“How often do people get bitten by rattlesnakes here?” “When was the last mountain lion attack?” “Are tarantulas poisonous?”
Rangers hear these questions almost daily. While these visitor concerns are certainly valid, injuries from animals tend to be either minor or rare. Rattlesnakes have bitten only 5 people in the park in the past 20 or so years, mountain lion attacks are even less common, and neither animal has killed anyone here in the park’s history. And while tarantulas may bite if provoked, they are not dangerous to humans. In fact, park plants – notably cactus and lechuguilla – injure far more visitors than do the animals.
Park staff appreciate that visitors are concerned about their safety, but we would like to see visitors channel this concern into more common and more serious safety issues. The following is a list of the ways in which visitors most frequently imperil themselves and others.
Driving or riding in a motor vehicle is by far the most dangerous activity in the park, especially for those who fail to wear seatbelts. In the 13-month period from March 2004 through April 2005, there were 16 vehicle accidents here, with one fatality. One involved two vehicles backing into each other in a parking lot; the others were all single-vehicle accidents. In the past four years, three people have been killed when they were thrown from rolling vehicles. Excessive speed, alcohol or drug impairment, wet or icy pavement, gravel, sharp curves, and wildlife in the road can all cause drivers to lose control. Park speed limits may seem slow, but there are reasons for these limits. Slow down, enjoy the scenery, wear your seatbelt, and watch for hazards! (Note: Federal regulations require that ALL vehicle passengers wear seatbelts!)
Failing to drink enough water while involved in strenuous activity in the heat is the second leading cause of visitor problems here. In the same 13-month period mentioned above, park staff responded to six dehydration/heat stress incidents, including one fatality. People frequently underestimate both the desert heat and how much water they’ll need to drink here. Temperatures can reach over 110 degrees in the summer; even during the winter, they can climb to the 80s or even the 90s. Perspiration evaporates so quickly in this arid climate that people may be unaware of how much water they’re losing. During the warmer months, limit physical activity to the cooler morning hours. Carry plenty of water or sports drinks, and drink before you feel thirsty. Depending on the temperature and your level of activity, you may need to drink a gallon of water per day…or more. Monitor yourself and your companions for signs of heat stress and dehydration: headache, irritability, lethargy, confusion, and decreased urine output are all early indicators of problems.
Use caution around cliff edges. Much of the rock here is unstable and fractures easily, and there’s nothing soft below it to break your fall. In the past six years, four people have fallen to their deaths in the park.
Watch the weather. Winter storms and thunderstorms can move in quickly. Hypothermia and lightning have both taken lives here. Rain can cause flash floods many miles away, so even if the sky overhead is clear, be careful around creek beds and the Rio Grande during the rainy season.
About 350,000 people visit Big Bend National Park each year. Most of them leave the park with wonderful memories and nothing more serious than sunburn or a cactus spine. With a little planning and caution, you can be one of these visitors…and not a Big Bend statistic.
This article written by Park Ranger Mary Kay Manning originally appeared in the Fall 2005 issue of
The Big Bend Paisano.
