It's the Time of Year for Rattlers

I've been spending a ton of time at the lake this week, surrounded by tall grass and rocks. We're not at our typical lake, so there is little chance for a deadly snake bite here.

At home, however, the snakes have venom, fangs and rattles. They can do some real damage if you let them.

Rattlesnakes don't kill folks very often, but they can. If a rattlesnake bite isn't treated quickly enough, the venom can lead to serious bleeding.

Snake bite treatment is the same in the field but varies in the hospital depending on the species of snake. Rattlesnakes belong to the pit viper family, which includes water moccasins. The other family of venomous snakes in the United States is the elapid family and includes coral snakes.

• Rattlesnake Bite Pictures
• How to Treat a Snake Bite