Alamo • Danville • Blackhawk • Diablo • San Ramon
Valley
Find out what’s new in the Valley at
The
Sentinel
www.valleysentinel.com
Arts • Activities • Auto • Business • Gardening • Seniors and more...
always for the community VOL 24 NO 9
September 2019
www.valleysentinel.com
SPOTLIGHT
Danville Artisan Makers Expo A unique holiday boutique, D.A.M.E. will capture the magic o f t h e Au t u m n a l season with an eclectic gathering of 35 plus multitalented artisans who hand make original home goods, wearable-art, gifts and Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas keepsakes. D.A.M.E. expo patrons will find one-ofa-kind mixed-media purses, carved figural soaps, jeweled trees, junk journals, bling crowns, hats & fascinators, diminutive
ECRWSS
Postmaster: Dated Material
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID DANVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 70
See MAKERS page 5
McGee Preserve would add 381 acres of new public open space in Danville. Sitting south of Diablo Road, and the community of Diablo, it would preserve 93% of the total 410 acres as open space. Save Mt. Diablo will continue to keep us all posted as this develops. Please see article on page 11. Photo by Caleb Castle.
Hikers Beware as rattlesnakes are out in warm weather By James M. Hale
The Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus oreganus) is the only rattlesnake found in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a venomous pitviper species that is found in the western United States from British Columbia to northwestern Mexico. Like other reptiles, their metabolism and activity patterns are governed by the ambient, surrounding temperature. In the East Bay, they usually emerge from their retreats with the warm weather starting in April, and are most active from May through July. Rattlesnakes remain active, both day and night, until the return of the rainy season and colder weather in October. The color pattern is quite varied, however locally most individuals have a dark gray to olive brown base color, highlighted with black, white and pale yellow, and overlaid dorsally on the back with a series of large dark blotches. A series of light and dark
rings precedes the rattles on the tail. The large, triangular head, rattles, loreal heat sensitive pits on the snout and keeled scales that are overlaid like shingles on a roof are key diagnostic characteristics. The young are born with a button at the tip of the tail. Every time they shed their skin as they mature, they acquire a new rattle. During good years they may shed several times. Adults may reach 64 inches in length. Rattlesnakes are often confused with gopher snakes, which mimic rattlesnakes by hissing loudly and rattling their tails. Gopher snakes are brownish in color and lack the triangular head and rattles. Rattlesnakes frequent a wide variety of habitats from grasslands to woodlands where they pursue small mammals
and other animals as prey. They in turn are preyed upon by king snakes, raptors, and wild boars. Rocky outcrops, stream courses, talus slopes and ledges are favorite haunts. The rattlesnake is a live-bearing species, with one to twenty five young born
between August and October. The young are born with fully active venom glands. Rattlesnakes usually make their presence known by rattling
This Month’s Special Section: Sentinel Newspapers, Inc. P.O. Box 130 Danville, CA 94526 925-820-6047
Fall Home & Garden page 10
See SNAKES page 5