A Mother’s Day hike in the foothills west of Fort Collins turned from family time to full-on emergency when a Northern Colorado man says a rattlesnake struck him without much warning. What started as a routine outing quickly became a scramble for safety, and the hiker later told reporters he feels lucky to be alive.
According to CBS News Colorado, the man said the bite happened while he was hiking with family somewhere west of Fort Collins on Mother’s Day. His companions helped get him out of danger, though the report does not identify the exact trail or park where it happened. In a short video segment, he describes feeling “lucky to be alive” after the fast strike, a reminder that even familiar routes can come with very real wildlife risks.
What Officials Urge You To Do
Colorado Parks and Wildlife notes that rattlesnakes typically give a warning before they strike and that anyone who is bitten should treat it as a medical emergency and call 911, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The agency advises against cutting the wound, using suction devices, or applying a tourniquet. Instead, it recommends keeping the victim as calm as possible, immobilizing the bitten limb, and getting them to medical care. CPW also encourages hikers to watch where they place their hands and feet, stay on established trails, and keep dogs leashed in areas where rattlesnakes are common.
Why Getting To An ER Quickly Matters
Emergency doctors point out that antivenom is the only effective antidote for rattlesnake venom and that prompt evaluation in an emergency department is critical, according to UCHealth. UCHealth notes that some bites are “dry,” but symptoms can still progress, and clinicians often consult poison control, including the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety Center in Colorado, when they treat envenomations. Their bottom-line advice is straightforward: call 911, remove tight or restrictive jewelry, keep the affected limb still, and get to an ER as fast as possible.
Foothills Where Snakes Like To Hang Out
The foothills west of Fort Collins, including popular public lands around Horsetooth Reservoir and Lory State Park, sit at the edge of the Front Range and are well-known rattlesnake habitat, according to the City of Fort Collins. Local officials urge hikers to stick to well-worn trails, give any snake plenty of space, and carry a phone so they can call for help if something goes wrong. Trail stewards also encourage visitors to report snake sightings to park staff so others can be warned.
The hiker’s account, shared with CBS News Colorado, is a blunt reminder to give wildlife room and to treat every snakebite like an emergency. If you see a rattlesnake on the trail, back away slowly, keep pets close, and let other hikers know so they do not get an unwelcome surprise of their own.
