Rattlesnakes are protected under Utah law, making it illegal to harass or kill one. The only exception to this is if you are threatened and defending yourself; otherwise, it is a class B misdemeanor to kill a rattlesnake. The Division of Wildlife Resources offers the following guidelines if you encounter a rattlesnake: Remain calm and do not panic. Stay at least 5 feet from the snake. Make sure to give it plenty of space. Do not try to kill the snake. Doing so is illegal and greatly increases the chance the snake will bite you. Alert other people to the snake’s location. Advise them to use caution and to respect the snake. Keep children and pets away from the area. Keep your dog on a leash when hiking or camping. Allowing your dog to roam around increases the chance the dog will find a snake and get bitten. If you hear a rattle, don’t jump or panic. Try to locate where the sound is coming from before you react, so you don’t step closer to the snake or on top of it. When you are out hiking, make sure to always watch the trail ahead of you, and to check carefully before stepping over rocks, reaching onto ledges or sitting down on a rock or log.
