Bay Area

Summer Heat Prompts Rattlesnake Advisory in East Bay Parks

Snakes, notably rattlesnakes, may become more visible along some East Bay park trails due to the summer heat warming up the region. Snakes typically emerge in warm weather to explore their environment, which can lead to more encounters with humans and dogs, according to the East Bay Regional Park District.

Published

3 years ago

July 11, 2023

Oakland Post

Rattlesnake. Photo by Kevin Dixon for The Richmond Standard.

Snakes, notably rattlesnakes, may become more visible along some East Bay park trails due to the summer heat warming up the region.

Snakes typically emerge in warm weather to explore their environment, which can lead to more encounters with humans and dogs, according to the East Bay Regional Park District.

Due to this, the Park District advises that visitors avoid hiking alone so you’ll have help in case of an emergency; scan the ground ahead of them as they walk, jog or ride, and to stay on trails and avoid walking in tall grass; look carefully around and under logs and rocks before sitting down; avoid placing hands or feet where one cannot see clearly; and, for maximum safety, consider keeping dogs on a leash.

If you see a rattlesnake, leave it alone. Wait for it to cross and do not approach, then move carefully and slowly away, park officials said.

If bitten by one, stay calm by lying down with the affected limb lower than the heart, and send someone to call 911. Do not spend time on tourniquets, “sucking,” or snake bite kits, state park officials. If by yourself, walk calmly to the nearest source of help to dial 911, but do not run.

If bitten by any other kind of snake, wash the wound with soap and water or an antiseptic and seek medical attention, park officials add. Check the bite for two puncture marks (in rare cases, one puncture mark) associated with intense, burning pain, which is typical of a rattlesnake bite. Other snakebites may leave multiple teeth marks without associated burning pain, according to park district officials.

“Snakes are an important resource in the natural environment,” the Park District states. “They are prime controlling agents of rodents, insects, and other reptile populations.

“Enjoy them from afar and leave them where they are found. It is illegal to collect, kill, or remove any plants or animals from the Park District. Please help us to protect wildlife and their environment for present and future generations.”

For more information, download the Park District’s Common Snakes brochure or watch its Gopher Snake or Rattlesnake video. Additional information is available at 0nline at ebparks.org/safety/wildlife-encounters.

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Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

Published

5 days ago

September 7, 2026

Oakland Post

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Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Post News Group

Dawna Williams, EOBA executive director speaks to attendees at the Black August Eperience on Aug. 21. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Flynn of EOBA.

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.