SHERIDAN — As summer temperatures arrive, so do snakes. It’s important for Wyoming residents to know what to do if they get bitten by a venomous snake.

Wyoming is home to only two venomous snakes: the prairie rattlesnake and the midget faded rattlesnake. (For comparison, Australia is home to 145 venomous snakes.)

Being bitten by a rattlesnake in Wyoming doesn’t guarantee death, but it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible, Sugarland Walk-In Clinic Dr. Irving Robinson said.

“The rattlesnake venom is complicated stuff. It keeps your blood from clotting and it dissolves tissue. (If possible) you should elevate it and stay off of it so you’re not circulating a bunch of blood through that extremity,” Robinson said.

Applying ice and a minor tourniquet could help as well.

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