Rattled by rattlers: Venomous snakes making early appearance along trails

March used to be considered a relatively safe month for snake-adverse hikers. Not anymore.

By mid-month, photos of wild snakes — especially rattlesnakes — were showing up on social media pages of both hikers and non-hikers in the Bay Area. Not all of the photos were taken in far-flung wilderness areas; some were in suburban neighborhoods and at least one was near downtown Walnut Creek.