Posted by texas jess on September 28, 1999 at 15:43:46:
gregg, i know this is a day late and a dollar short, but i thought that i would just say to bring a walking stick(if you don't have a dog. wright) with you whenever you plan on taking your wife hiking or exploring. just poke it on the ground while your walking. or if you are in high brush, wave the stick in front of you. snakes can feel vibrations with their belly and will usually shy away if they feel something bigger than the normal rodent or frog.
i work on a cattle ranch in the napa valley and encounter snakes on a daily basis. i was nearly bitten twice by rattlers. i unfortunately had to kill them due to the danger of myself and the dog.
anyways, i hike a lot fixing fences and always carry a stick to walk with. i haven't had any problems.
snakes are inevitable during the warmer seasons and warm spells. they are afraid of you just as much as your wife is afraid of them...