Mark Twain Lake Named a New Rattlesnake Hotspot in Missouri

Well, this is unexpected. A new ranking of places in Missouri that are full of rattlesnakes has revealed that Mark Twain Lake is now considered a venomous snake hotspot.

For the record, I'm not the one counting rattlesnakes. You can blame this on World Atlas that just called out the 4 rattlesnake hotspots in Missouri. I wasn't surprised to see the Mississippi River named or the Ozark National Scenic Waterways. That's a lot of wetland for prime rattlesnake habitats. I was surprised, though, to see Mark Twain Lake now in the top 4.

The more I thought about it, the more I started to recall recent reports of increased rattlesnake activity including a story shared by WGEM last year.

How can you avoid rattlesnakes when you adventure near Mark Twain Lake?

Be aware of your surroundings and listen closely for the warning rattle of these venomous snakes. If you're going to be hiking through tall grass, use a walking stick and never step or reach into an area that you can't see. Avoid hiking during the heat of summer when many of these rattlesnakes are more active. You'll often see rattlers sunning themselves on the warmth of a trail which isn't a problem unless you get too close. Rattlesnakes will normally flee from humans if they know they're coming, but surprise one of them and you'll pay the price. While rattlesnake bites are rarely fatal, they can be if they aren't treated within a few hours of the bite. If you're bitten when you're at Mark Twain Lake, head toward medical help immediately. That part of Missouri is now more dangerous when it comes to snakes than you might think.