Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Hiding From The Fire

This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was aestivating on a cool, extremely dry May morning. This drainage used to be rich with life, but recent fires fueled by invasive grasses have changed it into a charred, open oven. A few animals remain – the most abundant life to spring up after the event: globe chamomile. Hopefully this snake found a way to survive.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Hiding From The Fire

Banded Sandsnake From Above

Banded Sandsnakes are common, found in sandy drainages and often spotted on the surface in the summer. They’re often mistaken for superficially similar groundsnakes and shovelnosed snakes – one way to tell them apart is the relatively wide body, and the gradual transition of the dorsal stripe to the tan base color along its back. They also have kind of silly puppy faces, which can’t be unseen once you do. This one was found near our office in Cave Creek.

Banded Sandsnake From Above