A 31-year-old Layton man died on June 3 after being bitten by
what may have been a small rattlesnake in a yard in west Layton.
Rattlesnake bites in Utah are rare and deaths from rattlesnake
bites are extremely rare. There have been four known rattlesnake
fatalities in Utah, two during the 1930s, one during the 1970s
and one during the 1980s. As the drought continues in Utah,
Division of Wildlife Resources officials have noticed an
increase in reports of wildlife coming down from the mountains
to find water and food. In some cases, wildlife are finding good
habitat cover in overgrown yards and junk piles. Homeowners are
encouraged to be aware of the wildlife that are in their area
and that might be attracted to their yards. In most cases,
people purposely attract wildlife, especially birds, to their
yards. This is positive and enjoyable for property owners and is
also beneficial for the birds. However, there are some cases
when wildlife can create a public safety threat. In all cases,
people are reminded that