# Is my dog safe from Rattlesnakes at night during the summer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 22, 2015, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-dog-safe-from-rattlesnakes-at-night-during-the-summer/718265 "2015-04-22T06:48:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-dog-safe-from-rattlesnakes-at-night-during-the-summer/718265/1 "2015-04-22T06:48:14Z")
Is my dog safe from Rattlesnakes at night during the summer? From what I’ve read they are less active at night but still a danger. Does anyone know about this? I live in/near the woods in South Georgia. During the summers rattlesnakes are found in the woods and brush in incredibly high numbers. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-dog-safe-from-rattlesnakes-at-night-during-the-summer/718265/2 "2015-04-22T06:52:37Z")
IANAS but I’m gonna go with “no” there. You got swamps in South Georgia? Alligators? Large felines? Wild canines? Rural South Georgia just doesn’t seem like a safe place for an animal outside on its own. Dogs raised around humans may be more trusting, curious and playful than is safe around wild animals. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-dog-safe-from-rattlesnakes-at-night-during-the-summer/718265/3 "2015-04-22T06:57:32Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > IANAS but I’m gonna go with “no” there. > > You got swamps in South Georgia? Alligators? > > Large felines? Wild canines? > > Rural South Georgia just doesn’t seem like a safe place for an animal outside on its own. Dogs raised around humans may be more trusting, curious and playful than is safe around wild animals. I am in southwest part of the state, the swamp is over on the southeast side near the coast. And, yes, I agree, pets are more trusting than wild animals. Thanks for your response. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-dog-safe-from-rattlesnakes-at-night-during-the-summer/718265/4 "2015-04-22T11:35:50Z")
You have canebrake and pygmy rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, copperheads and coral snakes in your area. The rattlesnakes, copperheads and coral snakes are active during the day in spring and mostly nocturnal during the summer. Cottonmouths seem to turn up at all times of day. If you plan to let your dog spend a lot of time unsupervised outside during the active seasons for these snakes (March to October in your area) then there is a risk of your dog getting bitten. Ask your vet how common bites are. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-dog-safe-from-rattlesnakes-at-night-during-the-summer/718265/5 "2015-04-22T11:47:10Z")
I see online that there are a number of teaching methods available to train your dog to avoid snakes. With as many poisonous species as are in your area, that might be one option that would be worthwhile to investigate. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-dog-safe-from-rattlesnakes-at-night-during-the-summer/718265/6 "2015-04-22T20:18:40Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > You have canebrake and pygmy rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, copperheads and coral snakes in your area. The rattlesnakes, copperheads and coral snakes are active during the day in spring and mostly nocturnal during the summer. Cottonmouths seem to turn up at all times of day. If you plan to let your dog spend a lot of time unsupervised outside during the active seasons for these snakes (March to October in your area) then there is a risk of your dog getting bitten. Ask your vet how common bites are. > [@lieu](#): > > I see online that there are a number of teaching methods available to train your dog to avoid snakes. With as many poisonous species as are in your area, that might be one option that would be worthwhile to investigate. thanks