A Banded Rock Rattlesnake found on a hike through a wooded canyon.

A Banded Rock Rattlesnake found on a hike through a wooded canyon.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes getting some sun just outside their winter den several springs ago in central Arizona.

Cerralvo Island Rattlesnake found near the beach on its namesake island a few years ago off the coast of Baja California Sur.

Arizona Black Rattlesnake watching us as we watch her from a basking spot near her winter den. She is one of a group of females that will stay here all year, eventually giving birth late in the summer.

Sonoran Sidewinders are very fast as they, essentially, tip-toe across hot desert sand. At night, they can be confused by flashlights and move with speed in surprising directions. This may be an explanation for reports of their “aggression”. In reality, they are timid, quick to flee, and often less likely to strike out defensively than other species in the area. This one was seen crossing a dirt road near Phoenix.

Sonoran Sidewinder in the soft sand it prefers, moving along the edge of drainage when spotted.

Arizona Black Rattlesnake as seen from above. This snake was found in ambush on a narrow channel leading to a rare water hole – animals must walk this path to drink, making for a great hunting spot.

A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake out basking in early Spring at its den. An hour later, this animal was out on the crawl looking for females to court, and make sure rival males stick to their own rocks.

A pink Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake resting in rocks near the Rattlesnake Solutions office in the first morning sun, This snake uses the same area each year, showing up around June and leaving once aestivation is no longer necessary during the monsoon. Where it goes in the cooler months is unknown, but the tight site fidelity of this species is nearly absolute in most cases. This was in 2021, and if she survives another year, there is no doubt we’ll see her again in the same spot in 2025.

A Speckled Rattlesnake on a small, ridiculously hot Mexican island. In the sparse vegetation littered with bones of cetaceans and fish, these small rattlesnakes survive.
