"There is nothing you can do in the wilderness for a snake bite," he said, adding that any action taken by the victim could potentially worsen the injury.

Officials at Red Butte are trained to handle the snakes when they appear, and typically they end up being taken back up the hill and released, said Derrek Hanson, visitor services director. He said there had only been one other known bite in the gardens and Carver had yet to report her incident.

"Believe it or not, they're really a docile snake," Hanson said. "Usually they try to get away from you."

Populations of the venomous creatures rise and fall with availability of food in the area, but Ingebretsen said distance is the best medicine.

"The best thing you can do is go the other way, and quickly," he said.

In case of a snake bite...

DON'T

put ice on it

try to suck the venom out

use a tourniquet

apply pressure

DO

remain calm

proceed to ER quickly

E-MAIL: wleonard@desnews.com