Prairie rattlesnake spotted crossing Rendija Canyon trail, no one hurt

A prairie rattlesnake crossing a Rendija Canyon trail gave Los Alamos hikers a close look at one of the county’s more common warm-weather hazards, but no one was hurt. The snake was seen inching across the trail, and the photographer said it was unhappy when approached, a reminder that even a brief encounter can turn risky fast if people crowd wildlife.

The sighting matters because Rendija Canyon sits inside a trail system that Los Alamos County says stretches more than 150 miles across developed trails linking canyons and mesas. Those corridors are popular for walking, hiking and recreation, but they also put people in the same terrain where wildlife moves through piñon-juniper habitat and other open-space edges.

County animal control warned on July 11, 2025 that recent sightings and seasonal conditions can increase rattlesnake activity. The county’s advice is blunt: stay on trails, avoid tall weeds or underbrush, wear boots and long pants, keep pets leashed, and never approach, touch or handle a snake. If a rattlesnake bites someone, the county says to call 911 and get emergency medical attention.

Local wildlife guidance from the Pajarito Environmental Education Center says rattlesnakes are natural and important parts of the ecosystem and help keep rodent populations in check. It also notes that rattlesnakes are most active in spring and summer, when temperatures warm up, and that they are usually seen in White Rock Canyon in Los Alamos County. That makes a June sighting in Rendija Canyon a timely warning for anyone using the county’s trails this week.

New Mexico State University says the western, or prairie, rattlesnake is distributed across New Mexico and lives in a wide range of habitats, from grassland desert to pine-oak forest. The University of New Mexico Poison Center says snake season in New Mexico usually runs from April through October, depending on weather, which fits the pattern of more snake activity as temperatures climb.

For Los Alamos residents, the practical message is straightforward: give the animal room, keep moving, and let it pass. The county’s open-space network offers daily access to wildlife as well as recreation, and the Rendija Canyon encounter showed how quickly those two realities can meet on the same trail.