I found this Sonoran Desert Tortoise hanging out at the entrance of one of its burrows. Each year, it returns to the same hole that it’s excavated from a smaller natural gap caused by erosion in the upper edge of a wash. During this time, it is mostly nocturnal, never going too far from its aestivation home. Once the monsoon brought moisture to the area, it went on its way to another spot.
An Amazon Tree Boa we found by boat in Peru. These snakes are commonly found in branches overhanging tributaries of the Amazon river, where they can be seen by distinctive eyeshine at night.
A female Western Diamondback Rattlesnake pausing on a bit near a large bush where she likely lives. These are the most common rattlesnake, if not snake, seen by hikers and homeowners in the Phoenix area.
This Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake was resting on a small rise just below its aestivation den in Phoenix. She’s pregnant, and will stayed in the area most of the summer before moving up the hill to a rocky slope to give birth.
Years ago in Baja California Norte, MX, a broken down vehicle in our group made for a surprise overnight stay. A couple of us took the opportunity to explore a nearby canyon in hopes of finding a Rosaio Rattlesnake. We spotted this tiny baby crawling in the brush after a while. Worth it?
A Tiger Rattlesnake found on a nighttime hike in Phoenix more than a decade ago. These snakes are, unfortunately, often poached from preserves.
A Great Basin Rattlesnake spotted in southwestern Idaho during den egress (leaving). I didn’t mean to disturb this one, but it saw me before I saw it, and this is how that goes. Obviously, though, these aren’t aggressive animals and it was very easy to just walk away.
A colorful Blacktailed Rattlesnake from the southeastern corner of Arizona.
A Grand Canyon Rattlesnake found near its namesake a few years ago. This one is still pretty sharply patterned for a snake of this age.
The face of the Arizona state reptile, an Arizona Ridgenosed Rattlesnake found in the Madrean oak grasslands of the sky islands. These small snakes rattle is reduced to sound more like an insect than what most expect from a rattlesnake. Despite being common, most of the ranchers and residents in the area that I’ve spoken with over the years have never heard of it – a testament to its cryptic lifestyle.
