(COLORADO) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said people are not the only ones getting out to soak up the sun; rattlesnakes are likely to be seen over the spring and summer.

CPW said Prairie Rattlesnakes have a fairly predictable pattern of activity. During the coldest months of the year, they shelter in winter dens and usually resume activity in late March or early April. Once active adult snakes may migrate several kilometers from their dens in search of food.

In the spring and fall, cool temperatures require rattlesnakes to bask in the sun or on warm surfaces for much of the day. CPW said snakes often use pavement and other hard surfaces, such as trails, for basking. Snakes likely hunt in the late afternoon and evening once they’ve warmed up enough.

CPW said rattlesnakes prefer to hide as their first line of defense and will simply ignore you, thinking you can’t see them. However, CPW warns, if the snake coils up and rattles, you are too close and should move away slowly. Stepping back just a few feet can be enough to convince the snake you are not a threat.

CPW recommends the following tips when you are walking on a trail or spending time outdoors:

Watch for snakes basking in sunny areas, like on trails, pavement, or rocks

Be careful where you place your hands and feet, don’t put them in places that can easily hide a snake, like under a rock, logs, or in brush piles

Use caution around dawn and dusk – it can be harder for us to see, and snakes can be more active

Keep dogs on a short leash (6 feet or less) and don’t let them explore holes in the ground, rock piles, or other areas that can easily hold a snake

CPW said most rattlesnakes will not strike at people unless they feel threatened or are deliberately provoked.