Rattlesnake bites are up in Colorado this summer

Driving the news: The University of Colorado Health system treated 25 rattlesnake bite patients through the end of June, per figures provided to Axios Denver.

• That's up from 20 patients during the same time period last year and 19 in 2024.
• The increase comes as more Coloradans head outdoors during peak hiking season.

Zoom in: A man recently walking with his family along a river near Estes Park was bitten three times by a rattlesnake he believes was hiding beneath a rock. The bites sent him into anaphylactic shock and required 18 vials of antivenom, 9News reports.

• Another man was airlifted after a rattlesnake struck his leg as he climbed over a large rock on a popular foothills trail near Fort Collins on Mother's Day. He spent three days in the hospital, according to UCHealth.

What they're saying: "If you're going to be out in nature, we've got to coexist with snakes," Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Bridget O'Rourke tells Axios Denver.

Be smart: O'Rourke suggests:

• Leaving headphones off so you can hear a rattlesnake's warning rattle.

• Keeping dogs leashed to prevent them from wandering into snake habitat.
• Paying attention to trail signs warning of rattlesnake activity.
• Watching where you place your hands and feet, especially around rocks and logs.

The bottom line: If you're bitten, call 911 immediately, remove rings or other tight jewelry before swelling begins, and keep the bitten limb below your heart, the U.S. Forest Service advises.