We want you to have the safest and most enjoyable visit possible!

The following information will help you be prepared for exploring this remote, near-desert region.

Road Conditions

Rockfalls occur frequently on the roads between the three units of the Monument. Wildlife (especially deer) and livestock can also present driving obstacles. It is wise to drive conservatively, especially at dusk and dawn. There are no 24-hour service stations in close proximity to the Monument. It is recommended that you travel with a good spare tire, flares, and jumper cables in case of emergency.

In the winter, moisture from rivers and streams can leave a thin layer of "black ice" which can be difficult to see. Frequent changes in elevation cause changing road conditions which might include snow and ice. It is best to travel with chains, studded snow tires or other traction devices in the winter.

 

 

Heat / Sun

 

The summer months of July and August can be extremely hot with many days reaching over 100 degrees Farenheit. Remember to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and plenty of water if you will be outdoors for any length of time. Early signs of dehydration include headache, cramping and nausea. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke may follow. These are best avoided by drinking plenty of water regardless of your activity level.

 

 

Snakes

 

Snakes are a natural and fascinating part of the near-desert ecosystem. Up to ten species of snakes may be found in John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Of these, eight are nonpoisonous and pose little threat to humans.

 

It is likely that if you see a snake during your visit to the Monument, it will be a non-poisonous bull snake garter snake. However, two species of poisonous rattlesnakes also make their home here, the northern pacific rattlesnake and the prairie rattlesnake.

The more you know about rattlesnakes, the more you can appreciate them and avoid threatening them. Rattlesnakes will usually try to crawl away or remain hidden unless surprised. They cannot hear sound, but will feel your approach by the vibrations in the ground. Their diet consists of principally lizards and small rodents. They will seek shady, cooler areas when the hot summer sun is out. Their strike is about half their body length, and they do not flyor spring out into the air to bite. A disturbed rattlesnake typically gives a rattle as a warning, but you may not hear it if the rattle is broken or wet, . (Note: We also have a grasshopper that makes a similar sound when it flies.)

You can minimize the chances of being bitten by keeping a safe distance. Of the approximately 50,000 snake bites in the United States each year, the majority occur when people are trying to either catch or kill a snake. Keeping a safe distance to view snakes prevents both of these situations from occurring. It is important to remember that within units of the National Park System including John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, wildlife is protected from destruction or removal unless specifically directed by Congress. That means that snakes may not be captured or killed inside the Monument. They play an important role in our ecosystem by helping to keep small mammal populations in check.

 

To avoid snake bites, it also helps to watch where you put hands and feet. Avoid putting hands and feet in locations where you can't see, such as in rock ledges above your head or under bushes or in dense vegetation.

Approximately 8,000 per year are bitten by poisonous snakes per year in the United States. On average fewer than ten of these people per year will die from the poisonous snakebite. We have no record of any snakebite occurring within the monument since its establishment in 1975, but we do see and move several snakes per summer to lessen the probability of snakebite incidents.

 

What should you do if you see a snake in the Monument?

 

Keep a safe distance. If you are see a snake in an area where lots of people may come in contact with it, report the snake's location to a Park Ranger, and our staff will move it to an area where it is less likely to interact with people.

 

What should you do if you are bitten by a snake?

 

First, move away from the snake so that it does not continue to feel threatened and try to bite you again. Second, stay calm and follow these steps:

 

1) If others are with you, notify them that you have been bitten by a snake.

2) If you are near a telephone, call 911.

3) Once medical help is on the way, restrict your movement. Lie down if possible and keep the part of the body the snake has bitten lower vertically than the level of your heart. If the bite is on an extremity, keep it immobilized, if possible.

4) Clean the bite site with soap and water, if it is available.

5) Remove any rings, bracelets, or other constricting items if the bite was on an extremity.

6) If you cannot notify someone that you need medical attention, then you must get yourself to medical attention, safely but as your priority.

[source: Grant, Murray and Bergeron, 1994. Emergency Care, 6th Edition, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Brady / Prentice Hall.]

 

Signs and symptoms of snakebite poisoning may take several hours to develop. Death from a poisonous snakebite is not normally a rapidly occurring event (unless you are allergic to venom and develop anaphylactic shock which can be quickly life threatening; only about 5% of U.S. population).

 

After a snakebite you need to get treatment as soon as you can, but not so quickly that you risk endangering your life or someone else's.

 

 

Spiders

 

While many species of spiders live within John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, only two may be dangerous to humans, the black widow and the brown recluse.

 

The female black widow of the western variety is 12mm in length, shiny black with a red, hourglass-shaped marking on the underside of the abdomen. The male does not bite, is seen less frequently, and has a base color of greenish-gray across its back with light tan bands and an orange middorsal line. Black widow spiders are found under stones, around stumps, in holes in the ground, around outbuildings, under furniture or sinks, in trash or leaves, and in similar places. Though they are quite venomous, they seldom bite people. When disturbed they are much more likely to attempt to escape than attack.

 

Brown recluse spiders are small spiders that vary in color from grayish-brown to deep reddish-brown. They have a dark fiddle-shaped mark above their eyes and are usually found in sheltered places out of doors, but may also be found in basements, attics, and barns or behind furniture. Be careful if you leave clothing hanging in a barns, or outbuilding as they like to hide in such places. A person bitten by a brown recluse will probably not even feel the bite or know that they have been bitten until 12 hours or so later when a lesion at the bite site may start to appear.

You can avoid being surprised by either of these spiders by looking for them before you put your hands or feet into places that you cannot see like under stones, in holes, under furniture, or behind boards.

 

Signs and symptoms of a poisonous spider bite take several hours to develop. Death from a poisonous spider bite is not normally a rapidly occurring event unless you are allergic to the venom and develop anaphylactic shock which can be life threatening.

 

After a poisonous spider bite, seek treatment as soon as possible.

 

 

Ticks

 

Adult ticks rest on grasses and low plants and attach themselves to people or animals that brush against the vegetation. Typically, they are no more than 18 inches above the ground while waiting. Once they hitch a ride upon a passing animal or person they can spend up to 2 to 4 hours climbing the host to find a good site and slowly drilling their mouth-parts into the skin to draw blood. Once imbedded, ticks can spread Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to humans.

 

To protect yourself, avoid brushing against low plants. Staying on the trails will make this much easier. You can wear boots and close fitting clothing of tightly woven material. Keep shirts tucked into trousers and trousers tucked into boots. The use of repellent on clothing and exposed areas may help keep ticks off. Make periodic inspections of your clothing and that of your companions. Remove loose ticks and thoroughly wash your hands andcontact area. If a tick is imbedded in the skin follow standard first aid procedures for removal.

 

 

Scorpions

About 1" to 1.5" in length, in this area, the Monument's scorpions are not considered deadly to people, though their sting can make you very ill. They are usually found under rocks or bark, in lumber and even in shoes, are nocturnal, and feed on insects. They are rarely seen out in the open, especially under the hot sun.

 

 

Puncturevine

 

Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) is a common weed, also known as goathead, Mexican sandbur, and Texas sandbur. The spiny seed pods of this matted plant will penetrate soft soles of shoes, flatten bike tires, and stab bare feet. Look out for it along roadsides, and around recently disturbed soil areas where it likes to grow. It is not poisonous, but puncture wounds can get infected.

 

 

Poison Ivy

 

You may encounter poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) or poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) on your visit. These plants are usually found in wet areas along streams and are best recognized by their compound leaves which have three leaflets. Poison oak is the larger of the two species. Many people develop an irritating skin rash within a few hours of contact with these plants. It is best to watch for them and avoid contact. Poison ivy is generally more common than poison oak east of the Cascades.