Yes, yes, I know about rattlesnakes in the Western US. I have heard and seen in many movies.
The sound of the ominous rattling of the tail sends shivers down your spine...
Here we have three types of poisonous plants. Poskok, Šarka and mountainous Šargan. The Poskok is the most dangerous, but there is an antidote in every medical facility and it is easy to find out that it is a Poskok (it jumped out of the bushes to bite you 🙂).
In addition to paying attention to where you stop(where is the next step), you should watch what you are holding on to while hiking and wear quality equipment, shoes and pants, gaiters are also recommended.
Yup, snake gaiters are recommended in parts of the US. Even heavy leather boots may not stop fangs, and not all boots rise high enough to be above the strike zone anyway. But like many things, US rattlesnakes are often over-dramatized for cinematic effect. The biggest risks are when climbing (don't put your hand on a snake's basking rock) and in heavy brush (don't step on a snake staying cool in the shade). Basically, don't walk or reach where you can't see. A snake that isn't startled like that will usually let you know it's upset long before there's any danger of a bite. They are quite camouflaged, though. Thus, the walking stick as a probe can prevent hurting the snake, and if it does get mad, it will go for the stick that poked it, not your meaty bits.
A commentary worth reading for all beginner hikers, campers and nature lovers.
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