Sonoran Sidewinder in the soft sand it prefers, moving along the edge of drainage when spotted.
Sonoran Sidewinder
Tag: arizona
Arizona Black Rattlesnake Ambush Path
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.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Basking At Den
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.
Sideblotched Lizard Side-eye
If you’re anywhere in the western US, these lizards are familiar. The Common Side-blotched Lizard lives throughout even the most urbanized areas of Phoenix and Tucson, running up and down the block and stucco approximation of natural habitat. This one is particularly colorful, giving me side-eye while I took a few photos.
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake Near the Office
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.
Tiger Rattlesnake In Ambush
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.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes at a Winter Den
Several Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes moving around their winter den on a cloudy, warm Spring day near Tucson. These snakes move daily on the surface like this, mostly avoiding detection, for a few weeks during their transition from hibernation to spring hunting. During that time, a lot of social activity takes place.
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake in Ambush
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.
Banded Rock Rattlesnake
A Banded Rock Rattlesnake with a pink belly found in southeastern Arizona last year. These small snakes are quick to rattle but seldom stand their ground, opting to flee into bunchgrass or dive into jumbles of rock.
Rosy Boa
I found this Rosa Boa in central Arizona earlier in the year. This is one of two species of boa that live in Arizona, which is a surprise to many who live here. They’re relatively small, typically around 2 feet long, and harmless to people (unless you consider an occasional minor nip “harm”). This one was photographed and left to crawl under the boulder and disappear.
