Children and dogs are most vulnerable to rattlesnake attacks due to their curiosity, but injury and death can be prevented if certain precautions are taken, snake wrangler Bo Slyapich told members of the Conejo Valley Rotary Club at their meeting last week.

“We’re at the height of rattlesnake season,” said Slyapich, a Calabasas resident who’s been catching and studying the reptiles for almost 50 years.

“As we keep building, we build our homes on their homes, but they’re not going to leave. They love us humans. We give them sprinklers and put cement ponds in the backyard and leave our doors open so they get milliondollar caves.”

The Rotarians listened attentively as Slyapich shared an array of details the about the nature of the slithering snake.

Donning tall, snake-proof boots and thick gloves, Slyapich brought several specimens of snakes to the meeting to show the distinction between poisonous and harmless ones.

The venomous snake has a small neck and a triangle-shaped head with elliptical eyes.

The head of a nonvenomous snake is about the same size as its neck, and its skull and eyes are round.

Rattlesnake intrusions are most common in housing developments closest to the hills. When the sun gets too hot, the animal seeks the shade and water of civilization.

Slyapich said snake sightings increase during weed abatement season. And he said rattlers are more plentiful this year because last winter’s heavy rains led to an increase in rodent prey.

The abundance of serpents means people should snake-proof their property and know what to do about bites.

Snake prevention sprays are ineffective on rattlesnakes, Slyapich said. At home, the best way to avoid a surprise encounter with a venomous intruder is by trimming plants, shutting doors and eliminating outside clutter to keep hiding places at a minimum.

People also should be aware of where their hands and feet are going when hiking or working in the garden.

“Rattlesnakes lie and wait for their prey. That’s what makes them dangerous,” Slyapich said.

He pointed out that many snakes no longer rattle before they strike because through the years humans have caught and killed the noisy ones and allowed the silent snakes to survive and pass on their genes.

According to Bruce Freeman, a volunteer snake catcher and certified hunter-safety instructor for the California Department of Fish and Game, no license is needed to kill rattlesnakes, unlike other animals such as fish and bullfrogs.

But nonvenomous species such as the California king snake and gopher snake shouldn’t be mistaken and killed like their poisonous relatives because they help keep the rodent population in check, Freeman said.

A financial adviser who works out of his home in Oak Park, Freeman said snake catching is strictly a hobby for him.

“When I get a call, it’s just like a coffee break for me. I do this because I have always been a critter person, and I like to rescue as many snakes as I can,” he said.

Freeman said he often gets repeat calls from from the same property because snakes are territorial and they extend their family presence.

“Newborns usually mean the den is on a nearby hillside. Rattlesnakes huddle together in the den during cool weather months, and babies are the first ones to warm up and make their way out of the nest,” he said.

Freeman and Slyapich both say if a person sees a rattlesnake on their property they should try to keep sight of it while waiting for help. Otherwise the creature will slither away and become hard to find.

If a rattlesnake bites a dog, the canine should be taken to a vet immediately. And if a person is attacked, don’t cut the bite or suck on the wound. Put the affected limb below heart level and call 911.

“Not all emergency rooms have a supply of antivenin on hand. The EMS service calls the hospital ahead of time so they will take you to the best place,” Slyapich said.

Rotarian Rik Zelman said the snake wrangler’s presentation was entertaining and informative.

“I learned quite a bit. I live near a hillside and hear and see snakes occasionally. I’m most concerned about my dogs because they stick their noses in the gopher holes that are in my backyard, so I may call him to come and check my property,” Zelman said.

Slyapich charges a variable fee to remove rattlesnakes.

“It depends on the danger and how far I have to go and what people can afford,” he said.

Freeman doesn’t charge for his removal services, but says he only travels to properties when the snake in question is in plain sight.

Freeman can be reached at (818) 707-3147 and Slyapich at (818) 880-4269.