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Annie Barker, Deseret News
As summer blazes through the West and hikers swarm the trails, Wild Aware Utah is warning travelers to stay away from snakes on the trails, keep hands away from burrows and narrow, shaded spaces, and wear appropriate sneakers to avoid being bitten on the foot.
All of those tips work fine for people. But dogs aren’t quite so forward-thinking, and typically approach strange noises for further investigation. So how can dog owners prevent their canines from investigating that strange rattling sound in the bushes?
Snake aversion training for dogs is one way to keep dogs away from slithering reptiles. The classes, which typically take about three to four hours, introduce a class of dogs to a defanged rattlesnake, allowing them to observe the sight, smell and sound of a rattlesnake. This helps train the snout of a dog to recognize the smell of a rattlesnake.
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Haley Bechard, of Utah Rattlesnake Avoidance, holds a western diamondback rattlesnake she uses in training in Salt Lake City on Thursday, June 24, 2021. In response to the drought, many snakes are out in search of food and water, and some have recently been spotted in moist areas of city parks and yards. Of the 31 species of snakes found in Utah, seven are venomous.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
As a scorching drought sweeps through Utah, more critters are making their way into public parks and backyards.
This is nothing new for Utahns, but an increased frequency of snakes in the Salt Lake Valley and elsewhere for the summer means that caution and preparedness is necessary, according to reptile experts.
Is the drought bringing more snakes to our backyards? ksl.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ksl.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Cougar tranquilized, relocated from Draper neighborhood
After a mountain lion was seen frequenting a neighborhood in Draper, wildlife officers were able to tranquilize it and safely relocate it to a more remote wilderness area in central Utah.
and last updated 2021-04-11 00:09:15-04
DRAPER, Utah â After a mountain lion was seen frequenting a neighborhood in Draper, wildlife officers were able to tranquilize it and safely relocate it to a better habitat.
The cougar had been seen on residents doorbell cameras recently in the South Mountain area, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Then on Saturday morning, a resident heard the cat growling very close to them while doing yardwork, and they contacted the DWR.
SALT LAKE CITY University of Utah officials are urging caution Saturday after two coyotes were spotted on campus in pursuit of a deer.
The coyotes were last seen in the evening about 8 p.m., officials said, leaving Officers Circle and heading toward Red Butte Canyon. University police officers responded and confirmed the sighting after initial reports. Those on campus or visiting the Red Butte Canyon area should be cautious and aware of their surroundings, the university wrote in a campus alert, especially if accompanied by pets.
Students who have an encounter with an aggressive animal should call 911 or alert the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the alert says.