Читать книгу Afoot & Afield: Orange County. A Comprehensive Hiking Guide онлайн

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Ticks can sometimes be the scourge of overgrown trails in the Santa Ana Mountains, particularly in mid-spring when they climb to the tips of shrub branches and lie in wait for warm-blooded hosts. Ticks are especially abundant along trails used by cattle, deer, and coyotes. If you can’t avoid brushing up against vegetation along the trail, be sure to check for ticks frequently. Upon finding a host, a tick will usually crawl upward some distance in search of a protected spot, where it will try to attach itself. If you’re sensitive to the slightest irritation on your skin, you’ll be able to intercept a tick long before it attempts to bite.

Southern Pacific rattlesnake

Rattlesnakes are fairly common in brushy, rocky, and streamside habitats from coast to mountains. Seldom seen in either cold or very hot weather, they favor temperatures in the 75–90°F range. Expect to see (or hear) rattlesnakes out and about in the daytime from early spring to mid-fall and at night in summer and early fall. Most rattlesnakes are every bit as interested in avoiding contact with you as you are with them. Watch carefully where you put your feet, and especially your hands, during rattlesnake season. In brushy or rocky areas where your sight is limited, try to make your presence known from afar. Tread with heavy footfalls, or use a stick to bang against rocks or bushes. Rattlesnakes will pick up the vibrations through their skin and will usually buzz (unmistakably) before you get too close for comfort.