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.

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 large Tiger Rattlesnake in a loose ambush coil near a series of rodent nests. This one was found just after sunup in a heavily urbanized area. Not all hunting postures for rattlesnakes are simple coils. Rattlesnakes may actively track, then settle in for a relatively short period, then move and set up again. I don’t know if this one succeeded, but it was gone when I passed through the area an hour later.
A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake waiting for an unlucky animal to come along in Phoenix. These locations are carefully selected, often after tracking a scent trail for some distance to find an ideal ambush situation.