Читать книгу Hiking & Backpacking Big Sur. Your complete guide to the trails of Big Sur, Ventana Wilderness, and Silver Peak Wilderness онлайн

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How can such a small insect be so vexing? A number of fly species thrive when temperatures rise above 70°F. Though certain types can deliver a painful bite, these are typically slow and easy to swat. Much more of a nuisance are persistent nonbiting gnats, which continually buzz around your face. You may encounter flies on a warm winter day, but populations increase markedly between April and October. Dense oak woodlands are their favorite habitat in summer.

Rattlesnakes

Found throughout the Santa Lucia Range, these venomous snakes like to bask on warm rocks or sunny patches of dirt. They are most common in spring when their food supply (mostly rodents) also peaks. Rattlesnakes usually flee when startled and will only strike if threatened.

To avoid being bitten, stay on paths, always give snakes the right of way, wear high-sided hiking boots, and carry a walking stick. When climbing, watch where you place your hands and feet.

If someone is bitten, keep the person as calm and still as possible, gently wash the area with soap and water, apply a clean bandage, and seek immediate medical attention. Do not apply a tourniquet or pack the bite area in ice, as either method will only block circulation. Do not use your mouth to suck out venom, as that may lead to a complicating infection. Following treatment, most snakebite symptoms resolve within a few days.