails lately -- to Echo or Mount Lowe or somewhere off Chaney then you must have noticed. There's an awful lot of rattlesnakes around this year. More than I've seen in over a decade. 

Apparently, due to the heavy rains a few years ago, we have a rattler baby boom in our local hills and mountains. Which is okay -- they'll feast on rodents and perform some other necessary tasks. 

But just watch your step. Of course, when hiking you should always watch your step, but really watch it this summer.

Oh, and if you're not sure whether that sound you're hearing is a rattler or a sprinkler or some insect, listen to this. 

Here's some first aid information just in case you're caught off guard.

Have you seen rattlesnakes recently while hiking in Sierra Madre?