April is blessing us with (some) sunny days, and that means the rattlesnakes are coming out.

While the reptiles don't usually emerge on the Front Range until the beginning of May, The Denver Post reports that rattlesnakes will start to creep up from their winter dens on warmer days.

Rattlesnakes tend to stay close to their dens until the cold weather is officially gone, but expert Mary Ann Bonnell told the publication that it won't be abnormal to see the animals sunning themselves on trails in the coming weeks.

For those who aren't so fond of Colorado's rattling friends, there's no need to freak out. Bonnell noted that rattlesnake bites are extremely rare in our state.

In the unlikely event that you are bitten, sit down, avoid walking, and call for help.

Due to COVID-19 and the fact that snakebites often occur in rocky areas, the rescue process for a snakebite victim can be lengthy.

So, for obvious reasons, it's best to avoid getting bitten by a rattlesnake.

Bonnell recommends wearing long pants and high boots when hiking, as rattlesnakes usually lunge for the ankle area.

The reptiles can strike as far as four feet, so be sure to give them plenty of space on the trail. The best way to do this is to wait until the snake has made its way off the path.

So, as we all begin to come out of quarantine next week, be sure to socially distance from the rattlesnakes.

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