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.
Grand Canyon Rattlesnake
Category: Snakes
Arizona Ridgenosed Rattlesnake Close Up
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.
Blacktailed Rattlesnake At A Den
I found this Blacktailed Rattlesnake with a few others hanging out around a winter den early in 2024. Unlike other rattlesnake overwintering sites in the area, this one does not seem to be shared with the other rattlesnake species that can be found there – just lots of blacktails.
Dens like this have been difficult to pinpoint in environments that are mostly open rock, but over time the specifics have become more apparent and sights like this come easier these days. I’m looking forward to a return visit this spring.
Baby Indian Cobra
A baby Indian Cobra we found along a canal in Bangalore, India. This little one was so small you could see its heard beating through its belly. Turned away, it’s doing its best to tell us to get lost. After a few photos, we did.
Arizona Black Rattlesnake In An Old Wall
I’ve been watching this old Arizona Black Rattlesnake for more than 10 years now, each year returning to the same location to hunt for small animals looking to get a drink at an isolated water hole. The rock wall built by ranchers long ago serves as perfect daytime refugia.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes Group Summer Den
A group of Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes aestivating during the lethal Arizona summer heat in the summer of 2016. In this cave, they can stay consistently cooler than the 115˚F+ daily temperatures outside and survive until monsoon rain brings relief.
Central American Boa On The Crawl
I spotted this Central American Boa crawling along the upper edge of an eroded dirt wall in southern Mexico a few years back. It was a young boa, maybe 4 feet long. It seemed pretty busy searching along the vegetation transition, and allowed some easy photos.
Baby Blacktailed Rattlesnake
Seeing a baby Blacktailed Rattlesnake isn’t especially common. This one was seen in southeastern Arizona just over 10 years ago. As it grows, it’s eye scale will darken, and in this region, the contrast between light and dark will remain just as vibrant. Hopefully today, this animal is still out there somewhere, midway into a long life.
Worm Snake
One of the small, fossorial snakes of the southeast – a Midwestern Worm Snake. These tiny guys specialize in earthworms, but may take other soft-bodied invertebrates as well.
Arizona Black Rattlesnake From Southern Arizona
Arizona Black Rattlesnake giving me a reminder to keep my distance and leave it alone. I spotted this one crawling from a small drainage back to tangled debris at the base of a sycamore in southern Arizona.
