Wearing Headphones On An Arizona Desert Hike Is A Very Dangerous Idea (Here's Why)

Whether it's walking while texting or driving while eating, folks always seem to want to do something other than what they're actually doing. This is true even in the great outdoors, where, for some inexplicable reason, hikers can be seen wearing headphones or earbuds that sever one's connection to the natural environment. Plus, unlike sight, ears hear 360 degrees, which makes them our first line of defense against threats. So, if you're poking along a trail in Arizona while vibing to your favorite band or whatever, you're not going to hear that rattlesnake warning you to back off. You will, however, feel its fangs.

Arizona is prime snake country. More rattlesnake and other venomous species in general live here than anywhere in the U.S. While precise numbers of slithering, secretive serpents are hard to come by, and North Carolina has more snake bites than anywhere else, Arizona is the most dangerous state when it comes to rattlesnakes, specifically. Thankfully, these creatures come equipped with a "do not approach" shaky-shake sound. Provided you can hear them, that is. Sure, you could generally make out a bear bounding through the trees towards you (be aware that certain California National Parks have banned bear spray if hiking there), or the charge from one of California's pig-boar hybrids that might even be more dangerous than cougars. But such animals are big and easy to spot, unlike snakes.

So what should hikers in Arizona do? Far be it from us to spell out the obvious, but hikers shouldn't wear headphones. Just keep them off, and you can resume your meditative aural beats, rock out track, or motivational podcast sometime later.

Rattlesnake rattles are meant to be heard. Deployed as a defensive, "stay away" gesture more than an offensive gesture meant to intimidate or scare, Live Science explains that the desert dweller's warning is at a slower rate and lower pitch the further away a potential threat is. But as it gets closer, the rattle's pitch gets higher and its rate gets faster. If that's the sound you hear while hiking — the high, fast, maraca-like shaking — you're already in the danger zone.

These serpents can also lunge from one-third to two-thirds of their body length. Western diamondback rattlesnakes — a prominent, highly venomous species that lives in Arizona — can reach up to 5 feet in length. That equals a lunge of up to 3.3 feet at most. If you suddenly hear a rattle, stop moving, look around, and identify the source, then back away as slowly as possible. Similar to how it's illegal to harm the red diamond rattlesnake in California, Arizona has laws protecting its wildlife, including snakes. Regardless of legality, you really shouldn't approach or mess with these animals, as an encounter-gone-wrong can be deadly.

This is just a taste of snake safety. And even though you could disturb a rattlesnake with or without headphones, you can at least hear the rattle if you're not blasting some tunes. Also, don't assume that transparency mode — or whatever the name of the sound-penetrating feature is for your brand of headphones — will allow you to hear a rattlesnake's rattle. Anyone who's used this feature before can tell you that it's imperfect. Best keep the headphones off, your ears wide open to your surroundings, and one eye scanning the ground at all times.