Dredging with rattle snakes

[dbeals]

This summer I'll be dredging in an area that is known for it's high number of rattlesnake. I know about one miner that was bite in the hands when exiting the river, another that was striked in the face mask when coming to the edge of the river to exit, I see them swimimming across the river, and I've seen them in trees at other locations. Any suggestions on steps that I need to take? I've had too many close calls in the past.
dbeals
Wa

[lenster]

When walking to my dredge in this type of area I use a big stick and swing it back and forth in front of me making a lot of noise with it. Or get a 22 pistol and use bird shot loads in it.

[CalGoldDredger]

Yep, dredging on one of my claims a few years back, I was in a 4 foot trough up right along the bank.
I just skimmed my face mask out of the water to see where I was tossing the rocks, and there be a big old moss back rattlesnake dipping its head in the creek for a drink.
I’ll tell you what that scared the crud right out of me, being only a couple feet from my head.
We have Timber and Diamondbacks, but really don’t see them all that often but they are there though.
Tons of encounters that I know of personally and no one has ever died.

Awareness of their presence is the first and most important safety precaution.