A Blacktailed Rattlesnake hiding out just outside its den. It took a few years to zero in on the exact spot, surveying the area in early spring and late fall and tracking where snakes were found in early egress. Eventually, there it was – with just two snakes in it to start, but the start of many more to come. The snake wasn’t disturbed, and due to the location, very likely may have never seen a human before.
A young Blacktailed Rattlesnake resting on top of a boulder. During the heat of summer, deep canyons offer cooler conditions, and water trapped in pools and wet sand months after the last rain. On the hottest, driest nights, we can often predict where these snakes are by the presence of cottonwood and native bunchgrass.
A Blacktailed Rattlesnake was seen on a late-night hike near Phoenix, Arizona. These snakes are found in any of the regional parks around Phoenix and Tucson. Interestingly, they are missing, however, from the mountains of central Phoenix, with no records that indicate they were ever there.
A Blacktailed Rattlesnake from southeastern Arizona. They are large, common rattlesnakes in the mountainous regions of much of the state, where they are often misidentified over generations as Mojave Rattlesnakes due to a misunderstanding of the color green in rattlesnakes.
A large Blacktailed Rattlesnake from the southeastern corner of Arizona. These snakes can be beautiful – a high contrast black and yellow with rainbow iridescence in the sunlight.
A Blacktailed Rattlesnake from central Arizona. These snakes are often a green shade, leading to misidentification as a Mojave Rattlesnake (which, ironically, are seldom green in many areas). These are large rattlesnakes that live in mountainous terrain, commonly seen by hikers but rarely by homeowners.
A young Blacktailed Rattlesnake breaking position to hide in rocks. We’d accidentally disturbed it by showing up, but it held this pose long enough for us to back off and get a few photos. This is in a remote canyon far from any road, and being bothered by people isn’t a regular thing for the snakes here.
A young Blacktailed Rattlesnake moving up from the rock wall where it lives to catch morning sun in southeastern Arizona. Structures like this provide a range of options, allowing the snake to very precisely control its temperature – warming when it needs to, and retreating to shade as the day gets hot.
A Blacktailed Rattlesnake from just north of Phoenix, found on a long night hike of remote desert canyons. These snakes specialize in mountainous, rocky habitat, and are almost never found in the flats unless moving between nearby hills. They’re large rattlesnakes and often seen by hikers and hunters.
I spotted this Northern Blacktailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus molossus) resting about 4′ up in a tree on a hike in Yuma County, Arizona. Being up there can serve many purposes, from getting some cooler air on the belly to better hunting opportunities. This snake was likely hunting, waiting for one of the small birds and lizards common in the area to make its last mistake.
